Page:The American Democrat, James Fenimore Cooper, 1838.djvu/70

 ON THE DISADVANTAGES OF A MONARCHY.

A monarchy is liable to those abuses which follow favoritism, the servants of the prince avenging themselves for their homage to one, by oppressing the many.

A monarchy is the most expensive of all forms of government, the regal state requiring a costly parade, and he who depends on his own power to rule, must strengthen that power by bribing the active and enterprising whom he cannot intimidate. Thus the favorites of an absolute prince, in connection with the charges of himself and family, frequently cost the state as much as its necessary expenditures.

It is the policy of a monarchy to repress thought, a knowledge of human rights being always dangerous to absolute, or exclusive power. Thus the people of monarchies are divided into the extremes of society, the intermediate and happiest classes being usually small, and inclined to favor their superiors from apprehension of the brutal ignorance of those below them.

Monarchies are subjected to the wars and to the policies of family alliances, the feelings and passions of the prince exercising a malign influence on the affairs of the state.

In monarchies the people are required to maintain a military force sufficient to support the throne, the system always exacting that the subject should pay the troops that are kept on foot to hold him in subjection.