' You see, he is a member of Parliament--yet it is evident
he neither knows the language nor the literature of his country! And
there must be many like him, otherwise so ignorant a person would not
hold such a position--and for such men, what would be the use of a
Cicero?"
Philip leaned back against the trunk of the tree under which they were
sitting, and laughed.
"You may be right, Thelma,--I dare say you are. There's certainly too
much beer represented in the House--I admit that. But, after all, trade
is the great moving-spring of national prosperity,--and it would hardly
be fair to refuse seats to the very men who help to keep the country
going."
"I do not see that," said Thelma gravely,--"if those men are ignorant,
why should they have a share in so important a thing as Government? They
may know all about beer, and wool, and iron,--but perhaps they can only
judge what is good for themselves, not what is best for the whole
country, with all its rich and poor. I do think that only the wisest
scholars and most intelligent persons should be allowed to help in the
ruling of a great nation.
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