audacity of elected persons," but
these outbursts are commonly accepted as manifestations of intolerable
conditions; and while the outbursts are repressed means are taken by
Government to amend the conditions. When the Government fails to amend
things, the House of Commons takes the matter up; and if the Commons
neglect to do so, then the electors make it plain that amendment and reform
are necessary by returning men to Parliament pledged to change matters, and
by rejecting those who have failed to meet the situation.

THE OBVIOUS DANGERS

The dangers that threaten democracy are obvious. Universal adult suffrage,
short Parliaments, proportional representation, equal electoral districts,
second ballots--none of these things can insure democracy against
corruption. For a government which rests on the will of a people--a will
expressed by the election of representatives--is inevitably exposed to all
the evils attendant on the unruly wills and affections of the average man.

The orator can play upon the feelings of the crowd, and sway multitudes
against a better judgment; and he has greater chance of working mischief
when a referendum or other direct instrument of democracy is in vogue than
he has when government is by elected representatives. For the party system,
itself open to plenty of criticism, constantly defeats the orator by the
superior power of organisation. Hence it frequently happens at
Parliamentary elections that a candidate whose meetings are enthusiastic
and well attended fails lamentably at the poll. His followers are a crowd;
they are not a party. They do not know each other, and they have not the
confidence that comes of membership in a large society.

PARTY GOVERNMENT

If the orator is a menace to the wise decisions of the people by a
referendum, the party organiser and political "boss" can easily be a curse
to representative government on party lines. By all manner of unholy
devices he can secure votes for his candidate and his party, and he has
raised (or lowered) the simple business of getting the people to choose
their representative into the art of electioneering. The triumph of
political principles by the election of persons to carry out those
principles becomes of less importance than the successful working of the
party machine, when the boss and the organiser are conspicuous. Patronage
becomes the method for keeping the party in power, and the promise of
rewards and spoils enables an opposit