Itisinmonarchiesthatwebeholdthesubjectsencirclingthethrone,andcheeredbytheirradiancyofthesovereign;thereitisthateachpersonfilling,asitwere,alargerspace,iscapableofexercisingthosevirtueswhichadornthesoul,notwithindependence,butwithtruedignityandgreatness。
13。AnIdeaofDespoticPower。WhenthesavagesofLouisianaaredesirousoffruit,theycutthetreetotheroot,andgatherthefruit。[35]Thisisanemblemofdespoticgovernment。
14。InwhatMannertheLawsareinrelationtothePrinciplesofDespoticGovernment。Theprincipleofdespoticgovernmentisfear;butatimid,ignorant,andfaint—spiritedpeoplehavenooccasionforagreatnumberoflaws。
Everythingoughttodependhereontwoorthreeideas;hencethereisnonecessitythatanynewnotionsshouldbeadded。Whenwewanttobreakahorse,wetakecarenottolethimchangehismaster,hislesson,orhispace。Thusanimpressionismadeonhisbrainbytwoorthreemotions,andnomore。
Ifaprinceisshutupinaseraglio,hecannotleavehisvoluptuousabodewithoutalarmingthosewhokeephimconfined。Thevwillnotbearthathispersonandpowershouldpassintootherhands。Heseldomthereforewageswarinperson,andhardlyventurestoentrustthecommandtohisgenerals。
Aprinceofthisstamp,unaccustomedtoresistanceinhispalace,isenragedtoseehiswillopposedbyarmedforce;henceheisgenerallygovernedbywrathorvengeance。Besides,hecanhavenonotionoftrueglory。Warthereforeiscarriedonundersuchagovernmentinitsfullnaturalfury,andlessextentisgiventothelawofnationsthaninotherstates。
Suchaprincehassomanyimperfectionsthattheyareafraidtoexposehisnaturalstupiditytopublicview。Heisconcealedinhispalace,andthepeopleareignorantofhissituation。Itisluckyforhimthattheinhabitantsofthosecountriesneedonlythenameofaprincetogovernthem。
WhenCharlesXIIwasatBender,hemetwithsomeoppositionfromthesenateofSweden;uponwhichhewrotewordhomethathewouldsendoneofhisbootstocommandthem。Thisbootwouldhavegovernedlikeadespoticprince。
Iftheprinceisaprisoner,heissupposedtobedead,andanothermountsthethrone。Thetreatiesmadebytheprisonerarevoid,hissuccessorwillnotratifythem;andindeed,asheisthelaw,thestate,andtheprince:whenheisnolongeraprince,heisnothing:werehenotthereforedeemedtobedeceased,thestatewouldbesubverted。
OnethingwhichchieflydeterminedtheTurkstoconcludeaseparatepeacewithPeterIwastheMuscovitestellingtheVizirthatinSwedenanotherprincehadbeenplaceduponthethrone。[36]
Thepreservationofthestateisonlythepreservationoftheprince,orratherofthepalacewhereheisconfined。Whateverdoesnotdirectlymenacethispalaceorthecapitalmakesnoimpressiononignorant,proud,andprejudicedminds;andasfortheconcatenationofevents,theyareunabletotrace,toforesee,oreventoconceiveit。Politics,withitsseveralspringsandlaws,mustherebeverymuchlimited;thepoliticalgovernmentisassimpleasthecivil。[37]
Thewholeisreducedtoreconcilingthepoliticalandciviladministrationtothedomesticgovernment,theofficersofstatetothoseoftheseraglio。
Suchastateishappiestwhenitcanlookuponitselfastheonlyoneintheworld,whenitisenvironedwithdeserts,andseparatedfromthosepeoplewhomtheycallBarbarians。Sinceitcannotdependonthemilitia,itisproperitshoulddestroyapartofitself。
Asfearistheprincipleofdespoticgovernment,itsendistranquillity;butthistranquillitycannotbecalledapeace:no,itisonlythesilenceofthosetownswhichtheenemyisreadytoinvade。
Sincestrengthdoesnotlieinthestate,butinthearmythatfoundedit,inordertodefendthestatethearmymustbepreserved,howformidablesoevertotheprince。How,then,canwereconcilethesecurityofthegovernmenttothatoftheprince’sperson?
