PHI LOS 0 P H Y . - Classic Works of Apologetics Online

841
III. A REPUBLIC, or democracy, where thtpeople
at large, either collectiyely or by represeatation, con-,
stitute the legislature.
The separate advantages of MONARCHY are, unity
of council, activity, decision, secrecy, di~patch;
the
military strength and energy which result from these
qualities of government; the exclusion of popular
and aristocratical contentions; the preventing, by a
known ruie of succesison, of all corppetitio~ for the
supreme power; and thereby repressing the hopes, intrigues,
and -dangerous ambition of a~.piring citizens.
rl'he wischiefs, or rather the dangers of MONARCHY
are, tyranny, expense, exaction, military domination;
unnecessary wars waged to gratify the passions
of an individual; risk of the character of the reigning
prince; ignorance in the governors of the interests
and accommodation of the people, and a con ...
sequent deficiency of salutary regulations; want of
constancy and uniformity in the rules of govern ..
ment, and, proceeding from thence, insecurity of
person and property.
The separate advantage of an ARISTOCRACY ·con. i •
sists in the wisdom which may be expected from e~perience
and education-a permanent council natu.­
rally possesses experience; and th~ members, whp
succeed to their places in it by inheritance, will, probabl)7,
be trained and educated with a view to the sta~
tions, which they are destined by their birth to occu,py.
'!"lle mischiefs of an ARISTOCR.~CY ::tre, dissensions
" in tI1e ruling orders of the state, \vhich, from the
want of a common superior, are liabh· to proceed to
tke In()st desperate extrell1ities ; oppression of the lo\v ..
c1' orders by th.e privileges of-the higher, and by la\V~
partial to tlle separate interests of the jaw· nlakers.
rrhe advantages of a RllPTJBLtc are, liberty,orex.
emption from needless restriction~ ; equal laws ; reg ..
ulations aJal)tcll t() tJle \Vallts ancl circu~stanc~~ ()f
the people; public spiri~, fruv,"llity, avcrscness to
war ~ the opportunities which democratic a~scl1lbIie~
alf:j~·~l tl) m{~n of every description, of producing their
:\blhtw~ and ~'()iY1s(>ls to pu.blic. ()bSefvation, ",.,a rh('