Page:Thomas Hare - The Election of Representatives, parliamentary and municipal.djvu/129

 termed, the contrast between the position of the country, with reference to the election of members of the House of Commons at the present time, and that in which it formerly stood, ought to be considered with much attention.

The natural process in a rude age would be the selection in every borough of persons in the town or neighbourhood, known to the burgesses, and willing to undertake a business which usually involved, of necessity, much expense and inconvenience. It is found, in fact, to have been very frequently avoided. As the institution advanced in importance, the great men of the county or locality became accustomed to point out to the freeholders and burgesses the persons whom they should choose, and their recommendations were commonly attended to. These leading men were themselves a part of, or intimately connected with, the higher aristocracy. They felt a personal responsibility in making the selection, — a responsibility which increased with the importance of the office. It was not a responsibiUty to the people, but to the party, or perhaps the action, in the country with which they were connected or identified. They were answerable for the judicious exercise of this, as of all other influences which they possessed. Unwise or unskilful conduct in the business of his party would then, as now, cost a man more or less of its respect. Responsibility is not less real, because its sanctions are conventional. In pointing out to the freeholders or the burgesses the members whom they were to choose, they were under an obligation to select men fitted for the purpose, whatever that purpose might be. It might not then have been thought a duty to select men who were qualified to make laws or to act for themselves, or to discuss political questions. The questions for discussion were few, and such as they were, the leaders of the party or the faction probably intended to decide for themselves; but whatever interests, great or small, they thought it their duty to consider in the matter of selection, that duty they performed. The great