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one way to reach this end； and that is to see for himself； with his
own eyes； at once in general outline and in details； by intercourse
with the heads of departments； with eminent men and specialists； in
whom are gathered up the information and the ideas of a whole class。
Now the young do not frequent society of this description； either at
home or abroad； except on the condition of possessing a name；
family； fortune； education and a knowledge of social observances。
All this is necessary to enable a young man of twenty to find doors
everywhere open to him to be received everywhere on an equal
footing； to be able to speak and to write three or four living
languages； to make long； expensive； and instructive sojourns in
foreign lands； to select and vary his position in the different
branches of the public service； without pay or nearly so； and with
no object in view but that of his political culture Thus brought up
a man； even of common capacity； is worthy of being consulted。 If he
is of superior ability； and there is employment for him； he may
become a statesman before thirty； he may acquire ripe capacities；
become prime Minister； the sole pilot； alone able； like Pitt；
Canning； or Peel； to steer the ship of State between the reefs； or
give in the nick of time the touch to the helm which will save the
ship。 Such is the service to which an upper class is adapted。
Only this kind of specialized stud farm can furnish a regular supply
of racers； and； now and then； the favorite winner that distances all
his competitors in the European field。
But in order that they may prepare and educate themselves for this
career； the way must be clear； and they must not be compelled to
travel too repulsive a road。 If rank； inherited fortune； personal
dignity； and refined manners are sources of disfavor with the
people； if； to obtain their votes； he is forced to treat as equals
electoral brokers of low character； if impudent charlatanism； vulgar
declamation； and servile flattery are the sole means by which votes
can be secured； then； as nowadays in the United States； and formerly
in Athens； the aristocratic body will retire into private life and
soon settle down into a state of idleness。 A man of culture and
refinement； born with an income of a hundred thousand a year； is not
tempted to become either manufacturer； lawyer； or physician。 For
want of other occupation he loiters about； entertains his friends；
chats； indulges in the tastes and hobbies of an amateur； is bored or
enjoys himself。 As a result one of society's great forces is thus
lost to the nation。 In this way the best and largest acquisition of
the past； the heaviest accumulation of material and of moral
capital； remain unproductive。 In a pure democracy the upper
branches of the social tree； not only the old ones but the young
ones； remain sterile。 When a vigorous branch passes above the rest
and reaches the top it ceases to bear fruit。 The élite of the
nation is thus condemned to constant and irremediable failures
because it cannot find a suitable outlet for its activity。 It wants
no other outlet； for in all directions its rival； who are born below
it； can serve as usefully and as well as itself。 But this one it
must have； for on this its aptitudes are superior； natural； unique；
and the State which refuses to employ it resembles the gardener who
in his fondness for a plane surface would repress his best
shoots。＇13＇ Hence； in the constructions which aim to utilize the
permanent forces of society and yet maintain civil equality； the
aristocracy is brought to take a part in public affairs by the
duration and gratuitous character of its mission； by the institution
of an hereditary character； by the application of various machinery；
all of which is combined so as to develop the ambition； the culture；
and the political capacity of the upper class； and to place power；
or the control of power； in its hands； on the condition that it
shows itself worthy of exercising it。 Now； in 1789； the upper
class was not unworthy of it。 Members of the parliaments； the
noblemen； bishops； capitalists； were the men amongst whom； and
through whom； the philosophy of the eighteenth century was
propagated。 Never was an aristocracy more liberal； more humane； and
more thoroughly converted to useful reforms；＇14＇ many of them remain
so under the knife of the guillotine。 The magistrates of the
superior tribunals； in particular； traditionally and by virtue of
their institution； were the enemies of excessive expenditure and the
critics of arbitrary acts。 As to the gentry of the provinces； 〃they
were so weary；〃 says one of them；＇15＇ 〃of the Court and the
Ministers that most of them were democrats。〃 For many years； in the
Provincial Assemblies； the whole of the upper class； the clergy；
nobles； and Third…Estate； furnishes abundant evidence of its good
disposition； of its application to business； its capacity and even
generosity。 Its mode of studying； discussing； and assigning the
local taxation indicates what it would have done with the general
budget had this been entrusted to it。 It is evident that it would
have protected the general taxpayer as zealously as the taxpayer of
the province； and kept as close an eye upon the public purse at
Paris as on that of Bourges or of Montauban。 Thus were the
materials of a good chamber ready at hand； and the only thing that
had to be done was to convene them。 On having the facts presented
to them； its members would have passed without difficulty from a
hazardous theory to common…sense practice； and the aristocracy which
had enthusiastically given an impetus to reform in its saloons
would； in all probability； have carried it out effectively and with
moderation in the Parliament。
Unhappily； the Assembly is not providing a Constitution for
contemporary Frenchmen； but for abstract beings。 Instead of seeing
classes in society one placed above the other； it simply sees
individuals in juxtaposition； its attention is not fixed on the
advantage of the nation； but on the imaginary rights of man。 As all
men are equal； all must have an equal share in the government。
There must be no orders in a State； no avowed or concealed political
privileges； no constitutional complications or electoral
combinations by which an aristocracy； however liberal and capable；
may put its hands upon any portion of the public power。 On the
contrary； because it was once privileged to enjoy important and
rewarding public employment； the candidacy of the upper classes is
now suspect。 All projects which； directly or indirectly； reserve or
provide a place for it； are refused： At first the Royal Declaration；
which； in conformity with historical precedents； maintained the
three orders in three distinct chambers； and only summoned them to
deliberate together 〃on matters of general utility。〃 Then the plan
of the Constitutional Committee； which proposed a second Chamber；
appointed for life by the King on the nomination of the Provincial
Assemblies。 And finally the project of Mounier who proposed to
confide to these same Assemblies the election of a Senate for six
years； renewed by thirds every two years。 This Senate was to be
composed of men of at least thirty…five years of age； and with an
income in real property of 30；000 livres per annum。 The instinct of
equality is too powerful and a second Chamber is not wanted； even if
accessible to plebeians。 Through it；＇16＇
〃The smaller number would control the greater；〃 。。。 〃we should fall
back on the humiliating distinctions〃 of the ancient regime； 〃we
should revivify the germ of an aristocracy which must be
exterminated。〃。。。。 〃Moreover； whatever recalls or revives feudal
Institutions is bad； and an Upper Chamber is one of its remnants。〃
。。。。〃If the English have one； it is because they have been forced to
make a compromise with prejudice。〃
The National Assembly； sovereign and philosophic； soars above their
errors； their trammel； and their example。 The depository of truth；
it has not to receive lessons from others； but to give them； and to
offer to the world's admiration the first type of a Constitution
which is perfect and in conformity with principle； the most
effective of any in preventing the formation of a governing class；
in closing the way to public business； not only to the old noblesse；
but to the aristocracy of the future； in continuing and exaggerating
the work of absolute monarchy； in preparing for a community of
officials and administrators； in lowering the level of humanity； in
reducing to sloth and brutalizing or blighting the elite of the
families which maintain or raise themselves； and in withering the
most precious of nurseries； that in which the State recruits its
statesmen。＇17＇
Excluded from the Government； the aristocracy is about to retire
into private life。 Let us follow them to their estates： Feudal
rights instituted