Page:John Adams - A Defence of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America Vol. I. (1787).djvu/17

Rh real improvements made in that kind of government.

The objection to thee governments is not becaue they are upported by nobles, and a ubordination of ranks; for all governments, even the mot democratical, are upported by a ubordination of offices, and of ranks too. None ever exited without it but in a tate of anarchy and outrage, in a contempt of law and jutice, no better than no government. But the nobles, in the European monarchies, upport them more by oppoing than promoting their ordinary views. The kings are upported by their armies: the nobles upport the crown, as it is in full poeion of the gift of all employments; but they upport it till; more by checking its miniters, and preventing them from running into abues of power, and wanton depotim: otherwie the people would be puhed to extremities and inurrections. It is thus that the nobles reconcile the monarchical authority to the obedience of the ubjects; but take away the tanding armies, and leave the nobles to themelves, and they would overturn every monarchy in Europe, in a few years, and erect aritocracies.

It is become a kind of fahion among writers, to admit, as a maxim, that if you could be always ure of a wie, active, and virtuous prince, monarchy would be the bet of governments. But this is o far from being admiible, that it will for ever remain true, that a free government has a great advantage over a imple monarchy.