Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Comparison Between The Asiatics And French.
In republics , the very name of which carries a charm to some people , the ear it ; captivated , the judgment seduced , and the pride . of the people flattered to it ' s height , where every man is the subject of a subject , and every king a vassal to another . Here a suspicion on the part of the people , or an expression , though well meant , if not the echo of the popular oracles , will most probably devote it ' s author to the prison or the gallows . The man who
possesses property , is generally marked out as a suspicious , because elevated , character ; and though these are the effects of such an administration , and has been proved long before the Christian < sra , there is a certain charm in the idea of republican government which inebriates the most sober and reflecting ; enthusiasm possesses every member at the time we hear a man declare , that death in all it ' s horrors would never estrange him from the service of the
people—that he will die at his post , rather than forfeit their sovereignty . If these professions were sincere , would they not demand the most unbounded gratitude on the part of the people ? But on this conjunction if , depends the adequateness or imbecility of republican government , and by reflecting on the passions of men , on their pre * - dominant failing ; the weakness of such persons who compose an assembly against the seducing charms of bribery and corruptiontheir constant aim is at imperial greatness ; for they may exercise
that power without taking the imperial diadem . These considerations must weigh with a man of reflection , and force hiin to declare , that of all forms of government , that of a republic . is the worst . View the'patriot Mirabeau in his inmost recesses ; see him employing the passions and ignorance of the multitude against their common interest . —Is it from the rabble that we are to have laws ,
who are mere tools of intriguing men ; three fourths of whom can scarcely read or write ? ' A man cannot help pitying the people , and condemning with warmth the knaves who have seduced them . No man less deserved the name of patriot than Mirabeau . A man ' s own private interest , whatever may be their pretensions , will generally take the lead of patriotic attachment . If we search the transactions of all countries , we shall see , at one coup
d ' ceil , that of those extensive countries which have adopted republicanism , three out of four have abandoned that form of grovernment , and taken that of monarchy . Whatever evils may arise from the influence of a throne , it will be a great consolation to think that we are not the slaves of an executive legislature , where the goal of domination lies open to all competitors , and each of them are crowding to it like racers at a horse course .
The first ends which were proposed by the revolution in France , were the representation of the people , the better revision of the state of the revenue , and for the framing of laws consistent with the personal and- moral freedom of the people ; but what man , however hardy , will dare to insult twenty-five millions of people >
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Comparison Between The Asiatics And French.
In republics , the very name of which carries a charm to some people , the ear it ; captivated , the judgment seduced , and the pride . of the people flattered to it ' s height , where every man is the subject of a subject , and every king a vassal to another . Here a suspicion on the part of the people , or an expression , though well meant , if not the echo of the popular oracles , will most probably devote it ' s author to the prison or the gallows . The man who
possesses property , is generally marked out as a suspicious , because elevated , character ; and though these are the effects of such an administration , and has been proved long before the Christian < sra , there is a certain charm in the idea of republican government which inebriates the most sober and reflecting ; enthusiasm possesses every member at the time we hear a man declare , that death in all it ' s horrors would never estrange him from the service of the
people—that he will die at his post , rather than forfeit their sovereignty . If these professions were sincere , would they not demand the most unbounded gratitude on the part of the people ? But on this conjunction if , depends the adequateness or imbecility of republican government , and by reflecting on the passions of men , on their pre * - dominant failing ; the weakness of such persons who compose an assembly against the seducing charms of bribery and corruptiontheir constant aim is at imperial greatness ; for they may exercise
that power without taking the imperial diadem . These considerations must weigh with a man of reflection , and force hiin to declare , that of all forms of government , that of a republic . is the worst . View the'patriot Mirabeau in his inmost recesses ; see him employing the passions and ignorance of the multitude against their common interest . —Is it from the rabble that we are to have laws ,
who are mere tools of intriguing men ; three fourths of whom can scarcely read or write ? ' A man cannot help pitying the people , and condemning with warmth the knaves who have seduced them . No man less deserved the name of patriot than Mirabeau . A man ' s own private interest , whatever may be their pretensions , will generally take the lead of patriotic attachment . If we search the transactions of all countries , we shall see , at one coup
d ' ceil , that of those extensive countries which have adopted republicanism , three out of four have abandoned that form of grovernment , and taken that of monarchy . Whatever evils may arise from the influence of a throne , it will be a great consolation to think that we are not the slaves of an executive legislature , where the goal of domination lies open to all competitors , and each of them are crowding to it like racers at a horse course .
The first ends which were proposed by the revolution in France , were the representation of the people , the better revision of the state of the revenue , and for the framing of laws consistent with the personal and- moral freedom of the people ; but what man , however hardy , will dare to insult twenty-five millions of people >