450 POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS. 



type. But while results neither definite nor important are 

 likely to be reached, the reaching of such as are promised 

 would necessitate investigation at once tedious and unsatis 

 factory. 



For such ends as are here in view, it suffices to recognize 

 the general facts above set forth. As the political head is at 

 first but a slightly-distinguished member of the group now 

 a chief whose private life and resources are like those of any 

 other warrior, now a patriarch or a feudal lord who, becoming 

 predominant over other patriarchs or other feudal lords, at first 

 lives like them on revenues derived from private possessions 

 so the assistants of the political head take their rise from 

 the personal connexions, friends, servants, around him : they 

 are those who stand to him in private relations of blood, or 

 liking, or service. With the extension of territory, the in 

 crease of affairs, and the growth of classes having special 

 interests, there come into play influences which differentiate 

 some of those who surround the ruler into public functionaries, 

 distinguished from members of his family and his household. 

 And these influences, joined with special circumstances, de 

 termine the kinds of public men who come into power. 

 Where the absoluteness of the political head is little or not 

 at all restrained, he makes arbitrary choice irrespective of 

 rank, occupation, or origin. If, being predominant, there are 

 nevertheless classes of whom he is jealous, exclusion of these 

 becomes his policy ; while if his predominance is inadequate, 

 representatives of such classes are forced into office. And 

 this foreshadows the system under which, along with decline 

 of monarchical power, there grows up an incorporated body 

 of ministers having for its recognized function to execute 

 the public will 



