_Government._――“The first duty of a Government is to govern.” This platitude sounds as if there were some hidden pearl of meaning behind it. But on etymological analysis we find that the duty of Government is to work the rudder of the ship of State. It is to give a general direction to the activities of its citizens. The same or a similar word is used in all countries based upon Roman law and citizenship. The German equivalent, _Regierung_, is different. It means reigning or doing the business of royalty, but as the origin of the word “Rex” is the same as that of the main syllable of the words “Rector” and “Director,” it comes to the same thing, a “directing” action. Will this directing or controlling action ever become superfluous? Its chief function is at present to determine the policy of a large aggregate of human beings. In democratic countries this determination is settled by a majority vote, from which there is no legal appeal, though passive resistance or the threat of rebellion are weapons which a minority can sometimes use with effect. A majority vote would be practically certain to be wrong on most questions of the day, but fortunately such a vote has no effect unless it is put into action by a body of expert politicians comprising the Ministry, and these again are largely guided by experts in the particular matter with which the vote in question is concerned. Laws are not made by Parliament. They are born in Government offices under expert advice. The Cabinet, on the advice of its experts, decides to bring in a Bill which is likely to be of some benefit, will probably be passed by Parliament, and will encounter no serious resistance in the country. Our Government is thus really a Government by Experts, but is cleverly disguised in such a manner as to appear “broadbased upon the People’s Will.” A similar camouflage might very properly be adopted in the management of factories and industrial enterprises. But the State is older than the Factory, and has learnt more wisdom.