3.9. 9. Of the Principle of Despotic Government.
As virtue is necessary in a republic, and in a monarchy honour, so
fear is necessary in a despotic government: with regard to virtue, there
is no occasion for it, and honour would be extremely dangerous.
Here the immense power of the prince devolves entirely upon those
whom he is pleased to entrust with the administration. Persons capable
of setting a value upon themselves would be likely to create
disturbances. Fear must therefore depress their spirits, and extinguish
even the least sense of ambition.
A moderate government may, whenever it pleases, and without the
least danger, relax its springs. It supports itself by the laws, and by
its own internal strength. But when a despotic prince ceases for one
single moment to uplift his arm, when he cannot instantly demolish those
whom he has entrusted with the first employments,
[15]
all is over: for as fear, the spring of this government, no longer subsists,
the people are left without a protector.
It is probably in this sense the Cadis maintained that the Grand
Seignior was not obliged to keep his word or oath, when he limited
thereby his authority.
[16]
It is necessary that the people should be judged by laws, and the
great men by the caprice of the prince, that the lives of the lowest
subject should be safe, and the pasha's head ever in danger. We cannot
mention these monstrous governments without horror. The Sophi of Persia,
dethroned in our days by Mahomet, the son of Miriveis, saw the
constitution subverted before this resolution, because he had been too
sparing of blood.
[17]
History informs us that the horrid cruelties of Domitian struck such
a terror into the governors that the people recovered themselves a
little during his reign.
[18]
Thus a torrent overflows one side of a country, and on the other leaves
fields untouched, where the eye is refreshed by the prospect of fine meadows.
Footnotes
[15]
As it often happens in a military aristocracy.
[16]
Ricault on the Ottoman Empire. I, ii.
[17]
See the history of this revolution by Father du Cerceau.
[18]
Suetonius, Life of Domitian, viii. His was a military
constitution, which is one of the species of despotic government.
