Butitwillperhapsbesaidthatthoughthepowerofdeclaringwardescendsintheheritageoftheconquest,itisheldincheckbytherightofParliamenttowithholdthesupplies。Itwillalwayshappenwhenathingisoriginallywrongthatamendmentsdonotmakeitright,anditoftenhappensthattheydoasmuchmischiefonewayasgoodtheother,andsuchisthecasehere,foriftheonerashlydeclareswarasamatterofright,andtheotherperemptorilywithholdsthesuppliesasamatterofright,theremedybecomesasbad,orworse,thanthedisease。Theoneforcesthenationtoacombat,andtheothertiesitshands;butthemoreprobableissueisthatthecontestwillendinacollusionbetweentheparties,andbemadeascreentoboth。
  Onthisquestionofwar,threethingsaretobeconsidered。First,therightofdeclaringit:secondly,therightofdeclaringit:secondly,theexpenseofsupportingit:thirdly,themodeofconductingitafteritisdeclared。TheFrenchConstitutionplacestherightwheretheexpensemustfall,andthisunioncanonlybeinthenation。Themodeofconductingitafteritisdeclared,itconsignstotheexecutivedepartment。Werethisthecaseinallcountries,weshouldhearbutlittlemoreofwars。
  BeforeIproceedtoconsiderotherpartsoftheFrenchConstitution,andbywayofrelievingthefatigueofargument,IwillintroduceananecdotewhichIhadfromDr。Franklin。
  WhiletheDoctorresidedinFranceasMinisterfromAmerica,duringthewar,hehadnumerousproposalsmadetohimbyprojectorsofeverycountryandofeverykind,whowishedtogotothelandthatflowethwithmilkandhoney,America;andamongtherest,therewasonewhoofferedhimselftobeking。HeintroducedhisproposaltotheDoctorbyletter,whichisnowinthehandsofM。Beaumarchais,ofParis—stating,first,thatastheAmericanshaddismissedorsentaway*[6]theirKing,thattheywouldwantanother。Secondly,thathimselfwasaNorman。Thirdly,thathewasofamoreancientfamilythantheDukesofNormandy,andofamorehonorabledescent,hislinehavingneverbeenbastardised。Fourthly,thattherewasalreadyaprecedentinEnglandofkingscomingoutofNormandy,andonthesegroundsherestedhisoffer,enjoiningthattheDoctorwouldforwardittoAmerica。ButastheDoctorneitherdidthis,noryetsenthimananswer,theprojectorwroteasecondletter,inwhichhedidnot,itistrue,threatentogooverandconquerAmerica,butonlywithgreatdignityproposedthatifhisofferwasnotaccepted,anacknowledgmentofaboutL30,000mightbemadetohimforhisgenerosity!Now,asallargumentsrespectingsuccessionmustnecessarilyconnectthatsuccessionwithsomebeginning,Mr。Burke'sargumentsonthissubjectgotoshowthatthereisnoEnglishoriginofkings,andthattheyaredescendantsoftheNormanlineinrightoftheConquest。Itmay,therefore,beofservicetohisdoctrinetomakethisstoryknown,andtoinformhim,thatincaseofthatnaturalextinctiontowhichallmortalityissubject,KingsmayagainbehadfromNormandy,onmorereasonabletermsthanWilliamtheConqueror;
  andconsequently,thatthegoodpeopleofEngland,attherevolutionof1688,mighthavedonemuchbetter,hadsuchagenerousNormanasthisknowntheirwants,andtheyhadknownhis。ThechivalriccharacterwhichMr。
  Burkesomuchadmires,iscertainlymucheasiertomakeabargainwiththanaharddealingDutchman。Buttoreturntothemattersoftheconstitution—
  TheFrenchConstitutionsays,Thereshallbenotitles;and,ofconsequence,allthatclassofequivocalgenerationwhichinsomecountriesiscalled"aristocracy"andinothers"nobility,"isdoneaway,andthepeerisexaltedintotheMAN。
