Chapter 19 of 'Heretics' reminded me of 'The Napoleon of Notting Hill' in its discussion of democracy. Chesterton starts with warning us that 'democracy is not philantropy; it is not even altruism or social reform. Democracy is not founded on pity for the common man; democracy is founded on reverence for the common man'.
Just as in the fore mentioned novel, Chesterton explains why a hereditary despotism is actually quite democratic: there is not selection who is the ruler, so 'any man' can be the ruler.
Chesterton stresses that in his time, some 'fundamental democratic quality' is missing. This is illustrated by the attitude of the educated middle class to the poor: in their condemnation of the sins of the poor (as if they themselves are blameless) and in their efforts to 'raise the poor' (as if a poor man is less a man, instead of just a man with less money).
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