第8章
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  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。

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