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society to rags。 The mere minimum of the Church would be a deadly
ultimatum to the world。 For the whole modern world is absolutely
based on the assumption； not that the rich are necessary （which is
tenable）； but that the rich are trustworthy； which （for a Christian）
is not tenable。 You will hear everlastingly； in all discussions
about newspapers； companies； aristocracies； or party politics；
this argument that the rich man cannot be bribed。 The fact is；
of course； that the rich man is bribed； he has been bribed already。
That is why he is a rich man。 The whole case for Christianity is that
a man who is dependent upon the luxuries of this life is a corrupt man；
spiritually corrupt； politically corrupt； financially corrupt。
There is one thing that Christ and all the Christian saints
have said with a sort of savage monotony。 They have said simply
that to be rich is to be in peculiar danger of moral wreck。
It is not demonstrably un…Christian to kill the rich as violators
of definable justice。 It is not demonstrably un…Christian to crown
the rich as convenient rulers of society。 It is not certainly
un…Christian to rebel against the rich or to submit to the rich。
But it is quite certainly un…Christian to trust the rich； to regard
the rich as more morally safe than the poor。 A Christian may
consistently say； 〃I respect that man's rank； although he takes bribes。〃
But a Christian cannot say； as all modern men are saying at lunch
and breakfast； 〃a man of that rank would not take bribes。〃
For it is a part of Christian dogma that any man in any rank may
take bribes。 It is a part of Christian dogma； it also happens by
a curious coincidence that it is a part of obvious human history。
When people say that a man 〃in that position〃 would be incorruptible；
there is no need to bring Christianity into the discussion。 Was Lord
Bacon a bootblack？ Was the Duke of Marlborough a crossing sweeper？
In the best Utopia； I must be prepared for the moral fall of any man
in any position at any moment； especially for my fall from my position
at this moment。
Much vague and sentimental journalism has been poured out
to the effect that Christianity is akin to democracy； and most
of it is scarcely strong or clear enough to refute the fact that
the two things have often quarrelled。 The real ground upon which
Christianity and democracy are one is very much deeper。 The one
specially and peculiarly un…Christian idea is the idea of Carlyle
the idea that the man should rule who feels that he can rule。
Whatever else is Christian； this is heathen。 If our faith comments
on government at all； its comment must be thisthat the man should
rule who does NOT think that he can rule。 Carlyle's hero may say；
〃I will be king〃； but the Christian saint must say 〃Nolo episcopari。〃
If the great paradox of Christianity means anything； it means this
that we must take the crown in our hands； and go hunting in dry
places and dark corners of the earth until we find the one man
who feels himself unfit to wear it。 Carlyle was quite wrong；
we have not got to crown the exceptional man who knows he can rule。
Rather we must crown the much more exceptional man who knows he
can't。
Now； this is one of the two or three vital defences of
working democracy。 The mere machinery of voting is not democracy；
though at present it is not easy to effect any simpler democratic method。
But even the machinery of voting is profoundly Christian in this
practical sensethat it is an attempt to get at the opinion of those
who would be too modest to offer it。 It is a mystical adventure；
it is specially trusting those who do not trust themselves。
That enigma is strictly peculiar to Christendom。 There is nothing
really humble about the abnegation of the Buddhist； the mild Hindoo
is mild； but he is not meek。 But there is something psychologically
Christian about the idea of seeking for the opinion of the obscure
rather than taking the obvious course of accepting the opinion
of the prominent。 To say that voting is particularly Christian may
seem somewhat curious。 To say that canvassing is Christian may seem
quite crazy。 But canvassing is very Christian in its primary idea。
It is encouraging the humble； it is saying to the modest man；
〃Friend； go up higher。〃 Or if there is some slight defect
in canvassing； that is in its perfect and rounded piety； it is only
because it may possibly neglect to encourage the modesty of the canvasser。
Aristocracy is not an institution： aristocracy is a sin；
generally a very venial one。 It is merely the drift or slide
of men into a sort of natural pomposity and praise of the powerful；
which is the most easy and obvious affair in the world。
It is one of the hundred answers to the fugitive perversion
of modern 〃force〃 that the promptest and boldest agencies are
also the most fragile or full of sensibility。 The swiftest things
are the softest things。 A bird is active； because a bird is soft。
A stone is helpless； because a stone is hard。 The stone must
by its own nature go downwards； because hardness is weakness。
The bird can of its nature go upwards； because fragility is force。
In perfect force there is a kind of frivolity； an airiness that can
maintain itself in the air。 Modern investigators of miraculous
history have solemnly admitted that a characteristic of the great
saints is their power of 〃levitation。〃 They might go further；
a characteristic of the great saints is their power of levity。
Angels can fly because they can take themselves lightly。
This has been always the instinct of Christendom； and especially
the instinct of Christian art。 Remember how Fra Angelico represented
all his angels； not only as birds； but almost as butterflies。
Remember how the most earnest mediaeval art was full of light
and fluttering draperies； of quick and capering feet。 It was
the one thing that the modern Pre…raphaelites could not imitate
in the real Pre…raphaelites。 Burne…Jones could never recover
the deep levity of the Middle Ages。 In the old Christian pictures
the sky over every figure is like a blue or gold parachute。
Every figure seems ready to fly up and float about in the heavens。
The tattered cloak of the beggar will bear him up like the rayed
plumes of the angels。 But the kings in their heavy gold and the proud
in their robes of purple will all of their nature sink downwards；
for pride cannot rise to levity or levitation。 Pride is the downward
drag of all things into an easy solemnity。 One 〃settles down〃