LETTERS ON POLITICS 601

§ 10. I say our modes of election under such a supposition are simply insane. Consider a moment. If we want a head servant, we may indeed make inquiries respecting him, as we have opportunity, of every one who knows him; but we shall attach little weight to the opinions except of those whom he has served, and among these we shall be guided finally, in all probability, by the advice of some one person, whom we suppose to be the best judge of a servant’s qualities. If we want a tutor for our sons, we shall be still more earnest in our investigations, and still more guarded in our acceptance of testimony, giving weight only to the recommendation of men grave and wise. But if we want a man to be at once servant and tutor to the whole nation, and to form, in limited periods, judgment on questions which the most profound human sagacity cannot altogether fathom, and the decision of which is to affect the interests of millions, for millions of years-who this man is to be, we ask every twenty-pound householder in the parish, and we attach exactly equal weight to every man’s opinion!

§ 11. Nay, but, it is answered, the cases are not parallel. In the one case the man is to be your servant; in the other, he is to be the servant of every man in the parish, and every one has therefore a right to a voice in choosing him.

Unquestionably he has a right; but it is a right he will waive if he is wise. For, take another case. Four men go out to California and club their funds to buy land. Grant their resources equal (which in the case of electors they are not) so that they have all a right to a voice in the selection of the ground to be bought. One is a good geologist, the others do not know gold from iron pyrites. Will they be wise in making the choice of the land a matter of vote, or will the three give up their rights to the geologist, and let him choose for all? Exactly in like manner when golden men, the Heads of Gold, are to be sought for, instead of golden rocks, a nation, if it is not

XII. 2Q

[Version 0.04: March 2008]