Miraheau an Opponent of Ahsolutism 29 



all men, he had no desire to confer political liberty upon all' nor 

 to abolish the distinctions of rank.- He was at the same time 

 a monarchist and aristocrat; but a monarchist who believed in 

 constitutional government and an aristocrat who felt the re- 

 sponsibility that rank brought with it.^ He' considered a 

 nobility necessary to a monarchy, but before the law the 

 noble was in no respect a privileged character. Every noble- 

 man who was useless to his fellow countrj'men was "a verita- 

 ble bankrupt.''^ As we read this sturdy expression and glance 

 back over the line of Mirabeau's ancestors, we perceive clearly 

 from what source it had been derived. The Mirabeaus will 

 never be charged with being ' 'useless to their fellow country- 

 men. " From the first to the last, almost without exception, they 

 were men who deserved the esteem in which they were held. 



"Faithful subject of good kings, implacable enemy of 

 tyrants"'^ was Mirabeau's motto; it seems almost needless to 

 add that he considered "the limited monarchy the only good 

 government.'"''' Decrue has well called him " a monarchist 

 by instinct and by reason."" But the monarchy of Mirabeau 

 differed fundamentally from the government then existing in 

 France. He declared "Nations shall not be the playthings 



^ "Ce n'est pas taut I'egalite sociale et meme politique que I'egalite 

 civile."' Decrue, Revue historique, XXIII, 315. 



"II ne reclamait I'egalite absolue qu' en matiere judiciare." Decrue, 

 Revue historique, XXIII, 352. 



- " Mais Mirabeau ne desire pas la suppression complete de la noblesse." 

 Decrue, Revue historique, XXIII, 315. 



^ "II lui fallait une noblesse car il la croyait essentielle a la monar- 

 chie." Decrue, Revue historique, XXIII, 315. 



■• "II suit de cette belle et judicievise pensee que tout grand inutile a ses 

 compatriotes est un veritable banqueroutier.'" Essai sur le despotisme, 72. 



^ " Fidele sujet des bons rois, implacable ennemi destyrans ; telle est ma 

 devise." Reponse aux conseils de la raison, .336. 



" "Que la monarchic modere etoit le seul bon gouvernement." Eseai 

 sur le despotisme, 217. 



'' "Eneffet, il est monarchiste. monarchiste d'instinct et de raison." 

 Decrue, Revue historique, XXII, 40. 



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