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。