首页 >出版文学> The Spirit of Laws>第30章
  Astheenjoymentofliberty,andevenitssupportandpreservation,consistsineveryman’sbeingallowedtospeakhisthoughts,andtolayopenhissentiments,acitizeninthisstatewillsayorwritewhateverthelawsdonotexpresslyforbidtobesaidorwritten。
  Apeoplelikethis,beingalwaysinaferment,aremoreeasilyconductedbytheirpassionsthanbyreason,whichneverproducesanygreateffectinthemindofman;itisthereforeeasyforthosewhogoverntomakethemundertakeenterprisescontrarytotheirtrueinterest。
  Thisnationispassionatelyfondofliberty,becausethislibertyisreal;anditispossibleforit,initsdefence,tosacrificeitswealth,itsease,itsinterest,andtosupporttheburdenoftheheaviesttaxes,evensuchasadespoticprincedurstnotlayuponhissubjects。
  Butasthepeoplehaveacertainknowledgeofthenecessityofsubmittingtothosetaxes,theypaythemfromthewell—foundedhopeoftheirdiscontinuance;theirburdensareheavy,buttheydonotfeeltheirweight;whilstinotherstatestheuneasinessisinfinitelygreaterthantheevil。
  Thisnationmustthereforehaveafixedandcertaincredit,becauseitborrowsofitselfandpaysitself。Itispossibleforittoundertakethingsaboveitsnaturalstrength,andemployagainstitsenemiesimmensesumsoffictitiousriches,whichthecreditandnatureofthegovernmentmayrenderreal。
  Topreserveitsliberty,itborrowsofitssubjects:andthesubjects,seeingthatitscreditwouldbelostifeveritwereconquered,haveanewmotivetomakefresheffortsindefenceofitsliberty。
  Thisnation,inhabitinganisland,isnotfondofconquering,becauseitwouldbeweakenedbydistantconquests——especiallyasthesoiloftheislandisgood,forithasthennoneedofenrichingitselfbywar;andasnocitizenissubjecttoanother,eachsetsagreatervalueonhisownlibertythanonthegloryofoneoranynumberofcitizens。
  Militarymenarethereregardedasbelongingtoaprofessionwhichmaybeusefulbutisoftendangerous,andasmenwhoseveryservicesareburdensometothenation:civilqualificationsarethereforemoreesteemedthanthemilitary。
  Thisnation,whichlibertyandthelawsrendereasy,onbeingfreedfromperniciousprejudices,hasbecomeatradingpeople;andasithassomeofthoseprimitivematerialsoftradeoutofwhicharemanufacturedsuchthingsasfromtheartist’shandreceiveaconsiderablevalue,ithasmadesettlementspropertoprocuretheenjoymentofthisgiftofheaveninitsfullestextent。
  Asthisnationissituatedtowardsthenorth,andhasmanysuperfluouscommodities,itmustwantalsoagreatamountofmerchandisewhichitsclimatewillnotproduce:ithasthereforeenteredintoagreatandnecessaryintercoursewiththesouthernnations;andmakingchoiceofthosestateswhomitiswillingtofavourwithanadvantageouscommerce,itentersintosuchtreatieswiththenationithaschosenasarereciprocallyusefultoboth。
  Inastatewhere,ontheonehand,theopulenceisextreme,andontheotherthetaxesareexcessive,theyarehardlyabletoliveonasmallfortunewithoutindustry。Many,therefore,underapretenceoftravelling,orofhealth,retirefromamongthem,andgoinsearchofplenty,eventothecountriesofslavery。
  Atradingnationhasaprodigiousnumberoflittleparticularinterests;
  itmaytheninjureorbeinjuredinaninfinitenumberofways。Thusitbecomesimmoderatelyjealous,andismoreafflictedattheprosperityofothersthanitrejoicesatitsown。
  Anditslaws,otherwisemildandeasy,maybesorigidwithrespecttothetradeandnavigationcarriedonwithit,thatitmayseemtotradeonlywithenemies。
  Ifthisnationsendscoloniesabroad,itmustratherbetoextenditscommercethanitsdominion。
