In the United States party intensity is aggravated by concentrating an overwhelming importance on a single contest, and the efficiency of promised offices as a means of corruption is augmented, because the victor can give what he likes to whom he likes.
Bagehot critiques the American political system, highlighting the corrupting influence of patronage in elections.
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One of the greatest pains to human nature is the pain of a new idea.
It is absurd to choose by contested party election an impartial chooser of Ministers.
There is no ELASTIC element, everything is rigid, specified, dated.
Savages waste away before modern civilisation; they seem to have held their ground before the ancient.
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