第8章

类别:其他 作者:Baron Charles De Secondat Mont字数:11189更新时间:19/01/07 15:06:43
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。