  Asmenarefondofintroducingintootherplaceswhattheyhaveestablishedamongthemselves,theyhavegiventhepeopleofthecoloniestheirownformofgovernment;andthisgovernmentcarryingprosperityalongwithit,theyhaveraisedgreatnationsintheforeststheyweresenttoinhabit。
  Havingformerlysubduedaneighbouringnation,whichbyitssituation,thegoodnessofitsports,andthenatureofitsproducts,inspiresitwithjealousy,thoughithasgiventhisnationitsownlaws,yetitholdsitingreatdependence:thesubjectstherearefreeandthestateitselfinslavery。
  Theconqueredstatehasanexcellentcivilgovernment,butisoppressedbythelawofnations。Lawsareimposedbyonecountryontheother,andthesearesuchasrenderitsprosperityprecariousanddependentonthewillofamaster。
  Therulingnationinhabitingalargeisland,andbeinginpossessionofagreattrade,haswithextraordinaryeasegrownpowerfulatsea;andasthepreservationofitslibertiesrequiresthatitshouldhaveneitherstrongholdsnorfortressesnorlandforces,ithasoccasionforaformidablenavytodefenditagainstinvasions;anavywhichmustbesuperiortothatofallotherpowers,who,employingtheirtreasuresinwarsonland,havenotsufficientforthoseatsea。
  Theempireoftheseahasalwaysgiventhosewhohaveenjoyeditanaturalpride;because,thinkingthemselvescapableofextendingtheirinsultswherevertheyplease,theyimaginethattheirpowerisasboundlessastheocean。
  Thisnationhasagreatinfluenceintheaffairsofitsneighbours;forasitspowerisnotemployedinconquests,itsfriendshipismorecourted,anditsresentmentmoredreaded,thancouldnaturallybeexpectedfromtheinconstancyofitsgovernment,anditsdomesticdivisions。
  Thusitisthefateoftheexecutivepowertobealmostalwaysdisturbedathomeandrespectedabroad。
  ShouldthisnationonsomeoccasionsbecomethecentreofthenegotiationsofEurope,probityandgoodfaithwouldbecarriedtoagreaterheightthaninotherplaces;becausetheministersbeingfrequentlyobligedtojustifytheirconductbeforeapopularcouncil,theirnegotiationscouldnotbesecret;andtheywouldbeforcedtobe,inthisrespect,alittlemorehonest。
  Besides,astheywouldinsomesortbeanswerablefortheeventswhichanirregularconductmightproduce,thesurest,thesafestwayforthemwouldbetotakethestraightestpath。
  Ifthenobleswereformerlypossessedofanimmoderatepower,andthemonarchhadfoundthemeansofabasingthembyraisingthepeople,thepointofextremeservitudemusthavebeenthatbetweenhumblingthenobilityandthatinwhichthepeoplebegantofeeltheirpower。
  Thusthisnation,havingbeenformerlysubjecttoanarbitrarypower,onmanyoccasionspreservesthestyleofit,insuchamannerastoletusfrequentlyseeuponthefoundationofafreegovernmenttheformofanabsolutemonarchy。
  Withregardtoreligion,asinthisstateeverysubjecthasafreewill,andmustconsequentlybeeitherconductedbythelightofhisownmindorbythecapriceoffancy,itnecessarilyfollowsthateveryonemusteitherlookuponallreligionwithindifference,bywhichmeanstheyareledtoembracetheestablishedreligion,ortheymustbezealousforreligioningeneral,bywhichmeansthenumberofsectsisincreased。
  Itisnotimpossiblebutthatinthisnationtheremaybemenofnoreligion,whowouldnot,however,beartobeobligedtochangethatwhichtheywouldchoose,iftheycaredtochooseany;fortheywouldimmediatelyperceivethattheirlivesandfortunesarenotmorepeculiarlytheirsthantheirmannerofthinking,andthatwhoeverwoulddeprivethemoftheonemightevenwithbetterreasontakeawaytheother。
  If,amongthedifferentreligions,thereisonethathasbeenattemptedtobeestablishedbymethodsofslavery,itmusttherebeodious;
  becauseaswejudgeofthingsbytheappendageswejoinwiththem,itcouldneverpresentitselftothemindinconjunctionwiththeideaofliberty。
