Lord Amberley on Thursday addressed the electors of Leeds, and
favoured them among some sensible remarks with his idea of the meaning of the word "democracy." "That word' democracy' was held up as a bug-bear to terrify the House of Commons, but this country in its essential character was a democracy already. The House of Commons, elected by the people, had virtually power of appointing the Ministry. If, then, democracy meant govern- ment by the people, this was a democracy already, and there was no reason to fear democracy here "—and still less to advocate a six-pound suffrage, because it is more democratic. Lord Amber- ley will be the better for time in which to forget his Greek gram- mar. Philologically democracy means government by the people, but in political parlance it means government by mere numbers, a counting of heads instead of brains.
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