Page:Democracy, theoretical and practical (IA democracytheoret00hendrich).pdf/15

 who think people can govern as well as control: rapidly changing executive, rotation of office, aggregate votes of branches in mass meetings assembled. But what of the actual working of that constitution? The authors give us the answer in these words: "Although the executive meeting, the branch meeting, and the referendum occupy the main body of the Society's rules, the whole policy has long been directed, and the whole administration conducted exclusively by an informal Cabinet of permanent officials which is unknown to the printed constitution. Twenty years ago the Society had the good fortune to elect as General Secretary Mr. Robert Knight, a man of remarkable ability and strength of character, who has remained the permanent premier of this little kingdom In effect the General Secretary and his informal Cabinet were, until the change in 1895, absolutely supreme."

There is no need to multiply instances. Turn wheresoever you may in this world's history, you will find in the conduct of industrial, municipal, state, national, and imperial affairs, government for the people by the people is a delusion.

It has also been, and still is, a snare.

A. IN WAR.

One very great mistake underlying this definition of democracy is the assumption that the qualities of management and leadership are common. They are, in fact, exceedingly rare. It is only one man in 10,000 who possesses them. The rulers of men not only make plans to prepare for future contingencies; that is comparatively easy; they must also be able to modify their plans after the emergency has arisen, and mould circumstances as they go, and that is difficult. They need insight and