  Titlesarebutnicknames,andeverynicknameisatitle。Thethingisperfectlyharmlessinitself,butitmarksasortoffopperyinthehumancharacter,whichdegradesit。Itreducesmanintothediminutiveofmaninthingswhicharegreat,andthecounterfeitofwomeninthingswhicharelittle。Ittalksaboutitsfineblueribbonlikeagirl,andshowsitsnewgarterlikeachild。Acertainwriter,ofsomeantiquity,says:
  "WhenIwasachild,Ithoughtasachild;butwhenIbecameaman,Iputawaychildishthings。"
  Itis,properly,fromtheelevatedmindofFrancethatthefollyoftitleshasfallen。IthasoutgrownthebabyclothesofCountandDuke,andbreecheditselfinmanhood。Francehasnotlevelled,ithasexalted。
  Ithasputdownthedwarf,tosetuptheman。ThepunyismofasenselesswordlikeDuke,CountorEarlhasceasedtoplease。Eventhosewhopossessedthemhavedisownedthegibberish,andastheyoutgrewtherickets,havedespisedtherattle。Thegenuinemindofman,thirstingforitsnativehome,society,contemnsthegewgawsthatseparatehimfromit。Titlesarelikecirclesdrawnbythemagician'swand,tocontractthesphereofman'sfelicity。HelivesimmuredwithintheBastilleofaword,andsurveysatadistancetheenviedlifeofman。
  Isit,then,anywonderthattitlesshouldfallinFrance?Isitnotagreaterwonderthattheyshouldbekeptupanywhere?Whatarethey?Whatistheirworth,and"whatistheiramount?"WhenwethinkorspeakofaJudgeoraGeneral,weassociatewithittheideasofofficeandcharacter;
  wethinkofgravityinoneandbraveryintheother;butwhenweusethewordmerelyasatitle,noideasassociatewithit。ThroughallthevocabularyofAdamthereisnotsuchananimalasaDukeoraCount;neithercanweconnectanycertainideaswiththewords。Whethertheymeanstrengthorweakness,wisdomorfolly,achildoraman,ortheriderorthehorse,isallequivocal。Whatrespectthencanbepaidtothatwhichdescribesnothing,andwhichmeansnothing?Imaginationhasgivenfigureandcharactertocentaurs,satyrs,anddowntoallthefairytribe;buttitlesbaffleeventhepowersoffancy,andareachimericalnondescript。
  Butthisisnotall。Ifawholecountryisdisposedtoholdthemincontempt,alltheirvalueisgone,andnonewillownthem。Itiscommonopiniononlythatmakesthemanything,ornothing,orworsethannothing。
  Thereisnooccasiontotaketitlesaway,fortheytakethemselvesawaywhensocietyconcurstoridiculethem。ThisspeciesofimaginaryconsequencehasvisiblydeclinedineverypartofEurope,andithastenstoitsexitastheworldofreasoncontinuestorise。Therewasatimewhenthelowestclassofwhatarecallednobilitywasmorethoughtofthanthehighestisnow,andwhenamaninarmourridingthroughoutChristendominquestofadventureswasmorestaredatthanamodernDuke。Theworldhasseenthisfollyfall,andithasfallenbybeinglaughedat,andthefarceoftitleswillfollowitsfate。ThepatriotsofFrancehavediscoveredingoodtimethatrankanddignityinsocietymusttakeanewground。Theoldonehasfallenthrough。Itmustnowtakethesubstantialgroundofcharacter,insteadofthechimericalgroundoftitles;andtheyhavebroughttheirtitlestothealtar,andmadeofthemaburnt—offeringtoReason。
  Ifnomischiefhadannexeditselftothefollyoftitlestheywouldnothavebeenworthaseriousandformaldestruction,suchastheNationalAssemblyhavedecreedthem;andthismakesitnecessarytoenquirefartherintothenatureandcharacterofaristocracy。
  That,then,whichiscalledaristocracyinsomecountriesandnobilityinothersaroseoutofthegovernmentsfoundeduponconquest。Itwasoriginallyamilitaryorderforthepurposeofsupportingmilitarygovernment(forsuchwereallgovernmentsfoundedinconquest);andtokeepupasuccessionofthisorderforthepurposeforwhichitwasestablished,alltheyoungerbranchesofthosefamiliesweredisinheritedandthelawofprimogenitureshipsetup。
