without life; and in government it is the bureaus least disturbed by change that are most stagnated and most circumlocutory.  The apparent misfortune of having men experienced in public affairs make way, at intervals, for others of less experience is itself greatly exaggerated.  There are facts so important in compensation that the assumed evil becomes one of very moderate proportions.  For it will be seen upon careful observation that no important function of the government, not even in the national service, calls for a character or qualification—­sometimes, but rarely, for any sort of special or technical skill—­which is not being continually formed and trained either in the movements of private life and business experience or in the political schools which are furnished by the State, the county and the township.  The functions of the government are substantially the guardianship of the same interests for which the State, the county, the township and the individual exercise concern.  Government has lost its mystery:  even diplomacy has somewhat changed from lying and chicanery to common-sense dealing.  The qualities that are required in the government—­industry, economy, integrity, knowledge of men and affairs—­are precisely those which are of value to every individual citizen, and which are taught day by day everywhere—­to the lads in school and college and to the men in their occupations of life.  Such qualities a community fit to govern itself must abundantly possess.  There is nothing occult in the science of government.  The administration in behalf of the people of the organization which they have ordered is nothing foreign to their own knowledge.  They have ceased to consider themselves unfit for self-rule:  they no longer think of calling in from other worlds a different order of beings to govern them.

We may accept without fear principles which seem startling, but which are proved to be rooted in democratic ground, so long as we have faith in the democratic system itself.  There is no road open for the doubter and questioner of popular rights but that which leads back to abandoned ground.  We may proceed, then, with an attempt to explain the philosophy of the rule of Change.  Shall it not be stated thus: 

That, due regard being had to the preservation of simplicity and economy—­forbidding thus the needless increase of offices and expenses—­it is then true that the active participation by the largest number of persons in the practical administration of their own government is an object highly to be desired in every democratic republic.

The government must be the highest school of affairs.  Shall it be declared that to study there and to have its diploma is not desirable for all?  Is it not perfectly evident that the more who can learn to actually discharge the duties belonging to their own social organization, the better for them and the better for it?