ABSTRACT
The cause of the emancipation of the elector's political conscience benefited but in an indirect or negative way and to a limited extent. Most of the new parties had but a local existence; their birth, their success, and their disappearance were only incidents of brief duration in the local contests. The movement of revolt sometimes assumed considerable proportions, owing to political or economic conjunctures which profoundly stirred the electorate. The best political methods cannot do without the motive power supplied by an aggressive public spirit. A change of views without a corresponding change in action will not suffice. The struggles with party tyranny and political corruption which people have followed have produced this motive power in a slight degree only. The need of a better government is already admitted, the perception of civic duty has grown stronger, but the active will is still wanting.