  Thelawsagainstthosewhoprofessthisreligioncouldnot,however,beofthesanguinarykind;forlibertycanneverinflictsuchpunishments;
  buttheymaybesorigorousastodoallthemischiefthatcanbedoneincoldblood。
  Itispossiblethatathousandcircumstancesmightconcurtogivetheclergysolittlecredit,thatothercitizensmayhavemore。Therefore,insteadofaseparation,theyhavechosenrathertosupportthesameburdensasthelaity,andinthisrespecttomakeonlyonebodywiththem;butastheyalwaysseektoconciliatetherespectofthepeople,theydistinguishthemselvesbyamoreretiredlife,aconductmorereserved,andagreaterpurityofmanners。
  Theclergynotbeingabletoprotectreligion,nortobeprotectedbyit,onlyseektopersuade;theirpensthereforefurnishuswithexcellentworksinproofofarevelationandoftheprovidenceoftheSupremeBeing。
  Yetthestatepreventsthesittingoftheirassemblies,anddoesnotsufferthemtocorrecttheirownabuses;itchoosesthus,throughacapriceofliberty,rathertoleavetheirreformationimperfectthantosuffertheclergytobethereformers。
  Thosedignitieswhichmakeafundamentalpartoftheconstitutionaremorefixedthanelsewhere;but,ontheotherhand,thegreatinthiscountryoflibertyareneareruponalevelwiththepeople;theirranksaremoreseparated,andtheirpersonsmoreconfounded。
  Asthosewhogovernhaveapowerwhich,insomemeasure,hasneedoffreshvigoureveryday,theyhaveagreaterregardforsuchasareusefultothemthanforthosewhoonlycontributetotheiramusement:wesee,therefore,fewercourtiers,flatterers,andparasites;inshort,fewerofallthosewhomaketheirownadvantageofthefollyofthegreat。
  Menarelessesteemedforfrivoloustalentsandattainmentsthanforessentialqualities;andofthiskindtherearebuttwo,richesandpersonalmerit。
  Theyenjoyasolidluxury,founded,notontherefinementsofvanity,butonthatofrealwants;theyasknothingofnaturebutwhatnaturecanbestow。
  Therichenjoyagreatsuperfluityoffortune,andyethavenorelishforfrivolousamusements;thus,manyhavingmorewealththanopportunitiesofexpense,employitinafantasticmanner:inthisnationtheyhavemorejudgmentthantaste。
  Astheyarealwaysemployedabouttheirowninterest,theyhavenotthatpolitenesswhichisfoundedonindolence;andtheyreallyhavenotleisuretoattainit。
  TheeraofRomanpolitenessisthesameasthatoftheestablishmentofarbitrarypower。Anabsolutegovernmentproducesindolence,andthisgivesbirthtopoliteness。
  Themorepeoplethereareinanationwhorequirecircumspectbehaviour,andcarenottodisplease,themorethereisofpoliteness。Butitisratherthepolitenessofmoralsthanthatofmannerswhichoughttodistinguishusfrombarbarousnations。
  Inacountrywhereeverymanhas,insomesort,ashareintheadministrationofthegovernment,thewomenoughtscarcelytolivewiththemen。Theyarethereforemodest,thatis,timid;andthistimidityconstitutestheirvirtue:whilstthemenwithoutatasteforgallantryplungethemselvesintoadebauchery,whichleavesthematleisure,andintheenjoymentoftheirfullliberty。
  Theirlawsnotbeingmadeforoneindividualmorethananother,eachconsidershimselfamonarch;and,indeed,themenofthisnationareratherconfederatesthanfellow—subjects。
  Astheclimatehasgivenmanypersonsarestlessspiritandextendedviews,inacountrywheretheconstitutiongiveseverymanashareinitsgovernmentandpoliticalinterests,conversationgenerallyturnsuponpolitics:andweseemenspendtheirlivesinthecalculationofeventswhich,consideringthenatureofthingsandthecapricesoffortune,orratherofmen,canscarcelybethoughtsubjecttotherulesofcalculation。
  Inafreenationitisveryoftenamatterofindifferencewhetherindividualsreasonwellorill;itissufficientthattheydoreason:
