I only profess to explain what seem to me the political prerequisites of progress, and especially of early progress, I do this the rather because the subject is insufficiently examined, so that even if my views are found to be faulty, the discussion upon them may bring out others which are truer and better.
Bagehot reflects on his intention to contribute to the discourse on political progress, acknowledging the potential for his ideas to inspire further discussion.
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The whole history of civilisation, is strewn with creeds and institutions which were invaluable at first, and deadly afterwards.
That a House of Commons may work well it must perform, as we saw, five functions well: it must elect a Ministry well, legislate well, teach the nation well, express the nation's will well, bring matters to the nation's attention well.
And, to the effectual maintenance of such a separation, the exclusion of the President's Ministers from the legislature is essential.
The progress of the military art is the most conspicuous, I was about to say the most SHOWY, fact in human history.
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