As far as I have seen Cabinet Ministers, they are not more
clever than other people."
"I think there are generally one or two men of ability in the
Cabinet."
"Yes, of fair ability. Mr. Mildmay is a good specimen. There is not,
and never was, anything brilliant in him. He is not eloquent, nor,
as far as I am aware, did he ever create anything. But he has always
been a steady, honest, persevering man, and circumstances have made
politics come easy to him."
"Think of the momentous questions which he has been called upon to
decide," said Phineas.
"Every question so handled by him has been decided rightly according
to his own party, and wrongly according to the party opposite. A
political leader is so sure of support and so sure of attack, that
it is hardly necessary for him to be even anxious to be right. For
the country's sake, he should have officials under him who know the
routine of business."
"You think very badly then of politics as a profession."
"No; I think of them very highly. It must be better to deal with
the repeal of laws than the defending of criminals. But all this is
papa's wisdom, not mine. Papa has never been in the Cabinet yet, and
therefore of course he is a little caustic."
"I think he was quite right," said Barrington Erle stoutly.
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