THEMANWHOTHINKSBACKWARDS
Themanwhothinksbackwardsisaverypowerfulpersonto-day:indeed，ifheisnotomnipotent，heisatleastomnipresent。Itishewhowritesnearlyallthelearnedbooksandarticles，especiallyofthescientificorskepticalsort；allthearticlesonEugenicsandSocialEvolutionandPrisonReformandtheHigherCriticismandalltherestofit。Butespeciallyitisthisstrangeandtortuousbeingwhodoesmostofthewritingaboutfemaleemancipationandthereconsideringofmarriage。Forthemanwhothinksbackwardsisveryfrequentlyawoman。
Thinkingbackwardsisnotquiteeasytodefineabstractedly；and，perhaps，thesimplestmethodistotakesomeobject，asplainaspossible，andfromitillustratethetwomodesofthought:therightmodeinwhichallrealresultshavebeenrooted；thewrongmode，whichisconfusingallourcurrentdiscussions，especiallyourdiscussionsabouttherelationsofthesexes。Castingmyeyeroundtheroom，Inoticeanobjectwhichisoftenmentionedinthehigherandsubtlerofthesedebatesaboutthesexes:Imeanapoker。Iwilltakeapokerandthinkaboutit；firstforwardsandthenbackwards；andso，perhaps，showwhatImean。
Thesagedesiringtothinkwellandwiselyaboutapokerwillbeginsomewhatasfollows:AmongthelivecreaturesthatcrawlaboutthisstarthequeerestisthethingcalledMan。Thispluckedandplumelessbird，comicandforlorn，isthebuttofallthephilosophies。Heistheonlynakedanimal；andthisquality，once，itissaid，hisglory，isnowhisshame。Hehastogooutsidehimselfforeverythingthathewants。Hemightalmostbeconsideredasanabsent-mindedpersonwhohadgonebathingandlefthisclotheseverywhere，sothathehashunghishatuponthebeaverandhiscoatuponthesheep。Therabbithaswhitewarmthforawaistcoat，andtheglow-wormhasalanternforahead。Butmanhasnoheatinhishide，andthelightinhisbodyisdarkness；andhemustlookforlightandwarmthinthewild，colduniverseinwhichheiscast。
Thisisequallytrueofhissoulandofhisbody；heistheonecreaturethathaslosthisheartasmuchashehaslosthishide。Inaspiritualsensehehastakenleaveofhissenses；andeveninaliteralsensehehasbeenunabletokeephishairon。Andjustasthisexternalneedofhishaslitinhisdarkbrainthedreadfulstarcalledreligion，soithaslitinhishandtheonlyadequatesymbolofit:ImeantheredflowercalledFire。Fire，themostmagicandstartlingofallmaterialthings，isathingknownonlytomanandtheexpressionofhissublimeexternalism。Itembodiesallthatishumaninhishearthsandallthatisdivineonhisaltars。Itisthemost，humanthingintheworld；seenacrosswastesofmarshormedleysofforest，itisveritablythepurpleandgoldenflagofthesonsofEve。Butthereisaboutthisgenerousandrejoicingthinganalienandawfulquality:thequalityoftorture。Itspresenceislife；itstouchisdeath。Therefore，itisalwaysnecessarytohaveanintermediarybetweenourselvesandthisdreadfuldeity；tohaveapriesttointercedeforuswiththegodoflifeanddeath；tosendanambassadortothefire。Thatpriestisthepoker。Madeofamaterialmoremercilessandwarlikethantheotherinstrumentsofdomesticity，hammeredontheanvilandbornitselfintheflame，thepokerisstrongenoughtoentertheburningfieryfurnace，and，liketheholychildren，notbeconsumed。Inthisheroicserviceitisoftenbatteredandtwisted，butisthemorehonourableforit，likeanyothersoldierwhohasbeenunderfire。