ObservehowindustriouslytheRussiangovernmentendeavourstotemperitsarbitrarypower,whichitfindsmoreburdensomethanthepeoplethemselves。Theyhavebrokentheirnumerousguards,mitigatedcriminalpunishments,erectedtribunals,enteredintoaknowledgeofthelaws,andinstructedthepeople。Butthereareparticularcausesthatwillprobablyoncemoreinvolvethemintheverymiserywhichtheynowendeavourtoavoid。
Inthosestatesreligionhasmoreinfluencethananywhereelse;itisfearaddedtofear。InMahomedancountries,itispartlyfromtheirreligionthatthepeoplederivethesurprisingvenerationtheyhavefortheirprince。
ItisreligionthatamendsinsomemeasuretheTurkishconstitution。Thesubjects,whohavenoattachmentofhonourtothegloryandgrandeurofthestate,areconnectedwithitbytheforceandprincipleofreligion。
Ofalldespoticgovernmentsthereisnonethatlaboursmoreunderitsownweightthanthatwhereintheprincedeclareshimselfproprietorofallthelands,andheirtoallhissubjects。Hencetheneglectofagriculturearises;andiftheprinceintermeddleslikewiseintrade,allmannerofindustryisruined。
Underthissortofgovernment,nothingisrepairedorimproved。[38]
Housesarebuiltonlyforthenecessityofhabitation;thereisnodiggingofditchesorplantingoftrees;everythingisdrawnfrom,butnothingrestoredto,theearth;thegroundliesuntilled,andthewholecountrybecomesadesert。
Isittobeimaginedthatthelawswhichabolishthepropertyoflandandthesuccessionofestateswilldiminishtheavariceandcupidityofthegreat?Bynomeans。Theywillratherstimulatethiscupidityandavarice。Thegreatmenwillbepromptedtouseathousandoppressivemethods,imaginingtheyhavenootherpropertythanthegoldandsilverwhichtheyareabletoseizeuponbyviolence,ortoconceal。
Toprevent,therefore,theutterruinofthestate,theavidityoftheprinceoughttobemoderatedbysomeestablishedcustom。Thus,inTurkey,thesovereignissatisfiedwiththerightofthreepercentonthevalueofinheritances。[39]Butashegivesthegreatestpartofthelandstohissoldiery,anddisposesofthemashepleases;asheseizesonalltheinheritancesoftheofficersoftheempireattheirdecease;
ashehasthepropertyofthepossessionsofthosewhodiewithoutissue,andthedaughtershaveonlytheusufruct;itthencefollowsthatthegreatestpartoftheestatesofthecountryareheldinaprecariousmanner。
BythelawsofBantam,[40]thekingseizesonthewholeinheritance,evenwife,children,andhabitation。Inordertoeludethecruelestpartofthislaw,theyareobligedtomarrytheirchildrenateight,nine,ortenyearsofage,andsometimesyounger,totheendthattheymaynotbeawretchedpartofthefather’ssuccession。
Incountrieswheretherearenofundamentallaws,thesuccessiontotheempirecannotbefixed。Thecrownisthenelective,andtherightofelectingisintheprince,whonamesasuccessoreitherofhisownorofsomeotherfamily。Invainwoulditbetoestablishherethesuccessionoftheeldestson;theprincemightalwayschooseanother。Thesuccessorisdeclaredbytheprincehimself,orbyacivilwar。Henceadespoticstateis,uponanotheraccount,moreliablethanamonarchicalgovernmenttodissolution。
Aseveryprinceoftheroyalfamilyisheldequallycapableofbeingchosen,henceitfollowsthattheprincewhoascendsthethroneimmediatelystrangleshisbrothers,asinTurkey;orputsouttheireyes,asinPersia;orbereavesthemoftheirunderstanding,asintheMogul’scountry;oriftheseprecautionsarenotused,asinMorocco,thevacancyofthethroneisalwaysattendedwiththehorrorsofacivilwar。
