Your history lessons would also tell you that the mechanism for delivery of information throughout this nation was also not instant (as it is today) and that it was an accepted process to use best available means to keep the process going - that meant pre-chosen HONEST people who could make decisions for the general party were the norm. Today is not the case.
And...consider that 150 years ago women could not vote, Senators were selected from STATE bodies, etc.....things have changed A BIT since then.