Nowallthismaysoundveryfancifulandmystical，butitistherightviewofpokers，andnoonewhotakesitwillevergoinforanywrongviewofpokers，suchasusingthemtobeatone\'swifeortortureone\'schildren，oreventhoughthatismoreexcusabletomakeapolicemanjump，astheclowndoesinthepantomime。Hewhohasthusgonebacktothebeginning，andseeneverythingasquaintandnew，willalwaysseethingsintheirrightorder，theonedependingontheotherindegreeofpurposeandimportance:thepokerforthefireandthefireforthemanandthemanforthegloryofGod。
Thisisthinkingforwards。Nowourmoderndiscussionsabouteverything，Imperialism，Socialism，orVotesforWomen，areallentangledinanoppositetrainofthought，whichrunsasfollows:-Amodernintellectualcomesinandseesapoker。Heisapositivist；hewillnotbeginwithanydogmasaboutthenatureofman，oranyday-dreamsaboutthemysteryoffire。Hewillbeginwithwhathecansee，thepoker；andthefirstthingheseesaboutthepokeristhatitiscrooked。Hesays，\"Poorpoker；it\'scrooked。”Thenheaskshowitcametobecrooked；andistoldthatthereisathingintheworldwithwhichhistemperamenthashithertolefthimunacquainted——athingcalledfire。Hepointsout，verykindlyandclearly，howsillyitisofpeople，iftheywantastraightpoker，toputitintoachemicalcombustionwhichwillveryprobablyheatandwarpit。\"Letusabolishfire，\"hesays，\"andthenweshallhaveperfectlystraightpokers。Whyshouldyouwantafireatall？\"TheyexplaintohimthatacreaturecalledManwantsafire，becausehehasnofurorfeathers。Hegazesdreamilyattheembersforafewseconds，andthenshakeshishead。\"Idoubtifsuchananimalisworthpreserving，\"hesays。\"Hemusteventuallygounderinthecosmicstrugglewhenpittedagainstwell-armouredandwarmlyprotectedspecies，whohavewingsandtrunksandspiresandscalesandhornsandshaggyhair。
IfMancannotlivewithouttheseluxuries，youhadbetterabolishMan。”
Atthispoint，asarule，thecrowdisconvinced；itheavesupallitsclubsandaxes，andabolisheshim。Atleast，oneofhim。
Beforewebegindiscussingourvariousnewplansforthepeople\'swelfare，letusmakeakindofagreementthatwewillargueinastraightforwardway，andnotinatail-foremostway。Thetypicalmodernmovementsmayberight；butletthembedefendedbecausetheyareright，notbecausetheyaretypicalmodernmovements。Letusbeginwiththeactualwomanormaninthestreet，whoiscold；likemankindbeforethefindingoffire。Donotletusbeginwiththeendofthelastred-hotdiscussion——liketheendofaredhotpoker。Imperialismmayberight。Butifitisright，itisrightbecauseEnglandhassomedivineauthoritylikeIsrael，orsomehumanauthoritylikeRome；notbecausewehavesaddledourselveswithSouthAfrica，anddon\'tknowhowtogetridofit。Socialismmaybetrue。
Butifitistrue，itistruebecausethetribeorthecitycanreallydeclarealllandtobecommonland，notbecauseHarrod\'sStoresexistandthecommonwealthmustcopythem。Femalesuffragemaybejust。Butifitisjust，itisjustbecausewomenarewomen，notbecausewomenaresweatedworkersandwhiteslavesandallsortsofthingsthattheyoughtnevertohavebeen。LetnottheImperialistacceptacolonybecauseitisthere，northeSuffragistseizeavotebecauseitislyingabout，northeSocialistbuyupanindustrymerelybecauseitisforsale。
Letusaskourselvesfirstwhatwereallydowant，notwhatrecentlegaldecisionshavetoldustowant，orrecentlogicalphilosophies\'provedthatwemustwant，orrecentsocialpropheciespredictedthatweshallsomedaywant。IftheremustbeaBritishEmpire，letitbeBritish，andnot，inmerepanic，AmericanorPrussian。Ifthereoughttobefemalesuffrage，letitbefemale，andnotamereimitationascoarseasthemaleblackguardorasdullasthemaleclerk。IfthereistobeSocialism，letitbesocial；thatis，asdifferentaspossiblefromallthebigcommercialdepartmentsofto-day。
