1818 Dec. r 11 ┴

Parl. Reform Bill

Principles

Beginning

§.1. Misrule when necessary

21

Anti-Reformist. True, if in the choice of the several integral and particular

confederated interests the confederates are wise: {wise though it be only in their

own generation that they are so wise.}

But may it not be /happen/ that they are unwise? In the choice of his own personal

interest, in a case where no other person’s interest is at state every man is apt to

be unwise: every man acting for himself by himself: and therefore with at least

equal, not to say greater probability every man while thus acting for himself, in a

confederacy with the others acting for themselves.

Reformist. Doubtless. But to allow /admitt/ this possibility is no more than to

allow that wisdom, perfect wisdom, belongs not to our[?] imperfect creatures

But the question here is – not concerning an absolutely and perfectly good

government and form of government, for that is unattainable: his only concerning[?] a

comparatively good government: the objects of comparison being on the one part /hand/

Monarchy, or Aristocracy, or both together, on the other part /hand/ Representative

Democracy with virtually universal suffrage /a scheme of representation, far[?]

/real/ and adequate/.

The sacrifice thus supposed to be made by a deficiency in the article of wisdom –

this sacrifice of real to imaginary to erroneously imagined interest is incident to

every man, and therefore to every form of government.