PresidentofthePoor-LawBoard,UnderSecretaryoftheColonies,Under,orperhapsevenUpperSecretaryofwhatsheandherPremierfindsuitablestforaworkingheadsoeminent,atalentsoprecious;andgrantshim,byherdirectauthority,seatandvoteinParliamentsolongasheholdsthatoffice。UpperSecretaries,havingmoretodoinParliament,andbeingsoboundtobeinfavorthere,would,Isuppose,atleasttillnewtimesandhabitscome,beexpectedtobechosenfromamongthe_People’s_Membersasatpresent。ButwhetherthePrimeMinisterhimselfis,inalltimes,boundtobefirstaPeople’sMember;andwhich,orhowmany,ofhisSecretariesandsubordinateshemightbeallowedtotakeas_Queen’s_Members,myauthoritydoesnotsay,——perhapshasnothimselfsettled;theprojectbeingyetinmereoutlineorforeshadow,thepracticalembodimentinalldetailstobefixedbyauthoritiesmuchmorecompetentthanhe。Thesoulofhisprojectis,ThattheCrownalsohavepowertoelectafewmemberstoParliament。
Fromwhichproject,howeverwiselyitwereembodied,therecouldprobably,atfirstorallatonce,nogreat“accessionofintellect“totheGovernmentOfficesensue;thoughalittlemight,evenatfirst,andalittleisalwaysprecious:butinitsulterioroperation,werethatfaithfullydeveloped,andwiselypresidedover,Ifancyanimmenseaccessionofintellectmightensue;——nayanaturalingressmighttherebybeopenedtoallmannerofaccessions,andtheactualflowerofwhateverintellecttheBritishNationhadmightbeattractedtowardsDowningStreet,andcontinueflowingsteadilythither!For,letusseealittlewhateffectsthissimplechangecarriesinitthepossibilitiesof。Herearebeneficentgerms,whichthepresenceofonetrulywisemanasChiefMinister,steadilyfosteringthemforevenafewyears,withthesacredfidelityandvigilancethatwouldbeseemhim,mightripenintolivingpracticesandhabitualfacts,invaluabletousall。
WhatitisthatSecretariesofState,ManagersofColonialEstablishments,ofHomeandForeignGovernmentinterests,havereallyandtrulytodoinParliament,mightadmitofvariousestimateinthesetimes。AnaptdebaterinParliamentisbynomeanscertaintobeanableadministratorofColonies,ofHomeorForeignAffairs;nay,ratherquitethecontraryistobepresumedofhim;forinordertobecomea“brilliantspeaker,“ifthatishischaracter,considerableportionsofhisnaturalinternalendowmentmusthavegonetothesurface,inordertomakeashiningfigurethere,andpreciselysomuchthelessfewmeninthesedaysknowhowmuchless!mustremainavailableintheinternalsilentstate,orasfacultyforthinking,fordevisingandacting,whichlatterandwhichaloneisthefunctionessentialforhiminhisSecretaryship。Nottotellagoodstoryforhimself“inParliamentandtothetwenty-sevenmillions,manyofthemfools;“notthat,buttodogoodadministration,toknowwithsureeye,anddecidewithjustandresoluteheart,whatiswhatinthe_things_committedtohischarge:thisandnotthatistheservicewhichpoorEngland,whateveritmaythinkandmaunder,doesrequireandwantoftheOfficialManinDowningStreet。GivenagoodOfficialManorSecretary,hereallyought,asfarasitispossible,tobeleftworkinginthesilentstate。
Nomortalcanbothwork,anddogoodtalkinginParliament,oroutofit:thefeatisimpossibleasthatofservingtwohostilemasters。
NorwouldI,ifitcouldbehelped,muchtroublemygoodSecretarywithaddressingParliament:needfulexplanations;yes,inafreecountry,surely;——butnottoeveryfrivolousandvexatiousperson,inoroutofParliament,whochoosestoapplyforthem。Thereshouldbedemandsforexplanationtoowhichwerereckonedfrivolousandvexatious,andcensuredassuch。These,I
shouldsay,arethenotneedfulexplanations:andifmypoorSecretaryistobecalledoutfromhisworkshoptoanswereveryoneofthese,——hisworkshopwillbecomewhatweatpresentseeit,deservedlyornotlittleotherthanapillory;thepoorSecretaryakindoftalking-machine,exposedtodeadcatsandrotteneggs;andthe“work“gotoutofhimorofitwill,asheretofore,beveryinconsiderableindeed!——Alas,onthissidealso,importantimprovementsareconceivable;andwilleven,I
imagine,getthemwhencewemay,befoundindispensableoneday。
Thehonorablegentlemanwhomyouinterrupthere,he,inhisofficialcapacity,isnotanindividualnow,buttheembodimentofaNation;heisthe“PeopleofEngland“engagedintheworkofSecretaryship,thisone;andcannotforeveraffordtoletthethreeTailorsofTooleyStreetbreakinuponhimatallhours!——
Butleavingthis,letusremarkonethingwhichisveryplain:
Thatwhateverbetheusesandduties,realorsupposed,ofaSecretaryinParliament,hisfacultytoaccomplishtheseisapointentirelyunconnectedwithhisabilitytogetelectedintoParliament,andhasnorelationorproportiontoit,andnoconcernwithitwhatever。LordTommyandtheHonorableJohnarenotawhitbetterqualifiedforParliamentaryduties,tosaynothingofSecretaryduties,thanplainTomandJack;theyaremerelybetterqualified,asmattersstand,forgettingadmittedtotrythem。WhichstateofmattersareformingPremier,muchinwantofablermentohelphim,nowproposesaltering。TomandJack,onceadmittedbytheQueen’swrit,thereiseveryreasontosupposewilldoquiteaswellthereasLordTommyandtheHonorableJohn。InParliamentquiteaswell:andelsewhere,intheotherinfinitelymoreimportantdutiesofaGovernmentOffice,whichindeedareandremaintheessential,vitalandintrinsicdutiesofsuchapersonage,istherethefaintestreasontosurmisethatTomandJack,ifwellchosen,willfallshortofLordTommyandtheHonorableJohn?Noshadowofareason。Weretheintrinsicgeniusofthemenexactlyequal,thereisnoshadowofareason:butratherthereisquitethereverse;forTomandJackhavebeenatleastworkersalltheirdays,notidlers,game-preserversandmerehumanclothes-horses,atanyperiodoftheirlives;andhavegainedaschooling_thereby_,ofwhichLordTommyandtheHonorableJohn,unhappilystrangerstoitformostpart,canformnoconception!TomandJackhavealready,onthismostnarrowhypothesis,adecided_superiority_oflikelihoodoverLordTommyandtheHonorableJohn。
Butthehypothesisisverynarrow,andthefactisverywide;thehypothesiscountsbyunits,thefactbymillions。ConsiderhowmanyTomsandJackstherearetochoosefrom,wellorill!ThearistocraticclassfromwhomMembersofParliamentcanbeelectedextendsonlytocertainthousands;fromtheseyouaretochooseyourSecretary,ifaseatinParliamentistheprimarycondition。
ButthegeneralpopulationisofTwenty-sevenMillions;fromallsectionsofwhichyoucanchoose,iftheseatinParliamentisnottobeprimary。Makeitultimateinsteadofprimary,alastinvestitureinsteadofafirstindispensablecondition,andthewholeBritishNation,learned,unlearned,professional,practical,speculativeandmiscellaneous,isatyourdisposal!
Inthelowestbroadstrataofthepopulation,equallyasinthehighestandnarrowest,areproducedmenofeverykindofgenius;
manforman。,yourchanceofgeniusisasgoodamongthemillionsasamongtheunits;——andclassforclass,whatmustitbe!Fromallclasses,notfromcertainhundredsnowbutfromseveralmillions,whatsoevermanthegodshadgiftedwithintellectandnobleness,andpowertohelphiscountry,couldbechosen:O
Heavens,could,——ifnotbyTenpoundConstituenciesandtheforceofbeer,thenbyaReformingPremierwitheyesinhishead,whoI
thinkmightdoitquiteinfinitelybetter。Infinitelybetter。
Forignoblenesscannot,bythenatureofit,choosethenoble:
no,thereneedsaseeingmanwhoishimselfnoble,cognizantbyinternalexperienceofthesymptomsofnobleness。Shallweneverthinkofthis;shallwenevermorerememberthis,then?Itisforevertrue;andNatureandFact,howeverwemayrattleourballot-boxes,doatnotimeforgetit。
FromthelowestandbroadeststratumofSociety,wherethebirthsarebythemillion,therewasborn,almostinourownmemory,aRobertBurns;sonofonewho“hadnotcapitalforhispoormoor-farmofTwentyPoundsayear。“RobertBurnsneverhadthesmallestchancetogotintoParliament,muchasRobertBurnsdeserved,foralloursakes,tohavebeenfoundthere。Fortheman——itwasnotknowntomenpurblind,sunkintheirpoordimvulgarelement,butmighthavebeenknowntomenofinsightwhohadanyloyaltyoranyroyaltyoftheirown——wasabornkingofmen:fullofvalor,ofintelligenceandheroicnobleness;fitforfarotherworkthantobreakhisheartamongpoormeanmortals,gaugingbeer!HimnoTenpoundConstituencychose,nordidanyReformingPremier:inthedeep-sunkBritishNation,overwhelmedinfoggystupor,withtheloadstarsallgoneoutforit,therewasnowhisperofanotionthatitcouldbedesirabletochoosehim,——excepttocomeanddinewithyou,andintheinterimtogauge。Andyetheaven-bornMr。Pitt,atthatperiod,wasbynomeanswithoutneedofHeroicIntellect,forotherpurposesthangauging!Butsorrowfulstrangulationbyred-tape,much_tighter_thenthanitnowiswhensomanyrevolutionaryearthquakeshavetussledit,quitetiedupthemeagrePitt;andhesaid,onhearingofthisBurnsandhissadhamperedcase,“Literaturewilltakecareofitself。“——“Yes,andofyoutoo,ifyoudon’tmindit!“answersone。
Andso,likeApollotakenforaNeat-herd,andperhapsfornoneofthebestontheAdmetusestablishment,thisnewNorseThorhadtoputupwithwhatwasgoing;togaugeale,andbethankful;
pouringhiscelestialsunlightthroughScottishSong-writing,——thenarrowestchinkeverofferedtoaThunder-godbefore!AndthemeagrePitt,andhisDundassesandred-tapePhantasmsgrowingveryghastlynowtothinkof,didnotintheleastknoworunderstand,theimpious,god-forgettingmortals,thatHeroicIntellects,ifHeavenwerepleasedtosendsuch,weretheonesalvationfortheworldandforthemandallofus。No;
they“haddoneverywellwithout“such;didnotseetheuseofsuch;wentalong“verywell“withoutsuch;wellpresidedoverbyasingularHeroicIntellectcalledGeorgetheThird:andtheThunder-god,aswasratherfitofhim,departedearly,stillinthenoonoflife,somewhatwearyofgaugingale!——OPeter,whatascandaloustorpidelementofyellowLondonfog,favorabletoowlsonlyandtheirmousingoperations,hasblottedoutthestarsofHeavenforustheseseveralgenerationsback,——which,Irejoicetosee,isnowvisiblyabouttotakeitselfawayagain,orperhapstobe_dispelled_inaverytremendousmanner!