Thereallygoodjourneymantailordoesnotcuthiscoataccordingtohiscloth；heasksformorecloth。Thereallypracticalstatesmandoesnotfithimselftoexistingconditions，hedenouncestheconditionsasunfit。Historyislikesomedeeplyplantedtreewhich，thoughgiganticingirth，tapersawayatlastintotinytwigs；andweareinthetopmostbranches。Eachofusistryingtobendthetreebyatwig:toalterEnglandthroughadistantcolony，ortocapturetheStatethroughasmallStatedepartment，ortodestroyallvotingthroughavote。Inallsuchbewildermentheiswisewhoresiststhistemptationoftrivialtriumphorsurrender，andhappyinanechooftheRomanpoetwhorememberstherootsofthings。
THENAMELESSMAN
Thereareonlytwoformsofgovernmentthemonarchyorpersonalgovernment，andtherepublicorimpersonalgovernment。Englandisnotagovernment；Englandisananarchy，becausetherearesomanykings。Butthereisonerealadvantageamongmanyrealdisadvantagesinthemethodofabstractdemocracy，andthatisthis:thatunderimpersonalgovernmentpoliticsaresomuchmorepersonal。InFranceandAmerica，wheretheStateisanabstraction，politicalargumentisquitefullofhumandetails——somemightevensayofinhumandetails。ButinEngland，preciselybecauseweareruledbypersonages，thesepersonagesdonotpermitpersonalities。InEnglandnamesarehonoured，andthereforenamesaresuppressed。Butintherepublics，inFranceespecially，amancanputhisenemies\'namesintohisarticleandhisownnameattheendofit。
Thisistheessentialconditionofsuchcandour。Ifwemerelymadeouranonymousarticlesmoreviolent，weshouldbebaserthanwearenow。Weshouldonlybearmingmaskedmenwithdaggersinsteadofcudgels。AndI，forone，havealwaysbelievedinthemoregeneralsigningofarticles，andhavesignedmyownarticlesonmanyoccasionswhen，heavenknows，I
hadlittlereasontobevainofthem。Ihaveheardmanyargumentsforanonymity；buttheyallseemtoamounttothestatementthatanonymityissafe，whichisjustwhatIcomplainof。Inmattersoftruththefactthatyoudon\'twanttopublishsomethingis，ninetimesoutoften，aproofthatyououghttopublishit。
Butthereisoneanswertomyperpetualpleaforamanputtinghisnametohiswriting。Thereisoneanswer，andthereisonlyoneanswer，anditisnevergiven。Itisthatinthemoderncomplexityveryoftenaman\'snameisalmostasfalseashispseudonym。Theprominentpersonto-
dayiseternallytryingtoloseaname，andtogetatitle。Forinstance，weallreadwithearnestnessandpatiencethepagesofthe\'DailyMail\'，andtherearetimeswhenwefeelmovedtocry，\"Bringtousthemanwhothoughtthesestrangethoughts!Pursuehim，capturehim，takegreatcareofhim。Bringhimbacktoustenderly，likesomepreciousbaleofsilk，thatwemaylookuponthefaceofthemanwhodesiressuchthingstobeprinted。Letusknowhisname；hissocialandmedicalpedigree。”Butinthemodernmuddleitmightbesaidhowlittleshouldwegainifthosefranklyfatuoussheetswereindeedsubscribedbythemanwhohadinspiredthem。SupposethataftereveryarticlestatingthatthePremierisapiraticalSocialisttherewereprintedthesimpleword\"Northcliffe。”
Whatdoesthatsimplewordsuggesttothesimplesoul？TomysimplesouluninstructedotherwiseitsuggestsaloftyandlonelycragsomewhereinthewintryseastowardstheOrkheysorNorway；andbarelyclingingtothetopofthiscragthefortressofsomeforgottenchieftain。Asithappens，ofcourse，Iknowthattheworddoesnotmeanthis；itmeansanotherFleetStreetjournalistlikemyselforonlydifferentfrommyselfinsofarashehassoughttosecuremoneywhileIhavesoughttosecureajollytime。
Atitledoesnotnowevenserveasadistinction:itdoesnotdistinguish。
Acoronetisnotmerelyanextinguisher:itisahiding-place。
