misc writings and speeches(米斯克说与写)-第35章
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imagine popular government to be always a blessing； Mr Mitford omits no
opportunity of assuring us that it is always a curse。 The fact is； that a
good government； like a good coat； is that which fits the body for which it
is designed。 A man who； upon abstract principles； pronounces a
constitution to be good； without an exact knowledge of the people who are
to be governed by it； judges as absurdly as a tailor who should measure the
Belvidere Apollo for the clothes of all his customers。 The demagogues
who wished to see Portugal a republic； and the wise critics who revile the
Virginians for not having instituted a peerage； appear equally ridiculous to
all men of sense and candour。
That is the best government which desires to make the people happy；
and knows how to make them happy。 Neither the inclination nor the
knowledge will suffice alone； and it is difficult to find them together。
Pure democracy； and pure democracy alone； satisfies the former
condition of this great problem。 That the governors may be solicitous
only for the interests of the governed； it is necessary that the interests of
the governors and the governed should be the same。 This cannot be often
the case where power is intrusted to one or to a few。 The privileged part
of the community will doubtless derive a certain degree of advantage from
the general prosperity of the state； but they will derive a greater from
oppression and exaction。 The king will desire an useless war for his
glory； or a parc…aux…cerfs for his pleasure。 The nobles will demand
monopolies and lettres…de…cachet。 In proportion as the number of
governors is increased the evil is diminished。 There are fewer to
contribute； and more to receive。 The dividend which each can obtain of the
public plunder becomes less and less tempting。 But the interests of the
subjects and the rulers never absolutely coincide till the subjects
themselves become the rulers； that is； till the government be either
immediately or mediately democratical。
But this is not enough。 〃Will without power；〃 said the sagacious
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Casimir to Milor Beefington； 〃is like children playing at soldiers。〃 The
people will always be desirous to promote their own interests； but it may
be doubted； whether； in any community； they were ever sufficiently
educated to understand them。 Even in this island； where the multitude
have long been better informed than in any other part of Europe； the rights
of the many have generally been asserted against themselves by the
patriotism of the few。 Free trade； one of the greatest blessings which a
government can confer on a people； is in almost every country unpopular。
It may be well doubted； whether a liberal policy with regard to our
commercial relations would find any support from a parliament elected by
universal suffrage。 The republicans on the other side of the Atlantic have
recently adopted regulations of which the consequences will； before long；
show us；
〃How nations sink； by darling schemes oppressed； When vengeance
listens to the fool's request。〃
The people are to be governed for their own good； and； that they may
be governed for their own good； they must not be governed by their own
ignorance。 There are countries in which it would be as absurd to
establish popular government as to abolish all the restraints in a school； or
to untie all the strait…waistcoats in a madhouse。
Hence it may be concluded that the happiest state of society is that in
which supreme power resides in the whole body of a well… informed
people。 This is an imaginary； perhaps an unattainable； state of things。
Yet； in some measure； we may approximate to it； and he alone deserves
the name of a great statesman； whose principle it is to extend the power of
the people in proportion to the extent of their knowledge； and to give them
every facility for obtaining such a degree of knowledge as may render it
safe to trust them with absolute power。 In the mean time； it is dangerous
to praise or condemn constitutions in the abstract； since； from the
despotism of St Petersburg to the democracy of Washington； there is
scarcely a form of government which might not； at least in some
hypothetical case； be the best possible。
If； however； there be any form of government which in all ages and all
nations has always been； and must always be； pernicious； it is certainly
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that which Mr Mitford； on his usual principle of being wiser than all the
rest of the world； has taken under his especial patronagepure oligarchy。
This is closely； and indeed inseparably； connected with another of his
eccentric tastes； a marked partiality for Lacedaemon； and a dislike of
Athens。 Mr Mitford's book has； I suspect； rendered these sentiments in
some degree popular； and I shall； therefore； examine them at some length。
The shades in the Athenian character strike the eye more rapidly than
those in the Lacedaemonian： not because they are darker； but because
they are on a brighter ground。 The law of ostracism is an instance of this。
Nothing can be conceived more odious than the practice of punishing a
citizen； simply and professedly； for his eminence；and nothing in the
institutions of Athens is more frequently or more justly censured。
Lacedaemon was free from this。 And why？ Lacedaemon did not need it。
Oligarchy is an ostracism of itself；an ostracism not occasional； but
permanent； not dubious； but certain。 Her laws prevented the
development of merit instead of attacking its maturity。 They did not cut
down the plant in its high and palmy state； but cursed the soil with eternal
sterility。 In spite of the law of ostracism； Athens produced； within a
hundred and fifty years； the greatest public men that ever existed。 Whom
had Sparta to ostracise？ She produced； at most； four eminent men；
Brasidas； Gylippus； Lysander； and Agesilaus。 Of these； not one rose to
distinction within her jurisdiction。 It was only when they escaped from
the region within which the influence of aristocracy withered everything
good and noble； it was only when they ceased to be Lacedaemonians； that
they became great men。 Brasidas； among the cities of Thrace； was
strictly a democratical leader； the favourite minister and general of the
people。 The same may be said of Gylippus； at Syracuse。 Lysander； in
the Hellespont； and Agesilaus； in Asia； were liberated for a time from the
hateful restraints imposed by the constitution of Lycurgus。 Both acquired
fame abroad； and both returned to be watched and depressed at home。
This is not peculiar to Sparta。 Oligarchy； wherever it has existed； has
always stunted the growth of genius。 Thus it was at Rome； till about a
century before the Christian era： we read of abundance of consuls and
dictators who won battles； and enjoyed triumphs； but we look in vain for a
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single man of the first order of intellect；for a Pericles； a Demosthenes； or
a Hannibal。 The Gracchi formed a strong democratical party； Marius
revived it； the foundations of the old aristocracy were shaken； and two
generations fertile in really great men appeared。
Venice is a still more remarkable instance： in her history we see
nothing but the state； aristocracy had destroyed every seed of genius and
virtue。 Her dominion was like herself； lofty and magnificent； but
founded on filth and weeds。 God forbid that there should ever again exist
a powerful and civilised state； which； after existing through thirteen
hundred eventful years； should not bequeath to mankind the memory of
one great name or one generous action。
Many writers； and Mr Mitford among the number； have admired the
stability of the Spartan institutions； in fact； there is little to admire； and
less to approve。 Oligarchy is the weakest and the most stable of
governments； and it is stable because it is weak。 It has a sort of
valetudinarian longevity； it lives in the balance of Sanctorius； it takes no
exercise； it exposes itself to no accident； it is seized with an
hypochondriac alarm at every new sensation； it trembles at every breath； it
lets blood for every inflammation： and thus； without ever enjoying a day
of health or pleasure； drags on its existence to a doting and debilitated old
age。
The Spartans purchased for their government a prolongation of its
existence by the sacrifice of happiness at home and dignity abroad。 They
cringed to the powerful； they trampled on the weak； they massacred their
helots； they betrayed their allies； they contrived to be a day too late for the
battle of Marathon； they attempted to avoid the battle of Salamis； they
suffered the Athenians； to whom they owed their lives and liberties； to be a
second time driven from their country by the Persians； that they might
finish their own fortifications on the Isthmus； they
