The reformers take the role of the opposition.

They give themselves largely to criticisms of the present state of affairs, to writing and talking of what the future must be and of certain results which should be obtained.

In trying to better matters, however, they have in mind only political achievements which they detach in a curious way from the rest of life, and they speak and write of the purification of politics as of a thing set apart from daily life.
On the other hand, the real leaders of the people are part of the entire life of the community which they control, and so far as they are representative at all, are giving a social expression to democracy.

They are often politically corrupt, but in spite of this they are proceeding upon a sounder theory.

Although they would be totally unable to give it abstract expression, they are really acting upon a formulation made by a shrewd English observer; namely, that, "after the enfranchisement of the masses, social ideals enter into political programmes, and they enter not as something which at best can be indirectly promoted by government, but as something which it is the chief business of government to advance directly." Men living near to the masses of voters, and knowing them intimately, recognize this and act upon it; they minister directly to life and to social needs.