Butthereallyoddthingisthis。Thisfalsequalityintitlesdoesnotmerelyapplytothenewandvulgartitles，buttotheoldandhistorictitlesalso。ForhundredsofyearstitlesinEnglandhavebeenessentiallyunmeaning；voidofthatveryweakandveryhumaninstinctinwhichtitlesoriginated。InessentialnonsenseofapplicationthereisnothingtochoosebetweenNorthcliffeandNorfolk。TheDukeofNorfolkmeansasmyexquisiteandlaboriousknowledgeofLatininformsmetheLeaderofNorfolk。Itisidletotalkagainstrepresentativegovernmentorforit。Allgovernmentisrepresentativegovernmentuntilitbeginstodecay。Unfortunatelyasisalsoevidentallgovernmentbeginstodecaytheinstantitbeginstogovern。Allaristocratswerefirstmeantasenvoysofdemocracy；andmostenvoysofdemocracylosenotimeinbecomingaristocrats。Bytheoldessentialhumannotion，theDukeofNorfolkoughtsimplytobethefirstormostmanifestofNorfolkmen。
IseegrowingandfillingoutbeforemetheimageofanactualDukeofNorfolk。Forinstance，Norfolkmenallmaketheirvoicesrunupveryhighattheendofasentence。TheDukeofNorfolk\'svoice，therefore，oughttoendinaperfectshriek。TheyoftenIamtoldendsentenceswiththeword\"together\"；entirelyirrespectiveofitsmeaning。ThusI
shallexpecttheDukeofNorfolktosay:\"Ibegtosecondthemotiontogether\"；or\"Thisisagreatconstitutionalquestiontogether。”I
shallexpecthimtoknowmuchabouttheBroadsandthesluggishriversabovethem；toknowabouttheshootingofwater-fowl，andnottoknowtoomuchaboutanythingelse。Ofmountainshemustbewildlyandludicrouslyignorant。HemusthavethefreshnessofNorfolk；nay，eventheflatnessofNorfolk。Hemustremindmeofthewateryexpanses，thegreatsquarechurchtowersandthelonglevelsunsetsofEastEngland。Ifhedoesnotdothis，Ideclinetoknowhim。
Ineednotmultiplysuchcases；theprincipleapplieseverywhere。ThusI
loseallinterestintheDukeofDevonshireunlesshecanassuremethathissoulisfilledwiththatstrangewarmPuritanism，Puritanismshotwithromance，whichcolourstheWestCountry。Hemusteatnothingbutclottedcream，drinknothingbutcider，readingnothingbut\'LornaDoone\'，andbeunacquaintedwithanytownlargerthanPlymouth，whichhemustregardwithsomeawe，astheCentralBabylonoftheworld。Again，I
shouldexpectthePrinceofWalesalwaystobefullofthemysticismanddreamyardouroftheCelticfringe。
Perhapsitmaybethoughtthatthesedemandsarealittleextreme；andthatourfancyisrunningawaywithus。Nevertheless，itisnotmyDukeofDevonshirewhoisfunny；buttherealDukeofDevonshire。Thepointisthattheschemeoftitlesisamisfitthroughout:hardlyanywheredowefindamodernmanwhosenameandrankrepresentinanywayhistype，hislocality，orhismodeoflife。Asamerematterofsocialcomedy，thethingisworthnoticing。Youwillmeetamanwhosenamesuggestsagoutyadmiral，andyouwillfindhimexactlylikeatimidorganist:youwillhearannouncedthenameofahaughtyandalmostheathengrandedame，andbeholdtheentranceofanice，smilingChristiancook。Thesearelightcomplicationsofthecentralfactofthefalsificationofallnamesandranks。Ourpeersarelikeapartyofmediaevalknightswhoshouldhaveexchangedshields，crests，andpennons。ForthepresentruleseemstobethattheDukeofSussexmaylawfullyownthewholeofEssex；andthattheMarquisofCornwallmayownallthehillsandvalleyssolongastheyarenotCornish。