  hencespringsthatlibertywhichisasecurityfromtheeffectsofthesereasonings。
  Butinadespoticgovernment,itisequallyperniciouswhethertheyreasonwellorill;theirreasoningisalonesufficienttoshocktheprincipleofthatgovernment。
  Manypeoplewhohavenodesireofpleasingabandonthemselvestotheirownparticularhumour;andmostofthosewhohavewitandingenuityareingeniousintormentingthemselves:filledwithcontemptordisgustforallthings,theyareunhappyamidstalltheblessingsthatcanpossiblycontributetopromotetheirfelicity。
  Asnosubjectfearsanother,thewholenationisproud;fortheprideofkingsisfoundedonlyontheirindependence。
  Freenationsarehaughty;othersmaymoreproperlybecalledvain。
  Butasthesemenwhoarenaturallysoproudlivemuchbythemselves,theyarecommonlybashfulwhentheyappearamongstrangers;andwefrequentlyseethembehaveforaconsiderabletimewithanoddmixtureofprideandill—placedshame。
  Thecharacterofthenationismoreparticularlydiscoveredintheirliteraryperformances,inwhichwefindthemenofthoughtanddeepmeditation。
  Associetygivesusasenseoftheridiculeofmankind,retirementrendersusmorefittoreflectonthefollyofvice。Theirsatiricalwritingsaresharpandsevere,andwefindamongthemmanyJuvenals,withoutdiscoveringoneHorace。
  Inmonarchiesextremelyabsolute,historiansbetraythetruth,becausetheyarenotatlibertytospeakit;instatesremarkablyfree,theybetraythetruth,becauseoftheirlibertyitself;whichalwaysproducesdivisions,everyonebecomingasgreataslavetotheprejudicesofhisfactionashecouldbeinadespoticstate。
  Theirpoetshavemorefrequentlyanoriginalrudenessofinventionthanthatparticularkindofdelicacywhichspringsfromtaste;wetherefindsomethingwhichapproachesnearertotheboldstrengthofaMich?lAngelothantothesoftergracesofaRaph?l。
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  1。Theycutoutthetonguesoftheadvocates,andcried,"Viper,don’thiss。"——Tacitus。
  2。Agathias,iv。
  3。Justin,xxxviii。
  4。Calumniaslitium——Ibid。
  5。Tacitus。
  6。Hehasdescribedthisinterview,whichhappenedin1596,intheCollectionofVoyagesthatContributedtotheEstablishmentoftheEastIndiaCompany,iii,partI,p。33。
  7。Bookliv。17,p。532。
  8。FableoftheBees。
  9。ThepeoplewhofollowthekhanofMalacamber,thoseofCarnatacaandCoromandel,areproudandindolent;theyconsumelittle,becausetheyaremiserablypoor;whilethesubjectsoftheMogulandthepeopleofHindostanemploythemselves,andenjoytheconveniencesoflife,liketheEuropeans。——CollectionofVoyagesthatContributedtotheEstablishmentoftheEastIndiaCompany,i,p。54。
  10。SeeDampier,iii。
  11。EdifyingLetters,coll。xil,p。80。
  12。Bookxliii。2。
  13。Bythenatureofthesoilandclimate。
  14。FatherDuHalde,ii。
  15。FatherDuHalde。
  16。Mosesmadethesamecodeforlawsandreligion。TheoldRomansconfoundedtheancientcustomswiththelaws。
  17。SeeFatherDuHalde。
  18。SeetheclassicbooksfromwhichFatherDuHaldegivesussomeexcellentextracts。
  19。Itisthiswhichhasestablishedemulation,whichhasbanishedlaziness,andcultivatedaloveoflearning。
  20。SeethereasonsgivenbytheChinesemagistratesintheirdecreesforproscribingtheChristianreligion。EdifyingLetters,coll。xvii。
  21。Seeiv。3,xix。13。
  22。Seexxiv。3。
  23。Lange,Journalin1721and1722;inVoyagestotheNorth,viii,p。
  363。
  24。Plutarch,Solon。
  25。Laws,xii。
  26。Ibid。,xii。
  27。Insimplum。
  28。Livy,xxxviii。
  29。Institutes,ii。tit。6,§2。Ozel’scompilation,Leyden,1658。
  30。Ibid。,ii。,DePupil。substit。§3。
