Page:Thomas Hare - The Election of Representatives, parliamentary and municipal.djvu/109

 give credit to the opinion of the patron of a borough as to the eminent talents which recommend his nominee. The choice is apt to be attributed less to ability than to favour. When, however, we find the members of a college, or of a learned or other distinguished association puting forward, if not unanimously, yet with a very general concurrence of opinion, a man of whom they haye personal knowledge, and whose character has made a powerful impression upon them, and confidently seeking a confirmation of their verdict from a large body of voters, it will not be unreasonable to place some reliance on the merits of him to whom such testimony is borne. The desire of success will afford the strongest inducement to the introduction of the best competitor. The increase of the number of constituencies, especially of constitueacies numerically small, and having peculiar qualifications, would in many cases facilitate the entry into public life of men able and willing to employ themselyes in the political seryice of their country, but whose merits are not widely known. Such an one might thus address himself at first to a comparatiyely small body of electors, perhaps favourably disposed towards him by companionship, appreciation of character or effort, by neighbourhood or traditional respect, and through the judgment and discrimination of this narrower circle, he may ultimately acquire that reputation which will secure for him the suffrages of larger constituencies or a national fame.