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The political characteristic of the early Greeks, and of the early Romans, too, is that out of the tentacula of a monarchy they developed the organs of a republic.
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Walter Bagehot
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gutenberg.orgWalter Bagehot: “The political characteristic of the early Greeks, and of the early Romans, too, is that out of the tentacula of a…”
Editor's note · Context
Bagehot notes the transition from monarchy to republicanism in ancient societies, highlighting a significant political evolution.
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They are above corruption because they are the corruptors.
In early society, originality in life was forbidden and repressed by the fixed rule of life.
We have thus a whole group of ancient republics of non-Aryan race, and one which, being more ancient than the classical republics, could not have borrowed from or imitated them.
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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