I have gained political power by recognizing
that I could only have my own way by making it suit the voters. You see
there are a great many methods of doing about the same thing. And the
boss who does the most things that the people want, can do the most
things that the people don't want. Every time I have surrendered my own
wishes, and done about what the people desire, I have added to my power,
and so have been able to do something that the people or politicians do
not care about or did not like."
"And as a result you are called all sorts of names."
"Yes. The papers call me a boss. If the voters didn't agree with me,
they would call me a reformer."
"But, Peter," said Le Grand, "would you not like to see such a type of
man as George William Curtis in office?"
"Mr. Curtis probably stood for the noblest political ideas this country
has ever produced. But he held a beacon only to a small class. A man who
writes from an easy-chair, will only sway easy-chair people. And
easy-chair people never carried an election in this country, and never
will.
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