ideal republic there should be no one whose name might not at any
moment slip the memory of his fellows. Some sort of foreman there must
be, for the State's convenience; but the more obscure he be, and the
more automatic, the better for the ideal of equality. In the Republics
of France and of America the President is of an extrusive kind. His
office has been fashioned on the monarchic model, and his whole
position is anomalous. He has to try to be ornamental as well as
useful, a symbol as well as a pivot. Obviously, it is absurd to single
out one man as a symbol of the equality of all men. And not less
unreasonable is it to expect him to be inspiring as a patriotic
symbol, an incarnation of his country. Only an anointed king, whose
forefathers were kings too, can be that. In France, where kings have
been, no one can get up the slightest pretence of emotion for the
President. If the President is modest and unassuming, and doesn't, as
did the late M. Faure, make an ass of himself by behaving in a kingly
manner, he is safe from ridicule: the amused smiles that follow him
are not unkind. But in no case is any one proud of him. Never does any
one see France in him. In America, where no kings have been, they are
able to make a pretence of enthusiasm for a President. But no real
chord of national sentiment is touched by this eminent gentleman who
has no past or future eminence, who has been shoved forward for a
space and will anon be sent packing in favour of some other upstart.
Let some princeling of a foreign State set foot in America, and lo!
all the inhabitants are tumbling over one another in their desire for
a glimpse of him--a desire which is the natural and pathetic outcome
of their unsatisfied inner craving for a dynasty of their own. Human
nature being what it is, a monarchy is the best expedient, all the
world over. But, given a republic, let the thing be done thoroughly,
let the appearance be well kept up, as in Switzerland. Let the
President be, as there, a furtive creature and insignificant, not