The extreme sensitiveness of our form of government to political control is one of the commonplaces that has real meaning.
We seldom realize that ours is actually what it pretends to be--a representative government--and our legislatures are extraordinarily sensitive to what the people, the politically effective people, really want.

The Senators and Representatives in Congress do actually and accurately represent the men who send them there, and they respond like lightning to a clear order from the controlling element at home.

It is in the power of public spirit to say whether men or money shall control.
If public spirit is in the saddle, the fundamental purpose of all the people, which is good, will govern.

If not, the bosses and the great private interests will have their way.

Without the backing of the public spirit of good men, even the President himself loses by far the greater portion of his power.