Suppose in 1859 that the Whig party had determined to set aside both Earl Russell and Lord Palmerston and to choose for its head an incapable nonentity, the Whig party would probably have been exiled from office at the Schleswig-Holstein difficulty.
This hypothetical scenario illustrates the potential consequences of poor leadership choices within a political party.
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More from Walter Bagehot
They have given what I may call a CONFIDENCE IN THE UNIVERSE.
The nation then selected the English policy, but the Crown chose the English Ministers.
The moderate people of every party must combine to support the Government which, on the whole, suits every party best.
The power of free interchange of ideas being wanting, the ideas themselves were barren.
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