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e done？〃 growls Smelfungus； tired of the subject： 〃They have doubled their population every twenty years。 They have begotten； with a rapidity beyond recorded example； Eighteen Millions of the greatest _bores_ ever seen in this world before；that hitherto is their feat in History！〃And so we leave them； for the present； and cannot predict the success of Democracy； on this side of the Atlantic； from their example。
Alas； on this side of the Atlantic and on that； Democracy； we apprehend； is forever impossible！ So much； with certainty of loud astonished contradiction from all manner of men at present； but with sure appeal to the Law of Nature and the ever…abiding Fact； may be suggested and asserted once more。 The Universe itself is a Monarchy and Hierarchy； large liberty of 〃voting〃 there； all manner of choice； utmost free…will； but with conditions inexorable and immeasurable annexed to every exercise of the same。 A most free commonwealth of 〃voters；〃 but with Eternal Justice to preside over it； Eternal Justice enforced by Almighty Power！ This is the model of 〃constitutions；〃 this： nor in any Nation where there has not yet （in some supportable and withal some constantly increasing degree） been confided to the _Noblest_； with his select series of _Nobler_； the divine everlasting duty of directing and controlling the Ignoble； has the 〃Kingdom of God；〃 which we all pray for； 〃come；〃 nor can 〃His will〃 even _tend_ to be 〃done on Earth as it is in Heaven〃 till then。 My Christian friends； and indeed my Sham…Christian and Anti…Christian； and all manner of men； are invited to reflect on this。 They will find it to be the truth of the case。 The Noble in the high place； the Ignoble in the low； that is； in all times and in all countries； the Almighty Maker's Law。
To raise the Sham…Noblest； and solemnly consecrate him by whatever method； new…devised； or slavishly adhered to from old wont； this； little as we may regard it； is； in all times and countries； a practical blasphemy； and Nature will in nowise forget it。 Alas； there lies the origin； the fatal necessity； of modern Democracy everywhere。 It is the Noblest； not the Sham…Noblest； it is God…Almighty's Noble； not the Court…Tailor's Noble； nor the Able…Editor's Noble； that must； in some approximate degree； be raised to the supreme place； he and not a counterfeit；under penalties！ Penalties deep as death； and at length terrible as hell…on…earth； my constitutional friend！Will the ballot…box raise the Noblest to the chief place； does any sane man deliberately believe such a thing？ That nevertheless is the indispensable result； attain it how we may： if that is attained； all is attained； if not that； nothing。 He that cannot believe the ballot…box to be attaining it； will be comparatively indifferent to the ballot…box。 Excellent for keeping the ship's crew at peace under their Phantasm Captain； but unserviceable； under such； for getting round Cape Horn。 Alas； that there should be human beings requiring to have these things argued of； at this late time of day！
I say； it is the everlasting privilege of the foolish to be governed by the wise； to be guided in the right path by those who know it better than they。 This is the first 〃right of man；〃 compared with which all other rights are as nothing；mere superfluities； corollaries which will follow of their own accord out of this； if they be not contradictions to this； and less than nothing！ To the wise it is not a privilege； far other indeed。 Doubtless； as bringing preservation to their country； it implies preservation of themselves withal； but intrinsically it is the harshest duty a wise man； if he be indeed wise； has laid to his hand。 A duty which he would fain enough shirk； which accordingly； in these sad times of doubt and cowardly sloth； he has long everywhere been endeavoring to reduce to its minimum； and has in fact in most cases nearly escaped altogether。 It is an ungoverned world； a world which we flatter ourselves will henceforth need no governing。 On the dust of our heroic ancestors we too sit ballot…boxing； saying to one another； It is well； it is well！ By inheritance of their noble struggles； we have been permitted to sit slothful so long。 By noble toil ； not by shallow laughter and vain talk； they made this English Existence from a savage forest into an arable inhabitable field for us； and we； idly dreaming it would grow spontaneous crops forever；find it now in a too questionable state； peremptorily requiring real labor and agriculture again。 Real 〃agriculture〃 is not pleasant； much pleasanter to reap and winnow （with ballot…box or otherwise） than to plough！
Who would govern that can get along without governing？ He that is fittest for it； is of all men the unwillingest unless constrained。 By multifarious devices we have been endeavoring to dispense with governing； and by very superficial speculations； of _laissez…faire_； supply…and…demand； &c。 &c。 to persuade ourselves that it is best so。 The Real Captain； unless it be some Captain of mechanical Industry hired by Mammon； where is he in these days？ Most likely； in silence； in sad isolation somewhere； in remote obscurity； trying if； in an evil ungoverned time； he cannot at least govern himself。 The Real Captain undiscoverable； the Phantasm Captain everywhere very conspicuous：it is thought Phantasm Captains； aided by ballot…boxes； are the true method； after all。 They are much the pleasantest for the time being！ And so no _Dux_ or Duke of any sort； in any province of our affairs； now _leads_： the Duke's Bailiff _leads_； what little leading is required for getting in the rents； and the Duke merely rides in the state…coach。 It is everywhere so： and now at last we see a world all rushing towards strange consummations； because it is and has long been so！
I do not suppose any reader of mine； or many persons in England at all； have much faith in Fraternity； Equality and the Revolutionary Millenniums preached by the French Prophets in this age： but there are many movements here too which tend inevitably in the like direction； and good men； who would stand aghast at Red Republic and its adjuncts； seem to me travelling at full speed towards that or a similar goal！ Certainly the notion everywhere prevails among us too； and preaches itself abroad in every dialect； uncontradicted anywhere so far as I can hear； That the grand panacea for social woes is what we call 〃enfranchisement；〃 〃emancipation；〃 or； translated into practical language； the cutting asunder of human relations； wherever they are found grievous； as is like to be pretty universally the case at the rate we have been going for some generations past。 Let us all be 〃free〃 of one another； we shall then be happy。 Free； without bond or connection except that of cash…payment； fair day's wages for the fair day's work； bargained for by voluntary contract； and law of supply…and…demand： this is thought to be the true solution of all difficulties and injustices that have occurred between man and man。
To rectify the relation that exists between two men； is there no method； then； but that of ending it？ The old relation has become unsuitable； obsolete； perhaps unjust； it imperatively requires to be amended； and