Page:Thomas Hare - The Election of Representatives, parliamentary and municipal.djvu/164

 private and selfish objects. If any man doubted the conseqnences of grafting upon a holy impulse a venal motive, he might try in his family the experiment of repaying the offices of affection by pecuniary reward, and learn how the tribute of filial duty may be converted into a mercenary service. You cannot serve God and Mammon.

The manner in which candidates are often required, especially at the first, to enter into a communication with their constituents, a manner which is not likely to be altered for the best under any of the changes which are popularly urged,—forms the second of the practical class of obstacles. Enough has been already said on the nature of the preliminary introduction, which too commonly takes place, and is becoming general. Supposing that stage to be passed, the process of canvassing forms an insurmountable difficulty to many men. It is not, necessarily, from any fastidious taste that this objection is felt; though, even if that were so, it is not wise by making such a method of introduction commonly necessary, to exclude the services of one who might, nevertheless, prove qualified to be a public benefactor. A man of a well-constituted mind shrinks from affecting what he does not feel,—from concealing any particular opinion that might be unpopular,—from pretending to assign undue weight to matters which he knows to be trivial,—from, in fact, inaugurating his entrance into public life, by acting a part which is not his own. He is under the necessity of resorting to underhand and disingenuous contrivances,—to humiliating solicitations and mean compliances. It is impossible to read the narratives of the skill and success of men accomplished in the art of canvassing, without feeling that the affectation of friendship, cordiality, and regard,—which are set to work on the simplicity and credulity of the voter, to cajole and surprise his of his vote,—has a family resemblance to the tricks which, when employed by humbler performers for the purpose of depriving a servant-maid of her earnings, or a countryman of