On the record
The competing constituency is the nation itself, and this is, according to theory and experience, in all but the rarest cases, a bad constituency.
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Walter Bagehot
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gutenberg.orgWalter Bagehot: “The competing constituency is the nation itself, and this is, according to theory and experience, in all but the rarest…”
Editor's note · Context
Bagehot critiques the nature of the constituency in a presidential election, suggesting it is often not ideal.
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More from Walter Bagehot
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.
The casual line was traced according to the strength of deceased combatants; succeeding generations fought elsewhere; and the hesitating line of a half-drawn battle was left to stand for a perpetual limit.
Just so the lines of our Constitution were framed in old eras of sparse population, few wants, and simple habits; and we adhere in seeming to their shape, though civilisation has come with its dangers, complications, and enjoyments.
It is natural that those who by special and admirable culture have come to look at all things upon the artistic side, should start back from these queer peculiarities.
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