Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Volume 6).djvu/113

 We must both of us take care to be on the electoral college—I to propose you as my successor, and put you through your facings before the rest; and you to give an account of your views

Stensgård.

If we once get so far, we are safe. In the electoral college you are omnipotent.

Lundestad.

There is a limit to omnipotence. You must of course bring your oratory into play; you must take care to explain away anything that might seem really awkward or objectionable

Stensgård.

You don't mean that I am to break with my party?

Lundestad.

Now just look at the thing reasonably. What do we mean when we talk of two parties? We have, on the one hand, certain men or families who are in possession of the common civic advantages—I mean property, independence, and power. That is the party I belong to. On the other hand, we have the mass of our younger fellow citizens who want to share in these advantages. That is your party. But that party you will quite naturally and properly pass out of when you get into power—to say nothing of taking up a solid position as a man of property—for of course that is essential, Mr. Stensgård.

Stensgård.

Yes, I believe it is. But the time is short; and such a position is not to be attained in a day.