BytheconstitutionofRussia[41]theCzarmaychoosewhomhehasamindforhissuccessor,whetherofhisownorofastrangefamily。Suchasettlementproducesathousandrevolutions,andrendersthethroneastotteringasthesuccessionisarbitrary。Therightofsuccessionbeingoneofthosethingswhichareofmostimportancetothepeopletoknow,thebestisthatwhichmostsensiblystrikesthem。Suchasacertainorderofbirth。Asettlementofthiskindputsastoptointrigues,andstiflesambition;themindofaweakprinceisnolongerenslaved,norishemadetospeakhiswillasheisjustexpiring。
Whenthesuccessionisestablishedbyafundamentallaw,onlyoneprinceisthesuccessor,andhisbrothershaveneitherarealnorapparentrighttodisputethecrownwithhim。Theycanneitherpretendtonortakeanyadvantageofthewillofafather。Thereisthennomoreoccasiontoconfineorkilltheking’sbrotherthananyothersubject。
Butindespoticgovernments,wheretheprince’sbrothersareequallyhisslavesandhisrivals,prudencerequiresthattheirpersonsbesecured;
especiallyinMahomedancountries,wherereligionconsidersvictoryorsuccessasadivinedecisionintheirfavour;sothattheyhavenosuchthingasamonarchdejure,butonlydefacto。
Thereisafargreaterincentivetoambitionincountrieswheretheprincesofthebloodaresensiblethatiftheydonotascendthethronetheymustbeeitherimprisonedorputtodeath,thanamongus,wheretheyareplacedinsuchastationasmaysatisfy,ifnottheirambition,atleasttheirmoderatedesires。
Theprincesofdespoticgovernmentshaveeverpervertedtheuseofmarriage。Theygenerallytakeagreatmanywives,especiallyinthatpartoftheworldwhereabsolutepowerisinsomemeasurenaturalised,namely,Asia。Hencetheycometohavesuchamultitudeofchildrenthattheycanhardlyhaveanygreataffectionforthem,northechildrenforoneanother。
Thereigningfamilyresemblesthestate;itistooweakitself,anditsheadtoopowerful;itseemsverynumerousandextensive,andyetissuddenlyextinct。Artaxerxes[42]putallhischildrentodeathforconspiringagainsthim。
Itisnotatallprobablethatfiftychildrenwouldconspireagainsttheirfather,andmuchlessthatthisconspiracywouldbeowingtohishavingrefusedtoresignhisconcubinetohiseldestson。Itismorenaturaltobelievethatthewholewasanintrigueofthoseorientalseraglios,wherefraud,treachery,anddeceitreigninsilenceanddarkness;andwhereanoldprince,growneverydaymoreinfirm,isthefirstprisonerofthepalace。
Afterwhathasbeensaid,onewouldimaginethathumannatureshouldperpetuallyriseupagainstdespotism。Butnotwithstandingtheloveofliberty,sonaturaltomankind,notwithstandingtheirinnatedetestationofforceandviolence,mostnationsaresubjecttothisverygovernment。
Thisiseasilyaccountedfor。Toformamoderategovernment,itisnecessarytocombinetheseveralpowers;toregulate,temper,andsettheminmotion;togive,asitwere,ballasttoone,inordertoenableittocounterpoisetheother。Thisisamasterpieceoflegislation;
rarelyproducedbyhazard,andseldomattainedbyprudence。Onthecontrary,adespoticgovernmentoffersitself,asitwere,atfirstsight;itisuniformthroughout;andaspassionsonlyarerequisitetoestablishit,thisiswhateverycapacitymayreach。
15。ThesameSubjectcontinued。Inwarmclimates,wheredespoticpowergenerallyprevails,thepassionsdisclosethemselvesearlier,andaresoonerextinguished;[43]theunderstandingissoonerripened;theyarelessindangerofsquanderingtheirfortunes;thereislessfacilityofdistinguishingthemselvesintheworld;lesscommunicationbetweenyoungpeople,whoareconfinedathome;theymarrymuchearlier,andconsequentlymaybesoonerofagethaninourEuropeanclimates。InTurkeytheyareofageatfifteen。[44]
Theyhavenosuchthingasacessionofgoods;inagovernmentwherethereisnofixedproperty,peopledependratheronthepersonthanonhisestate。
Thecessionofgoodsisnaturallyadmittedinmoderategovernments,[45]
