The evening times., 1900-10-01

The writings of Montesquieu. the cele-
brated French philosopher, as a commen-
tary on the principles embodied in the
Democratic platform" said scholarly
man today, prove that these principles
rest on sound logic, placed there by long
years of study and experience.
t'Of conquest made by republic, Mon
tesquieu says: 1t is contrary to the nature
of things that in Z confederate government
one state should make any conquest over
another It is also contrary to the nature
of things that democratical republic
should conquer towns, states, OF nations
which cannot enter into the sphere OF its
democracy. 1t is necessary that the con-
quered people should be capable Of enjoy
ing the privileges of sovereignty, as was
settled in TIE very beginning among the
Romans.
IF a democratical republic subdues
nation in order TO govern them as subjects,
it exposes its own liberty, because it en-
trusts LOO great power to the officers sent
into the conquered provinces.
" There is still another incOnveniency in
conQuestS made by democTacies; their gov
ernment is always odious to the conquered
state. II is apparently monarckical; but in
reality it is much more oppressive than
monarchy. as the experience Of all ages
and countries evinces-
The conquered people are in a meIan-
choly situation: they neither enjoy the ad-
YantageS OF a republic nor those of mon
aTchy.
When a republic therefore keeps an
other nation in subsection il should en-
deayor TO repair the inconvenience aris-
ing from the nature Of its situation. by
giving il good laws both for the political
and civil government of the people
II NOT SI11TigfpOT in fhpSP rGu1lIaStS
to let the conquered nation enjoy their own
laws; il is perhaps more necessary to leave
them also their manners. because people
generally know, love. and defend their
manners better than their laws
Regarding the election Of Senators and
other public representatives by the people,
Montesquieu says: The people are ex-
treLlely well qualified for choosing those
whom they are to entrust with a part of
their authority. They have onIy to be de-
Jermined by circuns tances which they can
not be strangers TO, and by facts that are
obvious 10 sense They can tell when a
person has been in several engagements,
and has had particular success. They are,
therefore, very capable of electing their
Senators. They can tell when a Judge is
assiduous in his Office, when he gives gen
eral satisfaction and has never been
charged with bribery.
The revenues OF the state are q por-
ton that each subject gives OF his prop
erty in order to secure, or to have the
agreeable enjoyment of, the remainder
To fix these revenues in a proper man
ner, regard should be had both to the ne
cessities of the state and TO those OF the
people. The real wants of the people
ought never to give way to the imagf-
nary wants OF the government.
Imaginary wants are those which flow
from the passions, and from the weakness
Of these ba obo
extraordinary project, from the distemper-
ed desire of Yainglory, and from a certain
impotency OF mind incapable of Withstand
ing the attacks of fancy. Often has il
happened that public officials of a restless
disposition have imagined that the wants
of the state were those of their own lit
tie ard ignoble souls.
There IS nothing requires more wis
dom and prudence than the regulation OF
that portion WHICH is taken from, and OF
that which is left to, the people
The public revenues are not to be
measured by what the people are able, but
by what they ought, TO give; and, if they
are measured by what they are able TO
give, it ought to be at least by what they
are able to give constantly
1t Is true, that when a democracy is
founded on commerce private people may
acquire vast riches without corruption
of morals. This is because the spirit of
commerce is naturally attended with that
of frugality, economy, moderation. labor.
prudence, tranquility order, and rule As
long as this spirit subsists, the riches it
produces have bad effect The
mischief is, when excessive wealth des-
troys this spirit of commerce then it is thxt
the inconvenience of inequality begins 10
be felt.
In a large republic there are men OF
large fortunes, and consequently of little
moderation; there are trusts too sreat to
be placed in any single subject; he has
interests of his own; he soon begins to
think that he may be happy, great. glo-
rious by expressing his feIlow-citizens