CHAPTER XX 



Who, then, 's more entitled to inspire the laws, 

 Who'd take more interest in the common cause, 



Than he with good at heart? 

 As barnacles on the great ship of state, 

 Politicians decrease its fast sailing rate 

 And have no cares for its final fate ; 



They know no chart. 



It is, of course, quite impossible to consider this 

 question apart from politics. Few questions in this 

 country can be considered in this detached way. In 

 this case it happens that there is a very direct and 

 intimate connection between the reform proposed 

 and politics — not party politics, but politics in the 

 larger and more scientific sense. The air is full of 

 talk about political reform. The abuses, injustices 

 and oppressions incident to the business of govern- 

 ment in this country are dwelt on with much em- 

 phasis. All know that corruption abounds on every 

 hand, that graft is almost the law of our political life, 

 that extravagance is the rule, that favoritism is prev- 

 alent, and that those with the strongest "pull" get 

 the greatest consideration. There is discrimination 

 everywhere, and it is in favor of the strong and 

 against the weak. The law itself is too often the 



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