NOTES 307 



moved from the charge of one department to that of another ; 

 and it is notoriously the opinion of the officials of the depart- 

 ments that their political heads seldom possess any capacity 

 for organisation, knowledge of business, or acquaintance with 

 the details of official work. 



Our Ministers are, in fact, generally selected by the poli- 

 tical cliques because of birth, influence, capacity for public 

 speaking, and, chiefly, because by dint of skilful advertisement 

 or hustings-oratory their names have become widely known 

 to the public. What evidently tells most in the aspirant for 

 political position is the advocacy of some political novelty, 

 some universal political panacea, urged with burning eloquence 

 — the sort of thing which establishes the success of a new 

 patent medicine. Their popular reputation once secured, 

 nothing can oust them from present or future employment ; 

 and for no degree of demerit can they ever suffer impeach- 

 ment. They become political histrions, rivals of the popular 

 heroes of the stage ; and the premier becomes an actor- 

 manager anxious to have as many stars as possible in his galaxy. 



Neither people nor Parliament seems to possess any real 

 control over their executive doings. Their answers to inter- 

 polations and deputations are often intentionally misleading, 

 because they tend to look upon such matters as vulgar im- 

 pertinence — like the booing of a displeased spectator in the 

 gallery. What is really done under them in the public depart- 

 ments is never known, or, if it is known through a royal com- 

 mission, brings no real censure upon them. Their very speeches 

 are generally mere rescripts of previous newspaper articles, 

 uttered before appreciative audiences of the same party, and 

 containing as little truth as a commercial advertisement. 



On the other hand, they are generally men of ability, and 

 are often sincere, energetic, and hard-working. But that is 

 not the question. The world's rulers should be not only able 

 men, but the most able men procurable. The question is 

 ultimately that of genuine intellectual predominance. 



Summary 



At present, then, this country is really ruled by an oligarchy 

 consisting of say a hundred thousand professional politicians, 

 political wire-pullers, and journalists who sell their newspapers 

 chiefly by means of party propagandas. The system can be 



