for a
party to change its opinion or alter its policy; on the contrary, it is
essential to progress. The majority must often modify its policy in the
light of the criticism of the minority, and the minority must often drop
the unpopular proposals which have put it in a minority. These features
are all essential to the working of the political machine.

+The Character of Representatives.+--Granting that all sections of each
party can be induced to work together, the beneficial effect on the
character of representatives would be incalculable. Instead of being
forced to pander to every small section for support, they would appeal
to all sections. The enlarged electorates which are contemplated would
be arranged to embrace the widest diversity of interest, and a
representative would then be free to follow his own independent
judgment, unfettered by the dictation of small cliques. His actions
might offend some sections who supported his election; but he has a wide
field, and may gain the support of other sections by them. Therefore, he
may actually improve his position by gaining more supporters than he
loses. Contrast this with the present system, in which the
representatives are cooped up in single-membered electorates to denned
sets of supporters. The very principle of community of interest on which
these electorates must be arranged in order to get a fair result is
destructive of the idea of representation. It is no wonder, then, that
the present system is tending towards delegation. Local delegation we
have always had, more or less, but we are now threatened by class
delegation also.

The conclusion of Mr. Kent in "The English Radicals" may be quoted on
this point. He says:--

The question of the relationship of members to their constituents
is at the present time perplexed and undetermined; for though the
control of Parliament by the people is an indisputable fact, yet it
is maintained by means of quite another kind from those which the
early Radicals proposed. The result is somewhat paradoxical, for
while the system of pledges has been contemptuously rejected, yet
the theory that a member is a delegate tacitly prevails in English
politics. That members of the House of Commons have tended and do
tend to lose their independence it is impossible to doubt. A
distinguished French publicist, M. Boutmy, for instance, has
remarked the fact; and he thinks that in conse