Ostensibly because virtue matters, Bret Stephens openly admits that he wishes Hillary Clinton was president. Somehow still with her in 2018, and apparently unaware or completely uninterested in her catalogue of scandals, the New York Times’ newest conservative columnist believes she possess a higher moral character than Donald Trump.

No one disagrees that virtuous leaders make better presidents, and the columnist is correct to point out that the culture of the White House shapes politics and colors our society. But magnanimity of one man is actually the requisite virtue of monarchy. The chief virtue of democracy is the prudence of the electorate, the ability of the people to weigh changing circumstances in light of permanent principle.