Thecluetoallthistangleisassimpleasitisterrible。IfEnglandisanaristocracy，Englandisdying。IfthissystemISthecountry，assomesay，thecountryisstiffeningintomorethanthepompandparalysisofChina。Itisthefinalsignofimbecilityinapeoplethatitcallscatsdogsanddescribesthesunasthemoon——andisveryparticularabouttheprecisenessofthesepseudonyms。Tobewrong，andtobecarefullywrong，thatisthedefinitionofdecadence。Thediseasecalledaphasia，inwhichpeoplebeginbysayingteawhentheymeancoffee，commonlyendsintheirsilence。Silenceofthisstiffsortisthechiefmarkofthepowerfulpartsofmodernsociety。Theyallseemstrainingtokeepthingsinratherthantoletthingsout。Forthekingsoffinancespeechlessnessiscountedawayofbeingstrong，thoughitshouldratherbecountedawayofbeingsly。BythistimetheParliamentdoesnotparleyanymorethantheSpeakerspeaks。Eventhenewspapereditorsandproprietorsaremoredespoticanddangerousbywhattheydonotutterthanbywhattheydo。Wehaveallheardtheexpression\"goldensilence。”
Theexpression\"brazensilence\"istheonlyadequatephraseforoureditors。Ifwewakeoutofthisthrottled，gaping，andwordlessnightmare，wemustawakewithayell。TheRevolutionthatreleasesEnglandfromthefixedfalsityofitspresentpositionwillbenotlessnoisythanotherrevolutions。Itwillcontain，Ifear，agreatdealofthatrudeaccomplishmentdescribedamonglittleboysas\"callingnames\"；
butthatwillnotmattermuchsolongastheyaretherightnames。
THEGARDENERANDTHEGUINEA
Strictlyspeaking，thereisnosuchthingasanEnglishPeasant。Indeed，thetypecanonlyexistincommunity，somuchdoesitdependonco-
operationandcommonlaws。OnemustnotthinkprimarilyofaFrenchPeasant；anymorethanofaGermanMeasle。Thepluralofthewordisitsproperform；youcannothaveaPeasanttillyouhaveapeasantry。TheessenceofthePeasantidealisequality；andyoucannotbeequalallbyyourself。
Nevertheless，becausehumannaturealwayscravesandhalfcreatesthethingsnecessarytoitshappiness，thereareapproximationsandsuggestionsofthepossibilityofsucharaceevenhere。ThenearestapproachIknowtothetemperofaPeasantinEnglandisthatofthecountrygardener；not，ofcourse，thegreatscientificgardenerattachedtothegreathouses；heisarichman\'sservantlikeanyother。Imeanthesmalljobbinggardenerwhoworksfortwoorthreemoderate-sizedgardens；whoworksonhisown；whosometimesevenownshishouse；andwhofrequentlyownshistools。ThiskindofmanhasreallysomeofthecharacteristicsofthetruePeasant——especiallythecharacteristicsthatpeopledon\'tlike。HehasnoneofthatirresponsiblemirthwhichistheconsolationofmostpoormeninEngland。Thegardenerisevendislikedsometimesbytheownersoftheshrubsandflowers；becauselikeMicaiah
heprophesiesnotgoodconcerningthem，butevil。TheEnglishgardenerisgrim，critical，self-respecting；sometimeseveneconomical。Noristhisasthereader\'slightningwitwillflashbackatmemerelybecausetheEnglishgardenerisalwaysaScotchgardener。ThetypedoesexistinpureSouthEnglandbloodandspeech；Ihavespokentothetype。Iwasspeakingtothetypeonlytheotherevening，whenaratheroddlittleincidentoccurred。
Itwasoneofthosewonderfuleveningsinwhichtheskywaswarmandradiantwhiletheearthwasstillcomparativelycoldandwet。ButitisoftheessenceofSpringtobeunexpected；asinthatheroicandhackneyedlineaboutcoming\"beforetheswallowdares。”SpringneverisSpringunlessitcomestoosoon。Andonadaylikethatonemightpray，withoutanyprofanity，thatSpringmightcomeonearthasitwasinheaven。Thegardenerwasgardening。Iwasnotgardening。Itisneedlesstoexplainthecausesofthisdifference；itwouldbetotellthetremendoushistoryoftwosouls。Itisneedlessbecausethereisamoreimmediateexplanationofthecase:thegardenerandI，ifnotequalinagreement，wereatleastequalindifference。ItisquitecertainthathewouldnothaveallowedmetotouchthegardenifIhadgonedownonmykneestohim。AnditisbynomeanscertainthatIshouldhaveconsentedtotouchthegardenifhehadgonedownonhiskneestome。
