Sentence:  As a political system democracy seems to me extraordinarily foolish,nb.... My servant is, so far as I am concerned, welcome to as many votes as he can get....I do not suppose that it <WSD>matters</WSD> much in reality whether laws are made by dukes or cornerboys, but I like, as far as possible, to associate with gentlemen in private life. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  To be important. (from 16th c.)