1 82 IDEALISM AND POLITICS 



the range of his vision so extended ; he cannot see all the 

 world at once, snugly coiled within his "system." But, 

 on the other hand, his vision is not blurred by distance 

 from affairs, nor is it confused by the mists of many different 

 views which are apt to come between the learned theoriser 

 and the facts that he wishes to know. His contact with his 

 problems is direct. He deals not only with opinions but 

 with needs, not with mankind but with men. Hence, he 

 does not too readily merge the waitings of his time in a 

 universal harmony ; he knows that all the hurts and pains 

 of men are particular, and is not tempted to prescribe 

 general nostrums. Having as his business to make the 

 world better in particular ways, he takes upon himself some 

 tangible portion of its burden and is liable to be taught 

 true lessons by stern facts. 



But if the practical politician has his advantages he has 

 also his own special difficulties. The " live contemporary 

 issue " which gives practical virility to his reflections is also 

 apt to distort them. Circumstance tends to limit as well as 

 to inspire his conceptions. The thing of the moment 

 earnestly conned and closely handled is apt to obscure issues 

 which may be greater, as an object held near the eye hides 

 the world. Has his own political party come into power ? 

 Then are his people to him what the British nation was to 

 the Milton of the Areopagitica, " noble and puissant, 

 rousing itself like a strong man after sleep." Is the 

 opposite party still in favour? Then are the English 

 people those of Milton's Eiconoclastes, " with a besotted and 

 degenerate baseness of spirit, except some few who yet 

 retain in them the old English fortitude and love of free- 

 dom, imbastardised from the ancient nobleness of their 

 ancestors." 