Hisactivityandmyidleness，therefore，wentonsteadilysidebysidethroughthelongsunsethours。
AndallthetimeIwasthinkingwhatashameitwasthathewasnotstickinghisspadeintohisowngarden，insteadofmine:heknewabouttheearthandtheunderworldofseeds，theresurrectionofSpringandtheflowersthatappearinorderlikeaprocessionmarshalledbyaherald。
Hepossessedthegardenintellectuallyandspiritually，whileIonlypossesseditpolitically。Iknowmoreaboutflowersthancoal-ownersknowaboutcoal；foratleastIpaythemhonourwhentheyarebroughtabovethesurfaceoftheearth。Iknowmoreaboutgardensthanrailwayshareholdersseemtoknowaboutrailways:foratleastIknowthatitneedsamantomakeagarden；amanwhosenameisAdam。ButasIwalkedonthatgrassmyignoranceoverwhelmedme——andyetthatphraseisfalse，becauseitsuggestssomethinglikeastormfromtheskyabove。Itistruertosaythatmyignoranceexplodedunderneathme，likeamineduglongbefore；andindeeditwasdugbeforethebeginningoftheages。
Greenbombsofbulbsandseedswereburstingunderneathmeeverywhere；
and，sofarasmyknowledgewent，theyhadbeenlaidbyaconspirator。I
trodquiteuneasilyonthisuprushoftheearth；theSpringisalwaysonlyafruitfulearthquake。WiththelandallaliveundermeIbegantowondermoreandmorewhythisman，whohadmadethegarden，didnotownthegarden。IfIstuckaspadeintotheground，IshouldbeastonishedatwhatIfoundthere……andjustasIthoughtthisIsawthatthegardenerwasastonishedtoo。
JustasIwaswonderingwhythemanwhousedthespadedidnotprofitbythespade，hebroughtmesomethinghehadfoundactuallyinmysoil。ItwasathinworngoldpieceoftheGeorges，ofthesortwhicharecalled，Ibelieve，SpadeGuineas。Anyhow，apieceofgold。
IfyoudonotseetheparableasIsawitjustthen，IdoubtifIcanexplainitjustnow。Hecouldmakeahundredotherroundyellowfruits:
andthisflatyellowoneistheonlysortthatIcanmake。HowitcamethereIhavenotanotion——unlessEdmundBurkedroppeditinhishurrytogetbacktoButler\'sCourt。Butthereitwas:thisisacoldrecitaloffacts。Theremaybeawholepirate\'streasurelyingundertheearththere，forallIknoworcare；forthereisnointerestinatreasurewithoutaTreasureIslandtosailto。Ifthereisatreasureitwillneverbefound，forIamnotinterestedinwealthbeyondthedreamsofavaricesinceIknowthatavaricehasnodreams，butonlyinsomnia。And，fortheotherparty，mygardenerwouldneverconsenttodigupthegarden。
Nevertheless，IwasoverwhelmedwithintellectualemotionswhenIsawthatanswertomyquestion；thequestionofwhythegardendidnotbelongtothegardener。NobetterepigramcouldbeputinreplythansimplyputtingtheSpadeGuineabesidetheSpade。ThiswastheonlyundergroundseedthatIcouldunderstand。Onlybyhavingalittlemoreofthatdull，batteredyellowsubstancecouldImanagetobeidlewhilehewasactive。
Iamnotaltogetheridlemyself；butthefactremainsthatthepowerisinthethinslipofmetalwecalltheSpadeGuinea，notinthestrongsquareandcurveofmetalwhichwecalltheSpade。AndthenIsuddenlyrememberedthatasIhadfoundgoldonmygroundbyaccident，sorichermeninthenorthandwestcountieshadfoundcoalintheirground，alsobyaccident。