  Thenatureandcharacterofaristocracyshowsitselftousinthislaw。
  Itisthelawagainsteveryotherlawofnature,andNatureherselfcallsforitsdestruction。Establishfamilyjustice,andaristocracyfalls。Bythearistocraticallawofprimogenitureship,inafamilyofsixchildrenfiveareexposed。Aristocracyhasnevermorethanonechild。Therestarebegottentobedevoured。Theyarethrowntothecannibalforprey,andthenaturalparentpreparestheunnaturalrepast。
  Aseverythingwhichisoutofnatureinmanaffects,moreorless,theinterestofsociety,sodoesthis。Allthechildrenwhichthearistocracydisowns(whichareallexcepttheeldest)are,ingeneral,castlikeorphansonaparish,tobeprovidedforbythepublic,butatagreatercharge。
  Unnecessaryofficesandplacesingovernmentsandcourtsarecreatedattheexpenseofthepublictomaintainthem。
  Withwhatkindofparentalreflectionscanthefatherormothercontemplatetheiryoungeroffspring?Bynaturetheyarechildren,andbymarriagetheyareheirs;butbyaristocracytheyarebastardsandorphans。Theyarethefleshandbloodoftheirparentsintheoneline,andnothingakintothemintheother。Torestore,therefore,parentstotheirchildren,andchildrentotheirparents—relationstoeachother,andmantosociety—andtoexterminatethemonsteraristocracy,rootandbranch—theFrenchConstitutionhasdestroyedthelawofPrimogenitureship。Herethenliesthemonster;andMr。
  Burke,ifhepleases,maywriteitsepitaph。
  Hithertowehaveconsideredaristocracychieflyinonepointofview。
  Wehavenowtoconsideritinanother。Butwhetherweviewitbeforeorbehind,orsideways,oranywayelse,domesticallyorpublicly,itisstillamonster。
  InFrancearistocracyhadonefeaturelessinitscountenancethanwhatithasinsomeothercountries。Itdidnotcomposeabodyofhereditarylegislators。Itwasnot"'acorporationofaristocracy,forsuchIhaveheardM。delaFayettedescribeanEnglishHouseofPeers。LetusthenexaminethegroundsuponwhichtheFrenchConstitutionhasresolvedagainsthavingsuchaHouseinFrance。
  Because,inthefirstplace,asisalreadymentioned,aristocracyiskeptupbyfamilytyrannyandinjustice。
  Secondly。Becausethereisanunnaturalunfitnessinanaristocracytobelegislatorsforanation。Theirideasofdistributivejusticearecorruptedattheverysource。Theybeginlifebytramplingonalltheiryoungerbrothersandsisters,andrelationsofeverykind,andaretaughtandeducatedsotodo。Withwhatideasofjusticeorhonourcanthatmanenterahouseoflegislation,whoabsorbsinhisownpersontheinheritanceofawholefamilyofchildrenordolesouttothemsomepitifulportionwiththeinsolenceofagift?
  Thirdly。Becausetheideaofhereditarylegislatorsisasinconsistentasthatofhereditaryjudges,orhereditaryjuries;andasabsurdasanhereditarymathematician,oranhereditarywiseman;andasridiculousasanhereditarypoetlaureate。
  Fourthly。Becauseabodyofmen,holdingthemselvesaccountabletonobody,oughtnottobetrustedbyanybody。
  Fifthly。Becauseitiscontinuingtheuncivilisedprincipleofgovernmentsfoundedinconquest,andthebaseideaofmanhavingpropertyinman,andgoverninghimbypersonalright。
