On the record
They should resemble him in impartiality; they should resemble him in clearness; they should most of all resemble him in taking a supplemental view of a subject.
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Walter Bagehot
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gutenberg.orgWalter Bagehot: “They should resemble him in impartiality; they should resemble him in clearness; they should most of all resemble him in…”
Editor's note · Context
Bagehot outlines the qualities that critics in the Upper House should share with Lord Grey, emphasizing impartiality and clarity.
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More from Walter Bagehot
Our law very often reminds one of those outskirts of cities where you cannot for a long time tell how the streets come to wind about in so capricious and serpent-like a manner.
But it is natural also that persons used to analyse political institutions should look at these anomalies with a little tenderness and a little interest.
Political philosophy is still more imperfect; it has been framed from observations taken upon regular specimens of politics and States; as to these its teaching is most valuable.
I cannot, therefore, join in the full cry against anomalies; in my judgment it may quickly overrun the scent, and so miss what we should be glad to find.
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