butespeciallyinrepublics,becauseofthegreaterconfidenceusuallyplacedintheprobityofthecitizens,andthelenityandmoderationarisingfromaformofgovernmentwhicheverysubjectseemstonavepreferredtoallothers。
HadthelegislatorsoftheRomanrepublicestablishedthecessionofgoods,[46]theyneverwouldhavebeenexposedtosomanyseditionsandcivildiscords;neitherwouldtheyhaveexperiencedthedangeroftheevils,northeinconvenienceoftheremedies。
Povertyandtheprecariousnessofpropertyinadespoticstaterenderusurynatural,eachpersonraisingthevalueofhismoneyinproportiontothedangerheseesinlendingit。Miserythereforepoursfromallpartsintothoseunhappycountries;theyarebereftofeverything,evenoftheresourceofborrowing。
Henceitisthatamerchantunderthisgovernmentisunabletocarryonanextensivecommerce;helivesfromhandtomouth;andwerehetoencumberhimselfwithalargequantityofmerchandise,hewouldlosemorebytheexorbitantinteresthemustgiveformoneythanhecouldpossiblygetbythegoods。Hencetheyhavenolawshererelatingtocommerce;theyareallreducedtowhatiscalledthebarepolice。
Agovernmentcannotbeunjustwithouthavinghandstoexerciseitsinjustice。Now,itisimpossiblebutthatthesehandswillbegraspingforthemselves。Theembezzlingofthepublicmoneyisthereforenaturalindespoticstates。
Asthisisacommoncrimeundersuchagovernment,confiscationsareveryuseful。Bythesethepeopleareeased;themoneydrawnbythismethodbeingaconsiderabletributewhichcouldhardlyberaisedontheexhaustedsubject:neitheristhereinthosecountriesanyonefamilywhichtheprincewouldbegladtopreserve。
Inmoderategovernmentsitisquiteadifferentthing。Confiscationswouldrenderpropertyuncertain,wouldstripinnocentchildren,woulddestroyawholefamily,insteadofpunishingasinglecriminal。Inrepublicstheywouldbeattendedwiththemischiefofsubvertingequality,whichistheverysoulofthisgovernment,bydeprivingacitizenofhisnecessarysubsistence。[47]
ThereisaRomanlaw[48]againstconfiscations,exceptinthecaseofcrimenmajestatis,orhightreasonofthemostheinousnature。Itwouldbeaprudentthingtofollowthespiritofthislaw,andtolimitconfiscationstoparticularcrimes。Incountrieswherealocalcustomhasrenderedrealestatesalienable,Bodinveryjustlyobservesthatconfiscationsshouldextendonlytosuchasarepurchasedoracquired。[49]
16。OftheCommunicationofPower。Inadespoticgovernmentthepoweriscommunicatedentiretothepersonentrustedwithit。Thevizirhimselfisthedespoticprince;andeachparticularofficeristhevizir。Inmonarchiesthepowerislessimmediatelyapplied,beingtemperedbythemonarchashegivesit。[50]Hemakessuchadistributionofhisauthorityasnevertocommunicateapartofitwithoutreservingagreatersharetohimself。
Henceinmonarchiesthegovernorsoftownsarenotsodependentonthegovernoroftheprovinceasnottobestillmoresoontheprince;andtheprivateofficersormilitarybodiesarenotsofarsubjecttotheirgeneralasnottoowestillagreatersubjectiontotheirsovereign。
Inmostmonarchiesithasbeenwiselyregulatedthatthosewhohaveanextensivecommandshouldnotbelongtoanymilitarycorps;sothatastheyhavenoauthoritybutthroughtheprince’spleasure,andastheymaybeemployedornot,theyareinsomemeasureintheservice,andinsomemeasureoutofit。
Thisisincompatiblewithadespoticgovernment。Forifthosewhoarenotactuallyemployedwerestillinvestedwithprivilegesandtitles,theconsequencemustbethattherewouldbemeninthestatewhomightbesaidtobegreatofthemselves;athingdirectlyoppositetothenatureofthisgovernment。
Werethegovernorofatownindependentofthepasha,expedientswouldbedailynecessarytomakethemagree;whichishighlyabsurdinadespoticstate。Besides,ifaparticulargovernorshouldrefusetoobey,howcouldtheotheranswerforhisprovincewithhishead?
