Page:Montesquieu - The spirit of laws.djvu/491

Rh school. Nothing but established manners, or those which they were seeking to establish, could raise even an idea of this kind.

We have seen how the laws follow the manners of a people: let us now see how the manners follow the laws.

HE customs of an enslaved people are a part of their servitude; those of a free people are a part of their liberty.

I have spoken in the eleventh Book of a free people, and have given the principles of their constitution: let us now see the effects which follow from this liberty, the character it is capable of forming, and the customs which naturally result from it.

I do not deny that the climate may have produced great part of the laws, manners, and customs of this nation; but I maintain that its manners and customs have a close connection with its laws.

As there are in this state two visible powers, the legislative and executive, and as every citizen has a will of his own, and may at pleasure assert his independence; most men have a greater fondness for one of these powers than for the other, and the multitude have commonly neither equity nor sense enough, to shew an equal affection to both.

As the executive power, by disposing of all employments, may give great hopes, and no fears, every man who obtains any favour from it, is ready Rh