As regards the administration of right in the state, it may be
said that the simplest mode is also the best; but as regards its
bearing on right itself, it is also the most dangerous for the people,
in view of the despotism to which simplicity of administration so
naturally gives rise. It is undoubtedly a rational maxim to aim at
simplification in the machinery which is to unite the people under
compulsory laws, and this would be secured were all the people to be
passive and to obey only one person over them; but the method would
not give subjects who were also citizens of the state. It is sometimes
said that the people should be satisfied with the reflection that
monarchy, regarded as an autocracy, is the best political
constitution, if the monarch is good, that is, if be has the judgement
as well as the will to do right. But this is a mere evasion and
belongs to the common class of wise tautological phrases. It only
amounts to saying that "the best constitution is that by which the
supreme administrator of the state is made the best ruler"; that is,
that the best constitution is the best!
52. Historical Origin and Changes.
A Pure Republic. Representative Government.
It is vain to inquire into the historical origin of the political
mechanism; for it is no longer possible to discover historically the
point of time at which civil society took its beginning.
Pages:
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199