Inthiskindofgovernment,authoritymusteverbewavering;noristhatofthelowestmagistratemoresteadythanthatofthedespoticprince。
Undermoderategovernments,thelawisprudentinallitsparts,andperfectlywellknown,sothateventhepettiestmagistratesarecapableoffollowingit。Butinadespoticstate,wheretheprince’swillisthelaw,thoughtheprincewerewise,yethowcouldthemagistratefollowawillhedoesnotknow?Hemustcertainlyfollowhisown。
Again,asthelawisonlytheprince’swill,andastheprincecanonlywillwhatheknows,theconsequenceisthatthereareaninfinitenumberofpeoplewhomustwillforhim,andmaketheirwillskeeppacewithhis。Infine,asthelawisthemomentarywilloftheprince,itisnecessarythatthosewhowillforhimshouldfollowhissuddenmannerofwilling。
17。OfPresents。Itisareceivedcustomindespoticcountriesnevertoaddressanysuperiorwhomsoever,notexceptingtheirkings,withoutmakingthemapresent。TheMogul[51]neverreceivesthepetitionsofhissubjectsiftheycomewithemptyhands。Theseprincesspoileventheirownfavours。
Butthusitmusteverbeinagovernmentwherenomanisacitizen;
wheretheyhaveallanotionthatasuperiorisundernoobligationtoaninferior;wheremenimaginethemselvesboundbynoothertiethanthechastisementsinflictedbyonepartyuponanother;where,infine,thereisverylittletodo,andwherethepeoplehaveseldomanoccasionofpresentingthemselvesbeforethegreat,ofofferingtheirpetitions,andmuchlesstheircomplaints。
Inarepublic,presentsareodious,becausevirtuestandsinnoneedofthem。Inmonarchies,honourisamuchstrongerincentivethanpresents。
Butinadespoticgovernment,wherethereisneitherhonournorvirtue,peoplecannotbedeterminedtoactbutthroughhopeoftheconveniencesoflife。
ItisinconformitywithrepublicanideasthatPlato[52]orderedthosewhoreceivedpresentsfordoingtheirdutytobepunishedwithdeath。
"Theymustnottakepresents,"sayshe,"neitherforgoodnorforevilactions。"
AverybadlawwasthatamongtheRomans[53]whichgavethemagistratesleavetoacceptsmallpresents[[54]providedtheydidnotexceedonehundredcrownsinthewholeyear。Theywhoreceivenothingexpectnothing;theywhoreceivealittlesooncovetmore,tillatlengththeirdesiresswelltoanexorbitantheight。
Besides,itismucheasiertoconvictamanwhoknowshimselfobligedtoacceptnopresentatall,andyetwillacceptsomething,thanapersonwhotakesmorewhenheoughttotakeless,andwhoalwaysfindspretexts,excuses,andplausiblereasonsinjustificationofhisconduct。
18。OfRewardsconferredbytheSovereign。Indespoticgovernments,where,aswehavealreadyobserved,theprincipalmotiveofactionisthehopeoftheconveniencesoflife,theprincewhoconfersrewardshasnothingtobestowbutmoney。Inmonarchies,wherehonouralonepredominates,theprince’srewardswouldconsistonlyofmarksofdistinction,ifthedistinctionsestablishedbyhonourwerenotattendedwithluxury,whichnecessarilybringsonitswants:theprincethereforeisobligedtoconfersuchhonoursasleadtowealth。Butinarepublicwherevirtuereigns——amotiveself—sufficient,andwhichexcludesallothers——therecompensesofthestateconsistonlyofpublicattestationsofthisvirtue。
