Then came the Republic, which we know to have been at its best no more than an oligarchy; but still it was founded on the idea that everything should be done by the votes of the free people.

For many years everything was done by the votes of the free people.

Under what inducements they had voted is another question.
Clients were subject to their patrons, and voted as they were told.

We have heard of that even in England, where many of us still think that such a way of voting is far from objectionable.

Perhaps compulsion was sometimes used--a sort of "rattening" by which large bodies were driven to the poll to carry this or the other measure.