THE ORGANS OF GOVERNMENT machinery was devised under the stimulus of necessity and has been submitted to because ther I was no help for it. A paradoxical phrase, oft used in regard to this very matter, puts the exactly as the people regard it. It is a neces The development of party organization has framework of the national government cratic moveme dency, althoug ing the const ive into elective offices. The powers of the gov ernor were reduced by converting local agencies of government into elective offices. Heads of state departments, that had been appointed by the governor or by the legislature, were also cut loose to be filled under the form of popular election. Even the judiciary did not escape, and in most of the states the office of judge was abandoned to party politics by making it elective. The practical effect of the change was to convert a system of responsible appointment into a system of irresponsible appointment. It is obviously impossible for the people to select officers for innumerable places except by some means of agreement and coöperation, which means is ordinarily supplied by the activity of the political class. It may be laid down as a political maxim, that whatever assigns to the people a power which they are naturally incapable of wielding takes it away from them. It may be argued that this principle carried to its logical conclusion implies that the people are unable to select their own rulers in any case. This is perfectly true. The actual selection will be always made by the few, no matter how many may seem to participate. The only value of popular elections is to establish accountability to the people, but this rightly used is quite enough to constitute a free government. The multiplication of elective offices and the distribution of the responsibilities of government |