The author says one patrician English leader saw his relationship with the populace thusly: He wasn't responsible TO them. He was responsible FOR them. He was responsible for their care.
In "The Proud Tower: A Portrait of the World Before the War, 1890-1914," Barbara W. Tuchman discusses the perspective of a prominent English leader who viewed his relationship with the public through a paternal lens. This leader believed his role was not to answer to the citizens but to take care of them, indicating a sense of duty and guardianship rather than accountability to their demands.
This perspective highlights the divide between leadership and the populace, suggesting that the leader saw himself as a protector rather than as a servant of the people. This dynamic reflects broader themes of authority and responsibility during that era, emphasizing how leaders often viewed their obligations in terms of care rather than direct engagement or responsiveness to the needs of the masses.