Itisageneralrulethatgreatrewardsinmonarchiesandrepublicsareasignoftheirdecline;becausetheyareaproofoftheirprinciplesbeingcorrupted,andthattheideaofhonourhasnolongerthesameforceinamonarchy,northetitleofcitizenthesameweightinarepublic。
TheveryworstRomanemperorswerethosewhoweremostprofuseintheirlargesses;forexample,Caligula,Claudius,Nero,Otho,Vitellius,Commodus,Heliogabalus,andCaracalla。Thebest,asAugustus,Vespasian,AntoninusPius,MarcusAurelius,andPertinax,wereeconomists。Undergoodemperorsthestateresumeditsprinciples;allothertreasuresweresuppliedbythatofhonour。
19。NewConsequencesofthePrinciplesofthethreeGovernments。I
cannotconcludethisbookwithoutmakingsomeapplicationsofmythreeprinciples。
1stQuestion。]Itisaquestionwhetherthelawsoughttoobligeasubjecttoacceptapublicemployment。Myopinionisthattheyoughtinarepublic,butnotinamonarchicalgovernment。Intheformer,publicemploymentsareattestationsofvirtue,depositionswithwhichacitizenisentrustedbyhiscountry,forwhosesakealoneheoughttolive,toact,andtothink,consequentlyliecannotrefusethem。[55]Inthelatter,publicofficesaretestimonialsofhonour;nowsuchisthecapriciousnessofhonourthatitchoosestoacceptnoneofthesetestimoniesbutwhenandinwhatmanneritpleases。
ThelateKingofSardinia[56]inflictedpunishmentsonhissubjectswhorefusedthedignitiesandpublicofficesofthestate。Inthisheunknowinglyfollowedrepublicanideas:buthismethodofgoverninginotherrespectssufficientlyprovesthatthiswasnothisintention。
2ndQuestion。]Secondly,itisquestionedwhetherasubjectshouldbeobligedtoacceptapostinthearmyinferiortothatwhichheheldbefore。AmongtheRomansitwasusualtoseeacaptainservethenextyearunderhislieutenant。[57]Thisisbecausevirtueinrepublicsrequiresacontinualsacrificeofourpersonsandofourrepugnancesforthegoodofthestate。Butinmonarchies,honour,trueorfalse,willneverbearwithwhatitcallsdegradingitself。
Indespoticgovernments,wherehonour,posts,andranksareequallyabused,theyindiscriminatelymakeaprinceascullion,andascullionaprince。
3rdQuestion。]Thirdly,itmaybeinquired,whethercivilandmilitaryemploymentsshouldbeconferredonthesameperson。InrepublicsIthinktheyshouldbejoined,butinmonarchiesseparated。Intheformeritwouldbeextremelydangeroustomaketheprofessionofarmsaparticularstate,distinctfromthatofcivilfunctions;andinthelatter,nolessdangerouswoulditbetoconferthesetwoemploymentsonthesameperson。
Inrepublicsapersontakesuparmsonlywithaviewtodefendhiscountryanditslaws;itisbecauseheisacitizenhemakeshimselfforawhileasoldier。Werethesetwodistinctstates,thepersonwhounderarmsthinkshimselfacitizenwouldsoonbemadesensibleheisonlyasoldier。
Inmonarchies,theywhoseconditionengagesthemintheprofessionofarmshavenothingbutglory,oratleasthonourorfortune,inview。Tomen,therefore,likethese,theprinceshouldnevergiveanycivilemployments;onthecontrary,theyoughttobecheckedbythecivilmagistrate,thatthesamepersonsmaynothaveatthesametimetheconfidenceofthepeopleandthepowertoabuseit。[58]