  31。Theformofthevulgarsubstitutionranthus:"Ifsuchaoneisunwillingtotaketheinheritance,Isubstituteinhisstead,"&c。;thepupillarysubstitution:"Ifsuchaonediesbeforehearrivesattheageofpuberty,Isubstitute,"&c。
  32。Bookiii,tit。5,§5。
  33。Leg。8,Cod。,DeRepud。
  34。AndthelawoftheTwelveTables。SeeCicero,Philipp。,ii。69。
  35。Siverberibusquaingenuisalienasunt,afficientemprobaverit。
  36。InNov。117,cap。xiv。
  37。Chapter6。
  BookXX。OfLawsinRelationtoCommerce,ConsideredinitsNatureandDistinctions1。OfCommerce。Thefollowingsubjectsdeservetobetreatedinamoreextensivemannerthanthenatureofthisworkwillpermit。FainwouldI
  glidedownagentleriver,butIamcarriedawaybyatorrent。
  Commerceisacureforthemostdestructiveprejudices;foritisalmostageneralrulethatwhereverwefindagreeablemanners,therecommerceflourishes;andthatwhereverthereiscommerce,therewemeetwithagreeablemanners。
  Letusnotbeastonished,then,ifourmannersarenowlesssavagethanformerly。Commercehaseverywherediffusedaknowledgeofthemannersofallnations:thesearecomparedonewithanother,andfromthiscomparisonarisethegreatestadvantages。
  Commerciallaws,itmaybesaid,improvemannerstorthesamereasonthattheydestroythem。Theycorruptthepurestmorals。[1]ThiswasthesubjectofPlato’scomplaints;andweeverydayseethattheypolishandrefinethemostbarbarous。
  2。OftheSpiritofCommerce。Peaceisthenaturaleffectoftrade。Twonationswhotrafficwitheachotherbecomereciprocallydependent;forifonehasaninterestinbuying,theotherhasaninterestinselling:
  andthustheirunionisfoundedontheirmutualnecessities。
  Butifthespiritofcommerceunitesnations,itdoesnotinthesamemanneruniteindividuals。Weseethatincountries[2]wherethepeoplemoveonlybythespiritofcommerce,theymakeatrafficofallthehumane,allthemoralvirtues;themosttriflingthings,thosewhichhumanitywoulddemand,aretheredone,ortheregiven,onlyformoney。
  Thespiritoftradeproducesinthemindofamanacertainsenseofexactjustice,opposite,ontheonehand,torobbery,andontheothertothosemoralvirtueswhichforbidouralwaysadheringrigidlytotherulesofprivateinterest,andsufferustoneglectthisfortheadvantageofothers。
  Thetotalprivationoftrade,onthecontrary,producesrobbery,whichAristotleranksinthenumberofmeansofacquiring;yetitisnotatallinconsistentwithcertainmoralvirtues。Hospitality,forinstance,ismostrareintradingcountries,whileitisfoundinthemostadmirableperfectionamongnationsofvagabonds。
  Itisasacrilege,saysTacitus,foraGermantoshuthisdooragainstanymanwhomsoever,whetherknownorunknown。Hewhohasbehavedwithhospitalitytoastrangergoestoshowhimanotherhousewherethishospitalityisalsopractised;andheistherereceivedwiththesamehumanity。[3]ButwhentheGermanshadfoundedkingdoms,hospitalityhadbecomeburdensome。ThisappearsbytwolawsofthecodeoftheBurgundians;[4]oneofwhichinflictedapenaltyoneverybarbarianwhopresumedtoshowastrangerthehouseofaRoman;andtheotherdecreedthatwhoeverreceivedastrangershouldbeindemnifiedbytheinhabitants,everyonebeingobligedtopayhisproperproportion。
  3。OfthePovertyofthePeople。Therearetwosortsofpoor;thosewhoarerenderedsuchbytheseverityofgovernment:theseare,indeed,incapableofperformingalmostanygreataction,becausetheirindigenceisaconsequenceoftheirslavery。Othersarepoor,onlybecausetheyeitherdespiseorknownottheconveniencesoflife;andthesearecapableofaccomplishinggreatthings,becausetheirpovertyconstitutesapartoftheirliberty。
  4。OfCommerceindifferentGovernments。Tradehassomerelationtoformsofgovernment。Inamonarchy,itisgenerallyfoundedonluxury;
