3i6 MODERN POLITICS 



the Welsh and the Irish afford us reason for 

 believing that these Mediterranean peoples ex- 

 tended up the west of Europe to the British Isles. 

 But here the admixture of northern or Baltic 

 blood was larger ; indeed it appears that in 

 England at the time of the Norman Conquest the 

 dark complexioned inhabitants had been dis- 

 placed very extensively indeed by Danes and 

 Saxons. With us, then, the conflict between the 

 people and the aristocracy (which has recently 

 eventuated in the withdrawal of the veto from 

 the House of Lords) has not been of so racial a 

 character or so bitter as, for instance, in France. 

 The nobles and the people have been in great 

 measure blood relations, and the classes who were 

 conquered have not been insulted by the physical 

 contempt which would have denied them the 

 right of intermarriage with the aristocracy. The 

 enfranchisement of the masses has accordingly 

 come about through gradual and peaceful stages. 

 In France it was obtained by an outpouring of the 

 hate of a rancorous helotage. The subject popu- 

 lations of Wales and Ireland have been unable to 

 accomplish so drastic a revolution. But they 

 have, nevertheless, been enfranchised, and have, 

 naturally, turned their votes to abate the pre- 

 tensions of their alien conquerors. 



We must not, however, figure the advance of 

 democracy as the spreading of a slow, resistless 

 flood. When a people has become accustomed to 

 subjection, they accept their chains as the bonds 

 of habit, and will not rise to throw them off unless 

 they are encouraged by a popular leader. They 

 have become used to tyranny, they take no 

 interest in State affairs, and, if gross injustice 

 arouses them to spasmodic rioting, they are easily 

 quieted by disciplined forces. Leaders of energy 

 and intelligence are required, and they have very 



