This is an important security against disruption.  And a similar security against the risk of civil strife or revolution is to be found in the fact that the parties are not based on or sensibly affected by differences either of wealth or of social position.  Their cleavage is not horizontal, according to social strata, but vertical.  This would be less true if it were stated either of the Northern States separately, or of the Southern States separately:  it is true of the Union taken as a whole.  It might cease to be true if the new Labour party were to grow till it absorbed or superseded either of the existing parties.  The same feature has characterized English politics as compared with those of most European countries, and has been a main cause of the stability of the English government and of the good feeling between different classes in the community. (Vol. ii., p. 38.)

How is it that the public conscience is not alive to the enormity of this anti-social crime?  Mainly, we think, because the true principles of representation are not properly understood.  It is almost universally assumed that there is no real distinction between direct and representative government.  Minorities are tacitly allowed to have as much right to representation as the minority, and the confusion of terms is passed over.  The working classes are told by self-seeking demagogues that they are in a majority; that the majority is entitled to rule; and that they have only to organize to come into their heritage.  These sycophants, who, as Aristotle of old pointed out, bear the greatest resemblance to the court favourite of the tyrant, ask the people to believe the silly paradox that the united wisdom of the whole people is greater than that of the wisest part.  The truth is that no people is fit to exercise equal political rights which is not sensible enough to choose the wisest part to carry on the government, providing only they have control over their selection, and can hold them responsible.  Are the working classes in Australia going to demonstrate that they are unfit for the exercise of political rights?  Are they going to justify the prognostications of the opponents of popular government?  That is the real question at issue.  Unless public opinion be aroused to the iniquity of class delegation, the further degradation of Australian politics is inevitable.  Let it not be thought that we are decrying the organization of the working classes for political purposes.  On the contrary, we hold that the organization of every class and every interest is necessary in order that it shall exert its just share of influence.  But the only way in which every class can get its just share is by acting through the two main parties.  A class which holds aloof can exert for a short time an undue share of influence, as a faction holding the balance of power, but only at the expense of paralyzing the government.