into a potent instrument of the New Tory Democracy. Whatever we may
think about the strengthening of the Established Church from the point
of view of intellectual solidity or influence with the nation, it can
hardly be doubted that in the fifty years that have passed since the
date of the "trilogy," the Church as a body has rallied to one party in
the State, and has proved a potent ally of militant Imperialism and
Tory Democracy. Lord Beaconsfield lived to witness that great
transformation in the Church of the High and Dry Pluralists and the
Simeonite parsons, which he had himself so powerfully organised in
Parliament, in society, and on the platform. His successor to-day can
count on no ally so sure and loyal as the Church. But it was a
wonderful inspiration for a young man fifty years ago to perceive that
this could be done--and to see the way in which it might be done.

_Coningsby_ and _Sybil_ at any rate were active forces in the formation
of a definite political programme. And this was a programme which in
Parliament and in the country their author himself had created,
organised, and led to victory. It cannot be denied that they largely
contributed to this result. And thus these books have this very
remarkable and almost unique character. It would be very difficult to
mention anything like a romance in any age or country which had ever
effected a direct political result or created a new party. _Don
Quixote_ is said to have annihilated chivalry; _Tartuffe_ dealt a blow
at the pretensions of the Church; and the _Marriage of Figaro_ at those
of the old _noblesse_. It is possible that _Bleak House_ gave some
impulse to law reform, and _Vanity Fair_ has relieved us of a good deal
of snobbery. But no novel before or since ever created a political
party and provided them with a new programme. _Coningsby_ and _Sybil_
really did this; and it may be doubted if it could have been done in
any other way. "Imagination, in the government of nations" (we are