No one can approach to an understanding of the English institutions unless he divides them into two classes: First, those which excite and preserve the reverence of the population, the dignified parts; and next, the efficient parts, those by which it, in fact, works and rules. Every constitution must first gain authority, and then use authority; it must first win the loyalty and confidence of mankind, and then employ that homage in the work of government. The dignified parts of government are those which bring it force, which attract its motive power. The efficient parts only employ that power. The former raise the army, though they do not win the battle. The elements which excite the most easy reverence will be the theatrical elements; those which appeal to the senses, which claim to be embodiment of the greatest human ideas; that which is brilliant to the eye. They are far from being the most useful, as they are likely to be adjusted to the lowest orders, those likely to care least and judge worst about what is useful. For this purpose, and other things being equal, yesterday´s institutions are by far the best for today; they are the most ready, the most influential, the most easy to get obeyed, the most likely to retain the reverence which they alone inherit, and which every other must win. We must not expect the oldest institutions to be the most efficient. We must expect what is venerable to acquire influence because of its inherent dignity; but we must not expect it to use that influence so well as new creations apt for the modern world. The English Constitution has two capital merits: it contains a simple efficient part which, on occasion, and when wanted, can work more simply and easily, and better than any instrument of government that has yet been tried; and it contains likewise historical, complex, august, theatrical parts, which it has inherited from a long past, which take the multitude.
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