SOME QUESTIONS OF SOVEEEIGNTY. 25

We have spoken of tlie distrust displayed in America
for legislative bodies. This distrust is not so widely-
felt in England, but signs of it are not wanting. Tlie
House of Commons certainly commands less respect
than it did. In France, Mr. Hamerton, who is an
excellent judge, says that the Senate and Chamber of
Deputies command no respect whatever. It is, indeed,
quite within the bounds of possibility that means will
be devised of putting the activity of legislators under
restraint, and that a more purely executive form of
sovereignty will be reverted to. The pendulum of
sovereignty has swung from a pure executive without
legislation to the other extreme of an executive
trammelled on all sides with legislation. There are
now signs that the pendulum has begun to swing the
other way. There is good reason for believing that
democracies are not so prone to change as is generally
believed. Sir H. S. Maine has eloquently shown that
change is not only not desired, but is positively
abhorred by a great part of the human race. The
experience derived from the use of the Referendum in
Switzerland is evidence of the same thing. The Svviss
have by their popular vote rejected a surprising
number of the measures which they have been asked
to pass by the federal chambers. It is an undeniable
and unfortunate fact that many Bills are introduced
for purely party purposes. Promises are made by
candidates on the hustings which have to be redeemed
in Parliament* Bills are so much bait to catch
popular votes. Moreover, popular leaders may be
perfectly sincere and yet hold views far in advance of



26 ESSAYS IN POLITICS.
