CYCLOPEDIA: 



V.30 



OR, A NEW 



UNIVERSAL DICTIONARY 



OF 



ARTS and SCIENCES. 



REPUBLIC. 



REPUBLIC, REsruBLiCA, commonwealth, a popular 

 date or government ; or a nation where the body, or 

 only a part of the people, have the government in their 

 own hands. 



When the body of the people is pofTefTed of the fupreme 

 power, this is called 3 democracy. When the fupreme 

 power is lodged in the hands of a part of the people, it is 

 then an ariftocracy. See Aristoc racy and Democracy. 



The celebrated republics of antiquity are thofe of 

 Athens, Sparta, Rome, and Carthage. At prefent, there 

 is fcarcely any fuch thing as a real republic, i.e. a dritlly 

 popular {tate. Indeed, the Venetians and Genoefe have 

 called their dates republics; but their government was ap- 

 parently oligarchic. 



The Dutch, in their former date, came the neareit to the 

 character of a republic ; yet they were very defective, at 

 lead in the fenfe and feverity with which Rome, Carthage, 

 &c. were republics. See STAIES-Geiieral. 



It is a remark of M. St. Evremont, that if the Dutch 

 love the republican form, it is more for the fake of their 

 trade than of their liberty. 



Holland, which was compofed of about fifty republics, 

 all different from one another, might be confidered as a con- 

 ate republic ; or a convention by which feveral petty 

 ihites agree to become members of a larger one, which 

 they intend to eftablifh. When feveral fovereign and inde- 

 pendent dates unite themfelvcs together by a perpetual con- 

 fi deracy, whilft each of them continues to be a pcrfeft (late, 

 they will form together a fed( ral republic : the deliberations 

 in common will oiler no violence to the fovereignty of each 

 member, though they may, in certain refpc&s, put fomc con- 

 llraint on the exercife of it, in virtue of voluntary engagc- 

 A perfon does not ceafe to be free and independent 

 when he is obliged to fulfil the engagements into which he has 

 Vol. XXX. 



very willingly entered. In this view, Germany, which con- 

 fided of free cities, and of petty dates, fubjedt to different 

 princes, and the Swifs cantons, were confidered in Europe 

 as perpetual republics. 



Of this kind were formerly the cities of Greece ; and in 

 later times were the feven United Provinces of the Nether- 

 lands ; and fuch, as we have jud faid, were the members of 

 the Helvetic body. To this clafs we may likewife refer the 

 federal government of the United States of America. See 

 Government. 



Baron de Montefquicti, in his " Spirit of Laws," enume- 

 rates the following diltinctive properties of a republic. It 

 fhould have a fmall territory ; otherwife it cannot long fubfid. 

 In a large republic there are men of large fortunes, and con- 

 fequently of lefs moderation ; there are too great depolits 

 to intrud into the hands of a fingle fubjeft ; intereds are 

 divided ; an ambitious perfon foon becomes fenfible that he 

 may be happy, great, and glorious, by opprefling his fellow- 

 citizens ; and that he might raife himlelf to grandeur on the 

 ruins of his country. 



In a large republic, the public good is facrificed to a 

 thoufand views ; it is fubordinate to exceptions ; and de- 

 pends on accidents. In a fmall one, the intered of the public 

 is eafier perceived, better underdeod, and more within the 

 reach of every citizen ; abufes have a lefler extent, and of 

 courfe are lefs protected. 



The long duration of the republic of Sparta was owing 

 to its having always continued with the lame extent of terri- 

 tory after all its wars. The fole aim of Sparta was liberty ; 

 and the fole advantage of its liberty, glory. 



It was the fpirit ot the Greek republics to be as contented 

 with their territories, as with their laws. Athens was ' 

 fired with ambition, and gave it to Laccda?mon ; but it V 

 an ambition rather of commanding a free people, than of 



B governing 



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