this is looked upon as inevitable and no blame attaches to him or to the authorities who appointed him. And so with all other offices held under Government. The chief of the state appoints his friends and supporters, and never troubles himself about their qualifications, or rather he purposely appoints such only as we should consider utterly disqualified.
The same system is not followed in private life. Those who wish anything done for themselves, employ only those who have proved themselves by their studies and experience the best workmen. Thus it happens that everything done by private enterprize is well done; whereas everything done by Government is so wrongly done, that it has to be continually patched and tinkered, or all taken to pieces and done over again from the beginning. Government buildings are continually tumbling down or being repaired, Government contracts invariably lead to never-ending law-suits, Government works of all kinds are constantly going wrong.
This plan has certainly the effect of creating an enormous amount of extra work. But this gives great satisfaction to the people, for it gives employment and high wages to artisans and workmen of all sorts, and nothing would be so unpopular with the multitude as that Government should do its work effectually; for the labouring classes look to Government to give them the maximum of work and wages for every job undertaken by it.
Even when the Government selects a person for the execution of a work who is known to be a skilled artist, it takes care that his skill is not in the particular kind of work he is appointed to do. Thus, if it has to appoint an architect to build a great public
