Page:Despotism and democracy; a study in Washington society and politics (IA despotismdemocra00seawiala).pdf/273

 he should have asked such a question, and he was hard hit by Thorndyke's reply.

"There must be a good, wide margin allowed for offensive partisanship," Thorndyke continued. "That's the trouble with the professors of political economy in colleges—they leave human nature out of the equation. There's my boss, Senator Standiford. He is as honest as the day as far as money goes, and honest in using his enormous power for the good of the party, and he was born with the notion that his party and the country are interchangeable terms. He uses dishonest men sometimes, but not dishonest methods. It is both shameful and ridiculous that a great State like ours should hand over such vast power to one man as it has to Senator Standiford, but that's not his fault. It is rather to his credit that he has not misused his power. The trouble is, that the people will get accustomed to the system of one-man government, and when Senator Standiford goes hence, the party will choose another dictator, probably neither as honest or as able as he."

"Senator Standiford is a rich man. Suppose he were poor? What percentage would you allow a