Wehaveonlytocastaneyeonanationthatmaybejustlycalledarepublic,disguisedundertheformofmonarchy,andweshallseehowjealoustheyareofmakingaseparateorderoftheprofessionofarms,andhowthemilitarystateisconstantlyalliedwiththatofthecitizen,andevensometimesofthemagistrate,totheendthatthesequalitiesmaybeapledgefortheircountry,whichshouldneverbeforgotten。
Thedivisionofcivilandmilitaryemployments,madebytheRomansaftertheextinctionoftherepublic,wasnotanarbitrarything。ItwasaconsequenceofthechangewhichhappenedintheconstitutionofRome;itwasnaturaltoamonarchicalgovernment;andwhatwasonlycommencedunderAugustus[59]succeedingemperors[60]wereobligedtofinish,inordertotemperthemilitarygovernment。
Procopius,therefore,thecompetitorofValenstheemperor,wasverymuchtoblamewhen,conferringthepro—consulardignity[61]uponHormisdas,aprinceofthebloodroyalofPersia,herestoredtothismagistracythemilitarycommandofwhichithadbeenformerlypossessed;
unlessindeedhehadveryparticularreasonsforsodoing。Apersonthataspirestothesovereigntyconcernshimselflessaboutwhatisserviceabletothestatethanwhatislikelytopromotehisowninterest。
4thQuestion。]Fourthly,itisaquestionwhetherpublicemploymentsshouldbesold。Theyoughtnot,Ithink,indespoticgovernments,wherethesubjectsmustbeinstantaneouslyplacedordisplacedbytheprince。
Butinmonarchiesthiscustomisnotatallimproper,byreasonitisaninducementtoengageinthatasafamilyemploymentwhichwouldnotbeundertakenthroughamotiveofvirtue;itfixeslikewiseeveryoneinhisduty,andrenderstheseveralordersofthekingdommorepermanent。
SuidasveryjustlyobservesthatAnastasiushadchangedtheempireintoakindofaristocracy,bysellingallpublicemployments。
Plato[62]cannotbearwiththisprostitution:"Thisisexactly,"sayshe,"asifapersonweretobemadeamarinerorpilotofashipforhismoney。Isitpossiblethatthisruleshouldbebadineveryotheremploymentoflife,andholdgoodonlyintheadministrationofarepublic?"ButPlatospeaksofarepublicfoundedonvirtue,andweofamonarchy。Now,inmonarchies(where,thoughtherewerenosuchthingasaregularsaleofpublicoffices,stilltheindigenceandavidityofthecourtierwouldequallyprompthimtoexposethemtosale)chancewillfurnishbettersubjectsthantheprince’schoice。Inshort,themethodofattainingtohonoursthroughrichesinspiresandcherishesindustry,[63]athingextremelywantinginthiskindofgovernment。
5thQuestion。]Thefifthquestionisinwhatkindofgovernmentcensorsarenecessary。Myansweris,thattheyarenecessaryinarepublic,wheretheprincipleofgovernmentisvirtue。Wemustnotimaginethatcriminalactionsonlyaredestructiveofvirtue;itisdestroyedalsobyomissions,byneglects,byacertaincoolnessintheloveofourcountry,bybadexamples,andbytheseedsofcorruption:whateverdoesnotopenlyviolatebuteludethelaws,doesnotsubvertbutweakenthem,oughttofallundertheinquiryandcorrectionofthecensors。