ABSTRACT
Man is a plastic, suggestible, histrionic animal. He can act many extravagant parts. He can become the slave of any one of many notions, passions, or habits; but the notion, passion, and habit of governing is only one of them. In order to submit himself and his community to some plausible political regimen, the simple voter will pursue, just like a tyrant, the most disastrous enterprises and bonanzas. He will play the politician and the demagogue at his own expense. Meantime, however, he will glow with activity and vanity, he will enjoy his power, and vote himself largesses and credits at his own cost. And he will acquire the gifts and lights of 126a governing class. He will be able to make good speeches, maintain an argument, penetrate to a principle, disguise a fact, or at least repeat a mouth-filling maxim. If he fools himself, he will not be easily fooled by anyone else. And if ever he discovers his folly (as is not probable) he will never be driven to cut his own throat, as do despairing heroic patriots and entrapped tyrants.
