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establish popular government as to abolish all the restraints in a school； or
to untie all the strait…waistcoats in a madhouse。
Hence it may be concluded that the happiest state of society is that in
which supreme power resides in the whole body of a well… informed
people。 This is an imaginary； perhaps an unattainable； state of things。
Yet； in some measure； we may approximate to it； and he alone deserves
the name of a great statesman； whose principle it is to extend the power of
the people in proportion to the extent of their knowledge； and to give them
every facility for obtaining such a degree of knowledge as may render it
safe to trust them with absolute power。 In the mean time； it is dangerous
to praise or condemn constitutions in the abstract； since； from the
despotism of St Petersburg to the democracy of Washington； there is
scarcely a form of government which might not； at least in some
hypothetical case； be the best possible。
If； however； there be any form of government which in all ages and all
nations has always been； and must always be； pernicious； it is certainly
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that which Mr Mitford； on his usual principle of being wiser than all the
rest of the world； has taken under his especial patronagepure oligarchy。
This is closely； and indeed inseparably； connected with another of his
eccentric tastes； a marked partiality for Lacedaemon； and a dislike of
Athens。 Mr Mitford's book has； I suspect； rendered these sentiments in
some degree popular； and I shall； therefore； examine them at some length。
The shades in the Athenian character strike the eye more rapidly than
those in the Lacedaemonian： not because they are darker； but because
they are on a brighter ground。 The law of ostracism is an instance of this。
Nothing can be conceived more odious than the practice of punishing a
citizen； simply and professedly； for his eminence；and nothing in the
institutions of Athens is more frequently or more justly censured。
Lacedaemon was free from this。 And why？ Lacedaemon did not need it。
Oligarchy is an ostracism of itself；an ostracism not occasional； but
permanent； not dubious； but certain。 Her laws prevented the
development of merit instead of attacking its maturity。 They did not cut
down the plant in its high and palmy state； but cursed the soil with eternal
sterility。 In spite of the law of ostracism； Athens produced； within a
hundred and fifty years； the greatest public men that ever existed。 Whom
had Sparta to ostracise？ She produced； at most； four eminent men；
Brasidas； Gylippus； Lysander； and Agesilaus。 Of these； not one rose to
distinction within her jurisdiction。 It was only when they escaped from
the region within which the influence of aristocracy withered everything
good and noble； it was only when they ceased to be Lacedaemonians； that
they became great men。 Brasidas； among the cities of Thrace； was
strictly a democratical leader； the favourite minister and general of the
people。 The same may be said of Gylippus； at Syracuse。 Lysander； in
the Hellespont； and Agesilaus； in Asia； were liberated for a time from the
hateful restraints imposed by the constitution of Lycurgus。 Both acquired
fame abroad； and both returned to be watched and depressed at home。
This is not peculiar to Sparta。 Oligarchy； wherever it has existed； has
always stunted the growth of genius。 Thus it was at Rome； till about a
century before the Christian era： we read of abundance of consuls and
dictators who won battles； and enjoyed triumphs； but we look in vain for a
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single man of the first order of intellect；for a Pericles； a Demosthenes； or
a Hannibal。 The Gracchi formed a strong democratical party； Marius
revived it； the foundations of the old aristocracy were shaken； and two
generations fertile in really great men appeared。
Venice is a still more remarkable instance： in her history we see
nothing but the state； aristocracy had destroyed every seed of genius and
virtue。 Her dominion was like herself； lofty and magnificent； but
founded on filth and weeds。 God forbid that there should ever again exist
a powerful and civilised state； which； after existing through thirteen
hundred eventful years； should not bequeath to mankind the memory of
one great name or one generous action。
Many writers； and Mr Mitford among the number； have admired the
stability of the Spartan institutions； in fact； there is little to admire； and
less to approve。 Oligarchy is the weakest and the most stable of
governments； and it is stable because it is weak。 It has a sort of
valetudinarian longevity； it lives in the balance of Sanctorius； it takes no
exercise； it exposes itself to no accident； it is seized with an
hypochondriac alarm at every new sensation； it trembles at every breath； it
lets blood for every inflammation： and thus； without ever enjoying a day
of health or pleasure； drags on its existence to a doting and debilitated old
age。
The Spartans purchased for their government a prolongation of its
existence by the sacrifice of happiness at home and dignity abroad。 They
cringed to the powerful； they trampled on the weak； they massacred their
helots； they betrayed their allies； they contrived to be a day too late for the
battle of Marathon； they attempted to avoid the battle of Salamis； they
suffered the Athenians； to whom they owed their lives and liberties； to be a
second time driven from their country by the Persians； that they might
finish their own fortifications on the Isthmus； they attempted to take
advantage of the distress to which exertions in their cause had reduced
their preservers； in order to make them their slaves； they strove to prevent
those who had abandoned their walls to defend them； from rebuilding
them to defend themselves； they commenced the Peloponnesian war in
violation of their engagements with Athens； they abandoned it in violation
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of their engagements with their allies； they gave up to the sword whole
cities which had placed themselves under their protection； they bartered；
for advantages confined to themselves； the interest； the freedom； and the
lives of those who had served them most faithfully； they took with equal
complacency； and equal infamy； the stripes of Elis and the bribes of Persia；
they never showed either resentment or gratitude； they abstained from no
injury； and they revenged none。 Above all； they looked on a citizen who
served them well as their deadliest enemy。 These are the arts which
protract the existence of government。
Nor were the domestic institutions of Lacedaemon less hateful or less
contemptible than her foreign policy。 A perpetual interference with every
part of the system of human life； a constant struggle against nature and
reason； characterised all her laws。 To violate even prejudices which have
taken deep root in the minds of a people is scarcely expedient； to think of
extirpating natural appetites and passions is frantic： the external
symptoms may be occasionally repressed； but the feeling still exists； and；
debarred from its natural objects； preys on the disordered mind and body
of its victim。 Thus it is in convents…thus it is among ascetic sectsthus
it was among