  Sixthly。Becausearistocracyhasatendencytodeterioratethehumanspecies。Bytheuniversaleconomyofnatureitisknown,andbytheinstanceoftheJewsitisproved,thatthehumanspecieshasatendencytodegenerate,inanysmallnumberofpersons,whenseparatedfromthegeneralstockofsociety,andinter—marryingconstantlywitheachother。Itdefeatsevenitspretendedend,andbecomesintimetheoppositeofwhatisnobleinman。Mr。Burketalksofnobility;lethimshowwhatitis。Thegreatestcharacterstheworldhaveknownhavearisenonthedemocraticfloor。Aristocracyhasnotbeenabletokeepaproportionatepacewithdemocracy。TheartificialNobleshrinksintoadwarfbeforetheNobleofNature;andinthefewinstancesofthose(fortherearesomeinallcountries)inwhomnature,asbyamiracle,hassurvivedinaristocracy,ThoseMenDespiseIt。—Butitistimetoproceedtoanewsubject。
  TheFrenchConstitutionhasreformedtheconditionoftheclergy。Ithasraisedtheincomeofthelowerandmiddleclasses,andtakenfromthehigher。Nonearenowlessthantwelvehundredlivres(fiftypoundssterling),noranyhigherthantwoorthreethousandpounds。WhatwillMr。Burkeplaceagainstthis?Hearwhathesays。
  Hesays:"ThatthepeopleofEnglandcanseewithoutpainorgrudging,anarchbishopprecedeaduke;theycanseeaBishopofDurham,oraBishopofWinchesterinpossessionofL10,000a—year;andcannotseewhyitisinworsehandsthanestatestoalikeamount,inthehandsofthisearlorthatsquire。"AndMr。BurkeoffersthisasanexampletoFrance。
  Astothefirstpart,whetherthearchbishopprecedestheduke,orthedukethebishop,itis,Ibelieve,tothepeopleingeneral,somewhatlikeSternholdandHopkins,orHopkinsandSternhold;youmayputwhichyoupleasefirst;andasIconfessthatIdonotunderstandthemeritsofthiscase,IwillnotcontestitwithMr。Burke。
  Butwithrespecttothelatter,Ihavesomethingtosay。Mr。Burkehasnotputthecaseright。Thecomparisonisoutoforder,bybeingputbetweenthebishopandtheearlorthesquire。Itoughttobeputbetweenthebishopandthecurate,andthenitwillstandthus:—"ThepeopleofEnglandcanseewithoutpainorgrudging,aBishopofDurham,oraBishopofWinchester,inpossessionoftenthousandpoundsa—year,andacurateonthirtyorfortypoundsa—year,orless。"No,sir,theycertainlydonotseethosethingswithoutgreatpainorgrudging。Itisacasethatappliesitselftoeveryman'ssenseofjustice,andisoneamongmanythatcallsaloudforaconstitution。
  InFrancethecryof"thechurch!thechurch!"wasrepeatedasoftenasinMr。Burke'sbook,andasloudlyaswhentheDissenters'BillwasbeforetheEnglishParliament;butthegeneralityoftheFrenchclergywerenottobedeceivedbythiscryanylonger。Theyknewthatwhateverthepretencemightbe,itwastheywhowereoneoftheprincipalobjectsofit。Itwasthecryofthehighbeneficedclergy,topreventanyregulationofincometakingplacebetweenthoseoftenthousandpoundsa—yearandtheparishpriest。Theythereforejoinedtheircasetothoseofeveryotheroppressedclassofmen,andbythisunionobtainedredress。
  TheFrenchConstitutionhasabolishedtythes,thatsourceofperpetualdiscontentbetweenthetythe—holderandtheparishioner。Whenlandisheldontythe,itisintheconditionofanestateheldbetweentwoparties;
  theonereceivingone—tenth,andtheothernine—tenthsoftheproduce:
  andconsequently,onprinciplesofequity,iftheestatecanbeimproved,andmadetoproducebythatimprovementdoubleortreblewhatitdidbefore,orinanyotherratio,theexpenseofsuchimprovementoughttobeborneinlikeproportionbetweenthepartieswhoaretosharetheproduce。Butthisisnotthecaseintythes:thefarmerbearsthewholeexpense,andthetythe—holdertakesatenthoftheimprovement,inadditiontotheoriginaltenth,andbythismeansgetsthevalueoftwo—tenthsinsteadofone。Thisisanothercasethatcallsforaconstitution。
  TheFrenchConstitutionhathabolishedorrenouncedTolerationandIntolerancealso,andhathestablishedUniversalRightOfConscience。