ForthesakeofmyDemocraticfriends,oneotherobservation。IsnotthisProposaltheveryessenceofwhatevertruththereisin“Democracy;“this,thattheablemanbechosen,inwhateverrankbeisfound?Thathebesearchedforashiddentreasureis;betrained,supervised,settotheworkwhichhealoneisfitfor。
AllDemocracyliesinthis;this,Ithink,isworthalltheballot-boxesandsuffrage-movementsnowgoing。Notthatthenoblesoul,bornpoor,shouldbesettospoutinParliament,butthatheshouldbesettoassistingoverningmen:thisisourgrandDemocraticinterest。Withthiswecanbesaved;withoutthis,werethereaParliamentspoutingineveryparish,andHansardDebatestostemtheThames,weperish,——dieconstitutionallydrowned,inmereoceansofpalaver。
Allreformers,constitutionalpersons,andmencapableofreflection,areinvitedtoreflectonthesethings。Letusbrushthecobwebsfromoureyes;letusbidtheinanetraditionsbesilentforamoment;andaskourselves,likemendreadfullyintentonhavingit_done_,“Bywhatmethodormethodscantheablemenfromeveryrankoflifebegathered,asdiamond-grainsfromthegeneralmassofsand:theablemen,notthesham-able;——andsettodotheworkofgoverning,contriving,administeringandguidingforus!“Itisthequestionofquestions。AllthatDemocracyevermeantliesthere:theattainmentofatruerandtruerAristocracy,orGovernmentagainbythe_Best_。
ReformedParliamentshavelamentablyfailedtoattainitforus;
andIbelievewillandmustforeverfail。OnetrueReformingStatesman,onenobleworshipperandknowerofhumanintellect,withthequalityofanexperiencedPoliticiantoo;he,backedbysuchaParliamentasEngland,oncerecognizinghim,wouldloyallysend,andatlibertytochoosehisworkingsubalternsfromalltheEnglishmenalive;hesurelymightdosomething?Something,byonemeansoranother,isbecomingfearfullynecessarytobedone!He,Ithink,mightaccomplishmoreforusintenyears,thanthebestconceivableReformedParliament,andutmostextensionofthesuffrage,intwiceortentimesten。
Whatisextremelyimportanttoo,youcouldtrythismethodwithsafety;extensionofthesuffrageyoucannotsotry。WithevenanapproximatelyheroicPrimeMinister,youcouldgetnothingbutgoodfromprescribingtohimthus,tochoosethefittestman,underpenalties;tochoose,notthefittestofthefourorthethreementhatwereinParliament,butthefittestfromthewholeTwenty-sevenMillionsthathecouldhearof,——athisperil。
Nothingbutgoodfromthis。Fromextensionofthesuffrage,somethink,youmightgetquiteotherthangood。Fromextensionofthesuffrage,tillitbecameauniversalcountingofheads,oneseesnotintheleastwhatwisdomcouldbeextracted。A
ParliamentoftheParispattern,suchasweseejustnow,mightbeextracted:andfromthat?Solutionintouniversalslush;
drownageofallinterestsdivineandhuman,inaNoah’s-DelugeofParliamentaryeloquence,——suchaswehopeoursins,heavyandmanifoldthoughtheyare,havenotyetquitedeserved!
Who,then,istobetheReformingStatesman,andbeginthenobleworkforus?Heisthepreliminary;onesuch;withhimwemayprosecutetheenterprisetolengthafterlength;withouthimwecannotstirinitatall。Atrue_king_,temporaryking,thatdareundertakethegovernmentofBritain,onconditionofbeginninginsacredearnestto“reform“it,notatthisorthatextremity,butattheheartandcentre。ThatwillexpurgateDowningStreet,andthepracticalAdministrationofourAffairs;