Page:Thomas Hare - The Election of Representatives, parliamentary and municipal.djvu/185

 of the knowledge of men, gleaned by laborious study,—of science, rendering the material worid subservient to the uses of man,—of literature, opening the understanding and enriching thought,—of art, conferring dignity and grace; many of these, combined with historic fame and ancient lineage, and together comprehending all the moral and intellectual worth, which the lore of country and of mankind, and the desire for honourable distinction, can call to light.

The whole of this magnificent field of choice would be open to the electors of the kingdom. The capacity of selection, and the disposition to select from such materials, would be infinitely various; but the field, like the bounteous lap of nature, is free to all who have the intelligence and the industry to extract its treasures. Like nature, it would be barren and sterile only to the ignorant and the indolent—those who know not the wealth that it contains, or are without the industry and energy to profit by it. The pious, the learned, the scientific, the enterprising, and the philanthropic of every variety and degree, will all find a sympathetic expression amongst the candidates before them. There is a tendency in every sort of superiority to become a nucleus gathering about them kindred minds and characters. "II y a un certain rapport, un certain lien entre la capacite d'être (un bon député ou autre chose) et la capacité de reconnaître celui qui possède la capacité d'être. Ceci est un fait dont dépose à chaque instant le spectacle du monde. Le brave se fait suivre de ceux qui sont capables de s'associer à sa bravoure. L'habile se fait obéire de ceux qui sont capables de comprendre son habileté. Le savant se fait croire de ceux qui sont capables d'apprécier sa science. Toute superiorité a une certaine sphere d'attraction, dans laquelle elle agit et groupe autour d'elle des infériorités réelles, mais en état de sentir et d'accepter son action." A representative assembly, chosen under a system thus free