When two or more were finally chosen out, there followed months in which the principles of the candidates were sifted and analyzed.

"I know of no more sublime spectacle," said Stuart Mill, "than the election of the ruler under the laws of the republic.

If the voice of the people is ever the voice of God, if any ruler rules by divine right, it is when millions of freemen, after long consideration, elect one man to be their appointed guide and leader." If a single hour availed for Samson to settle the question of his sovereignty, free institutions ask for their statesmen to have the patience of years; working, they must also wait.
With long patience also man has worked and waited as he has toiled upon his idea of religion.

Rude, indeed, man's hasty thoughts of the infinite.

In early days the sun was God's eye, the thunder his voice, the stroke of the earthquake the stroke of his arm, the harvest indicated his pleasure, the pestilence his anger.