It may, perhaps, be said, that a constitution which gives equal
influence, man for man, to the most and to the least instructed, is
nevertheless conducive to progress, because the appeals constantly
made to the less instructed classes, the exercise given to their
mental powers, and the exertions which the more instructed are obliged
to make for enlightening their judgment and ridding them of errors and
prejudices, are powerful stimulants to their advance in
intelligence. That this most desirable effect really attends the
admission of the less educated classes to some, and even to a large
share of power, I admit, and have already strenuously maintained.
But theory and experience alike prove that a counter current sets in
when they are made the possessors of all power. Those who are
supreme over everything, whether they be One, or Few, or Many, have no
longer need of the arms of reason: they can make their mere will
prevail; and those who cannot be resisted are usually far too well
satisfied with their own opinion to be willing to change them, or
listen without impatience to any one who tells them that they are in
the wrong. The position which gives the strongest stimulus to the
growth of intelligence is that of rising into power, not that of
having achieved it; and of all resting-points, temporary or permanent,
in the way to ascendancy, the one which develops the best and
highest qualities is the position of those who are strong enough to
make reason prevail, but not strong enough to prevail against
reason.
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