To be under
the eyes of others- to have to defend oneself to others- is never
more important than to those who act in opposition to the opinion of
others, for it obliges them to have sure ground of their own.
Nothing has so steadying an influence as working against pressure.
Unless when under the temporary sway of passionate excitement, no
one will do that which he expects to be greatly blamed for, unless
from a preconceived and fixed purpose of his own; which is always
evidence of a thoughtful and deliberate character, and, except in
radically bad men, generally proceeds from sincere and strong personal
convictions. Even the bare fact of having to give an account of
their conduct is a powerful inducement to adhere to conduct of which
at least some decent account can be given. If any one thinks that
the mere obligation of preserving decency is not a very considerable
check on the abuse of power, he has never had his attention called
to the conduct of those who do not feel under the necessity of
observing that restraint. Publicity is inappreciable, even when it
does no more than prevent that which can by no possibility be
plausibly defended- than compel deliberation, and force every one to
determine, before he acts, what he shall say if called to account
for his actions.
"But, if not now (it may be said), at least hereafter, when all
are fit to have votes, and when all men and women are admitted to vote
in virtue of their fitness; then there can no longer be danger of
class legislation; then the electors, being the nation, can have no
interest apart from the general interest: even if individuals still
vote according to private or class inducements, the majority will have
no such inducement; and as there will then be no non-electors to
whom they ought to be responsible, the effect of the ballot, excluding
none but the sinister influences, will be wholly beneficial.
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