  TolerationisnottheoppositeofIntolerance,butisthecounterfeitofit。Botharedespotisms。TheoneassumestoitselftherightofwithholdingLibertyofConscience,andtheotherofgrantingit。TheoneisthePopearmedwithfireandfaggot,andtheotheristhePopesellingorgrantingindulgences。Theformerischurchandstate,andthelatterischurchandtraffic。
  ButTolerationmaybeviewedinamuchstrongerlight。Manworshipsnothimself,buthisMaker;andthelibertyofconsciencewhichheclaimsisnotfortheserviceofhimself,butofhisGod。Inthiscase,therefore,wemustnecessarilyhavetheassociatedideaoftwothings;themortalwhorenderstheworship,andtheImmortalBeingwhoisworshipped。
  Toleration,therefore,placesitself,notbetweenmanandman,norbetweenchurchandchurch,norbetweenonedenominationofreligionandanother,butbetweenGodandman;betweenthebeingwhoworships,andtheBeingwhoisworshipped;andbythesameactofassumedauthoritywhichittoleratesmantopayhisworship,itpresumptuouslyandblasphemouslysetsitselfuptotoleratetheAlmightytoreceiveit。
  WereabillbroughtintoanyParliament,entitled,"AnActtotolerateorgrantlibertytotheAlmightytoreceivetheworshipofaJeworTurk,"
  or"toprohibittheAlmightyfromreceivingit,"allmenwouldstartleandcallitblasphemy。Therewouldbeanuproar。Thepresumptionoftolerationinreligiousmatterswouldthenpresentitselfunmasked;butthepresumptionisnotthelessbecausethenameof"Man"onlyappearstothoselaws,fortheassociatedideaoftheworshipperandtheworshippedcannotbeseparated。
  Whothenartthou,vaindustandashes!bywhatevernamethouartcalled,whetheraKing,aBishop,aChurch,oraState,aParliament,oranythingelse,thatobtrudestthineinsignificancebetweenthesoulofmananditsMaker?Mindthineownconcerns。Ifhebelievesnotasthoubelievest,itisaproofthatthoubelievestnotashebelieves,andthereisnoearthlypowercandeterminebetweenyou。
  Withrespecttowhatarecalleddenominationsofreligion,ifeveryoneislefttojudgeofitsownreligion,thereisnosuchthingasareligionthatiswrong;butiftheyaretojudgeofeachother'sreligion,thereisnosuchthingasareligionthatisright;andthereforealltheworldisright,oralltheworldiswrong。Butwithrespecttoreligionitself,withoutregardtonames,andasdirectingitselffromtheuniversalfamilyofmankindtotheDivineobjectofalladoration,itismanbringingtohisMakerthefruitsofhisheart;andthoughthosefruitsmaydifferfromeachotherlikethefruitsoftheearth,thegratefultributeofeveryoneisaccepted。
  ABishopofDurham,oraBishopofWinchester,orthearchbishopwhoheadsthedukes,willnotrefuseatythe—sheafofwheatbecauseitisnotacockofhay,noracockofhaybecauseitisnotasheafofwheat;norapig,becauseitisneitheronenortheother;butthesesamepersons,underthefigureofanestablishedchurch,willnotpermittheirMakertoreceivethevariedtythesofman'sdevotion。
  OneofthecontinualchorusesofMr。Burke'sbookis"ChurchandState。"
  Hedoesnotmeansomeoneparticularchurch,orsomeoneparticularstate,butanychurchandstate;andheusesthetermasageneralfiguretoholdforththepoliticaldoctrineofalwaysunitingthechurchwiththestateineverycountry,andhecensurestheNationalAssemblyfornothavingdonethisinFrance。Letusbestowafewthoughtsonthissubject。
  Allreligionsareintheirnaturekindandbenign,andunitedwithprinciplesofmorality。Theycouldnothavemadeproselytesatfirstbyprofessinganythingthatwasvicious,cruel,persecuting,orimmoral。Likeeverythingelse,theyhadtheirbeginning;andtheyproceededbypersuasion,exhortation,andexample。Howthenisitthattheylosetheirnativemildness,andbecomemoroseandintolerant?