  andthoughitbealsofoundedonrealwants,yettheprincipalviewwithwhichitiscarriedonistoprocureeverythingthatcancontributetothepride,thepleasure,andthecapriciouswhimsofthenation。Inrepublics,itiscommonlyfoundedoneconomy。Theirmerchants,havinganeyetoallthenationsoftheearth,bringfromonewhatiswantedbyanother。ItisthusthattherepublicsofTyre,Carthage,Athens,Marseilles,Florence,Venice,andHollandengagedincommerce。
  Thiskindoftraffichasanaturalrelationtoarepublicangovernment:
  tomonarchiesitisonlyoccasional。Forasitisfoundedonthepracticeofgaininglittle,andevenlessthanothernations,andofremedyingthisbygainingincessantly,itcanhardlybecarriedonbyapeopleswallowedupinluxury,whospendmuch,andseenothingbutobjectsofgrandeur。
  Cicerowasofthisopinion,whenhesojustlysaid,"Idonotlikethatthesamepeopleshouldbeatonceboththelordsandfactorsofthewholeearth。"[5]Forthiswould,indeed,betosupposethateveryindividualinthestate,andthewholestatecollectively,hadtheirheadsconstantlyfilledwithgrandviews,andatthesametimewithsmallones;whichisacontradiction。
  Notbutthatthemostnobleenterprisesarecompletedalsointhosestateswhichsubsistbyeconomicalcommerce:theyhaveevenanintrepiditynottobefoundinmonarchies。Andthereasonisthis:
  Onebranchofcommerceleadstoanother,thesmalltothemoderate,themoderatetothegreat;thushewhohasgratifiedhisdesireofgainingalittleraiseshimselftoasituationinwhichheisnotlessdesirousofgainingagreatdeal。
  Besides,thegrandenterprisesofmerchantsarealwaysnecessarilyconnectedwiththeaffairsofthepublic。But,inmonarchies,thesepublicaffairsgiveasmuchdistrusttothemerchantsasinfreestatestheyappeartogivesafety。Greatenterprises,therefore,incommercearenotformonarchical,butforrepublican,governments。
  Inshort,anopinionofgreatercertainty,astothepossessionofpropertyinthesestates,makesthemundertakeeverything。Theyflatterthemselveswiththehopesofreceivinggreatadvantagesfromthesmilesoffortune;andthinkingthemselvessureofwhattheyhavealreadyacquired,theyboldlyexposeitinordertoacquiremore;riskingnothing,butasthemeansofobtaining。
  Idonotpretendtosaythatanymonarchyisentirelyexcludedfromaneconomicalcommerce;butofitsownnatureithaslesstendencytowardsit:neitherdoImeanthattherepublicswithwhichweareacquaintedareabsolutelydeprivedofthecommerceofluxury;butitislessconnectedwiththeirconstitution。
  Withregardtoadespoticstate,thereisnooccasiontomentionit。A
  generalrule:Anationinslaverylaboursmoretopreservethantoacquire;afreenation,moretoacquirethantopreserve。
  5。OfNationsthathaveenteredintoaneconomicalCommerce。Marseilles,anecessaryretreatinthemidstofatempestuoussea;Marseilles,aharbourwhichallthewinds,theshelvesofthesea,thedispositionofthecoasts,pointoutforalanding—place,becamefrequentedbymariners;whilethesterilityoftheadjacentcountrydeterminedthecitizenstoaneconomicalcommerce。[6]Itwasnecessarythattheyshouldbelaborioustosupplywhatnaturehadrefused;thattheyshouldbejust,inordertoliveamongbarbarousnations,fromwhomtheyweretoderivetheirprosperity;thattheyshouldbemoderate,totheendthattheymightalwaystastethesweetsofatranquilgovernment;infine,thattheyshouldbefrugalintheirmanners,toenablethemtosubsistbytrade——atradethemorecertainasitwaslessadvantageous。
  Weeverywhereseeviolenceandoppressiongivebirthtoacommercefoundedoneconomy,whilemenareconstrainedtotakerefugeinmarshes,inisles,intheshallowsofthesea,andevenonrocksthemselves。ThusitwasthatTyre,Venice,andthecitiesofHollandwerefounded。