occurred under it: the movement by the country to get taxation would
never have been necessary under it. The excessive taxation
accordingly imposed would not have been permitted under it. The last
point I think I need not labour at length. The evils of a bad tax
are quite sure to be pressed upon the ears of Parliament in season
and out of season; the few persons who have to pay it are thoroughly
certain to make themselves heard. The sort of taxation tried in
America, that of taxing everything, and seeing what every thing
would yield, could not have been tried under a Government delicately
and quickly sensitive to public opinion.

I do not apologise for dwelling at length upon these points, for the
subject is one of transcendent importance. The practical choice of
first-rate nations is between the Presidential government and the
Parliamentary; no State can be first-rate which has not a government
by discussion, and those are the only two existing species of that
government. It is between them that a nation which has to choose its
government must choose. And nothing therefore can be more important
than to compare the two, and to decide upon the testimony of
experience, and by facts, which of them is the better.

THE POPLARS, WIMBLEDON:

June 20, 1872.



NO. II. THE CABINET.

"On all great subjects," says Mr. Mill, "much remains to be said,"