this republic, how rich and complex its institutions! The modern
presidency does not represent the result of an hour's combat between
two Samsons. Forty years ago the eager aspirants began their struggle.
A great company of young men all over the land determined to build up a
reputation for patriotism, statesmanship, wisdom and character. As the
time for selecting a president approached, the people passed in review
all these leaders. When two or more were finally chosen out, there
followed months in which the principles of the candidates were sifted
and analyzed. "I know of no more sublime spectacle," said Stuart Mill,
"than the election of the ruler under the laws of the republic. If the
voice of the people is ever the voice of God, if any ruler rules by
divine right, it is when millions of freemen, after long consideration,
elect one man to be their appointed guide and leader." If a single
hour availed for Samson to settle the question of his sovereignty, free
institutions ask for their statesmen to have the patience of years;
working, they must also wait.

With long patience also man has worked and waited as he has toiled upon
his idea of religion. Rude, indeed, man's hasty thoughts of the
infinite. In early days the sun was God's eye, the thunder his voice,
the stroke of the earthquake the stroke of his arm, the harvest
indicated his pleasure, the pestilence his anger. In such an age the
priest and philosopher taxed their genius to invent methods of
preserving the friendship and avoiding the anger of the Infinite.
Daily the king and general calculated how many sheep and oxen they must
slay to avoid defeat in battle. Daily the husbandman and farmer
calculated how many doves and lambs must be killed to avert blight from
the vineyard and hailstorms from the harvests. Observing that when the
king ascended to the throne the slaves put their necks under his heel
and covered their bodies with dust, in their haste the priests