The Altruistic Type of Government 223 



sarily under the control of its government; and when that 

 government is autocratic the force becomes easily subser- 

 vient to personal ambitions, and is used in that interest in- 

 stead of those for which it was established. 



As against this condition or tendency there is set up in 

 modern political reform, certain corrective popular rights 

 ranging from that of frequent revision of election, to that 

 of revolution; which is seen to be a necessary incident of 

 progress and advancement in many instances where opposi- 

 tion has been too long delayed. The forms of government 

 generally known as democratic provide for continual re- 

 freshing of the governing impulse, by frequent reference 

 back to the people for renewed authority, and sometimes even 

 constitutionally forbid in advance the right to retain power, 

 even with consent of the governed, beyond a limited time. 

 This system regulates in small normal frequent efforts, while 

 revolution corrects by large abnormal efforts. Yet the 

 powers exercised by the chief officer of a republic may be as 

 great as those pertaining to a king; and the occasional refer- 

 ence to popular will may be now, as it was of old, necessary 

 to the continuation in the kingship; still there is, in theory 

 and practice, a difference based upon the traditions of the 

 respective offices. The democracy is headed by an executive 

 not personally invested with authority except to put into 

 effect the mandates of the people when concurred in by 

 himself; while the king is conceded to hold office on account 

 of superior wisdom and fitness, or because of divine 

 authority related to patriarchal right. 



The form given to authority by intellectual man, as an ex- 

 pression of his latest evolution in morality, limits it to what 