Itoldthegardenerthatashehadfoundthethingheoughttokeepit，butthatifhecaredtosellittomeitcouldbevaluedproperly，andthensold。Hesaidatfirst，withcharacteristicindependence，thathewouldliketokeepit。Hesaiditwouldmakeabroochforhiswife。Butalittlelaterhebroughtitbacktomewithoutexplanation。Icouldnotgetarayoflightonthereasonofhisrefusal；buthelookedloweringandunhappy。Hadhesomemysticalinstinctthatitisjustsuchaccidentalandirrationalwealththatisthedoomofallpeasantries？
Perhapshedimlyfeltthattheboy\'spiratetalesaretrue；andthatburiedtreasureisathingforrobbersandnotforproducers。Perhapshethoughttherewasacurseonsuchcapital:onthecoalofthecoal-owners，onthegoldofthegold-seekers。Perhapsthereis。
THEVOTERANDTHETWOVOICES
TherealevilofourPartySystemiscommonlystatedwrong。ItwasstatedwrongbyLordRosebery，whenhesaidthatitpreventedthebestmenfromdevotingthemselvestopolitics，andthatitencouragedafanaticalconflict。Idoubtwhetherthebestmeneverwoulddevotethemselvestopolitics。Thebestmendevotethemselvestopigsandbabiesandthingslikethat。Andasforthefanaticalconflictinpartypolitics，Iwishtherewasmoreofit。Therealdangerofthetwopartieswiththeirtwopoliciesisthattheyundulylimittheoutlookoftheordinarycitizen。Theymakehimbarreninsteadofcreative，becauseheisneverallowedtodoanythingexceptpreferoneexistingpolicytoanother。WehavenotgotrealDemocracywhenthedecisiondependsuponthepeople。WeshallhaverealDemocracywhentheproblemdependsuponthepeople。Theordinarymanwilldecidenotonlyhowhewillvote，butwhatheisgoingtovoteabout。
Itisthiswhichinvolvessomeweaknessinmanycurrentaspirationstowardstheextensionofthesuffrage；Imeanthat，apartfromallquestionsofabstractjustice，itisnotthesmallnessorlargenessofthesuffragethatisatpresentthedifficultyofDemocracy。Itisnotthequantityofvoters，butthequalityofthethingtheyarevotingabout。Acertainalternativeisputbeforethembythepowerfulhousesandthehighestpoliticalclass。Tworoadsareopenedtothem；buttheymustgodownoneortheother。Theycannothavewhattheychoose，butonlywhichtheychoose。Tofollowtheprocessinpracticewemayputitthus。TheSuffragettes——ifonemayjudgebytheirfrequentringingofhisbell——wanttodosomethingtoMr。Asquith。Ihavenonotionwhatitis。Letussayforthesakeofargumentthattheywanttopainthimgreen。Wewillsupposethatitisentirelyforthatsimplepurposethattheyarealwaysseekingtohaveprivateinterviewswithhim；itseemsasprofitableasanyotherendthatIcanimaginetosuchaninterview。Now，itispossiblethattheGovernmentofthedaymightgoinforapositivepolicyofpaintingMr。Asquithgreen；mightgivethatreformaprominentplaceintheirprogramme。
Thenthepartyinoppositionwouldadoptanotherpolicy，notapolicyofleavingMr。Asquithalonewhichwouldbeconsidereddangerouslyrevolutionary，butsomealternativecourseofaction，as，forinstance，paintinghimred。Thenbothsideswouldflingthemselvesonthepeople，theywouldbothcrythattheappealwasnowtotheCaesarofDemocracy。Adarkanddramaticairofconflictandrealcrisiswouldariseonbothsides；arrowsofsatirewouldflyandswordsofeloquenceflame。TheGreenswouldsaythatSocialistsandfreeloversmightwellwanttopaintMr。Asquithred；theywantedtopaintthewholetownred。SocialistswouldindignantlyreplythatSocialismwasthereverseofdisorder，andthattheyonlywantedtopaintMr。Asquithredsothathemightresembletheredpillar-boxeswhichtypifiedStatecontrol。TheGreenswouldpassionatelydenythechargesooftenbroughtagainstthembytheReds；theywoulddenythattheywishedMr。AsquithgreeninorderthathemightbeinvisibleonthegreenbenchesoftheCommons，ascertainterrifiedanimalstakethecolouroftheirenvironment。