They were just competent to make a selection between two sets of superior ideas; or rather--for the conceptions of such people are more personal than abstract--between two opposing parties, each professing a creed of such ideas.
Bagehot discusses the limited decision-making capabilities of minor English shopkeepers in political matters.
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But as soon as the House met, Lord Thurlow became the greatest.
They say, We reject your Bill for this once or these twice, or even these thrice: but if you keep on sending it up, at last we won't reject it.
Savages waste away before modern civilisation; they seem to have held their ground before the ancient.
If the above reasoning be sound, compulsory constituencies are necessary, voluntary constituencies destructive; the optional transferability of votes is not a salutary aid, but a ruinous innovation.
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