  ItproceedsfromtheconnectionwhichMr。Burkerecommends。Byengenderingthechurchwiththestate,asortofmule—animal,capableonlyofdestroying,andnotofbreedingup,isproduced,calledtheChurchestablishedbyLaw。
  Itisastranger,evenfromitsbirth,toanyparentmother,onwhomitisbegotten,andwhomintimeitkicksoutanddestroys。
  TheinquisitioninSpaindoesnotproceedfromthereligionoriginallyprofessed,butfromthismule—animal,engenderedbetweenthechurchandthestate。TheburningsinSmithfieldproceededfromthesameheterogeneousproduction;anditwastheregenerationofthisstrangeanimalinEnglandafterwards,thatrenewedrancourandirreligionamongtheinhabitants,andthatdrovethepeoplecalledQuakersandDissenterstoAmerica。Persecutionisnotanoriginalfeatureinanyreligion;butitisalwaythestrongly—markedfeatureofalllaw—religions,orreligionsestablishedbylaw。Takeawaythelaw—establishment,andeveryreligionre—assumesitsoriginalbenignity。
  InAmerica,acatholicpriestisagoodcitizen,agoodcharacter,andagoodneighbour;anepiscopalianministerisofthesamedescription:
  andthisproceedsindependentlyofthemen,fromtherebeingnolaw—establishmentinAmerica。
  Ifalsoweviewthismatterinatemporalsense,weshallseetheilleffectsithashadontheprosperityofnations。TheunionofchurchandstatehasimpoverishedSpain。TherevokingtheedictofNantesdrovethesilkmanufacturefromthatcountryintoEngland;andchurchandstatearenowdrivingthecottonmanufacturefromEnglandtoAmericaandFrance。
  LetthenMr。BurkecontinuetopreachhisantipoliticaldoctrineofChurchandState。Itwilldosomegood。TheNationalAssemblywillnotfollowhisadvice,butwillbenefitbyhisfolly。ItwasbyobservingtheilleffectsofitinEngland,thatAmericahasbeenwarnedagainstit;anditisbyexperiencingtheminFrance,thattheNationalAssemblyhaveabolishedit,and,likeAmerica,haveestablishedUniversalRightofConscience,andUniversalRightofCitizenship。*[7]
  IwillhereceasethecomparisonwithrespecttotheprinciplesoftheFrenchConstitution,andconcludethispartofthesubjectwithafewobservationsontheorganisationoftheformalpartsoftheFrenchandEnglishgovernments。
  TheexecutivepowerineachcountryisinthehandsofapersonstyledtheKing;buttheFrenchConstitutiondistinguishesbetweentheKingandtheSovereign:ItconsidersthestationofKingasofficial,andplacesSovereigntyinthenation。
  Therepresentativesofthenation,whocomposetheNationalAssembly,andwhoarethelegislativepower,originateinandfromthepeoplebyelection,asaninherentrightinthepeople。—InEnglanditisotherwise;
  andthisarisesfromtheoriginalestablishmentofwhatiscalleditsmonarchy;
  for,asbytheconquestalltherightsofthepeopleorthenationwereabsorbedintothehandsoftheConqueror,andwhoaddedthetitleofKingtothatofConqueror,thosesamematterswhichinFrancearenowheldasrightsinthepeople,orinthenation,areheldinEnglandasgrantsfromwhatiscalledthecrown。TheParliamentinEngland,inbothitsbranches,waserectedbypatentsfromthedescendantsoftheConqueror。TheHouseofCommonsdidnotoriginateasamatterofrightinthepeopletodelegateorelect,butasagrantorboon。
  BytheFrenchConstitutionthenationisalwaysnamedbeforetheking。
  Thethirdarticleofthedeclarationofrightssays:"Thenationisessentiallythesource(orfountain)ofallsovereignty。"Mr。BurkearguesthatinEnglandakingisthefountain—thatheisthefountainofallhonour。
  ButasthisideaisevidentlydescendedfromtheconquestIshallmakenootherremarkuponit,thanthatitisthenatureofconquesttoturneverythingupsidedown;andasMr。Burkewillnotberefusedtheprivilegeofspeakingtwice,andastherearebuttwopartsinthefigure,thefountainandthespout,hewillberightthesecondtime。
  TheFrenchConstitutionputsthelegislativebeforetheexecutive,thelawbeforetheking;laloi,leroi。Thisalsoisinthenaturalorderofthings,becauselawsmusthaveexistencebeforetheycanhaveexecution。
  AkinginFrancedoesnot,inaddressinghimselftotheNationalAssembly,say,"MyAssembly,"similartothephraseusedinEnglandofmy"Parliament";
  neithercanheuseitconsistentlywiththeconstitution,norcoulditbeadmitted。TheremaybeproprietyintheuseofitinEngland,becauseasisbeforementioned,bothHousesofParliamentoriginatedfromwhatiscalledthecrownbypatentorboon—andnotfromtheinherentrightsofthepeople,astheNationalAssemblydoesinFrance,andwhosenamedesignatesitsorigin。