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have acquired or through the important offices they have filled； and
here； in the medium thus constituted； the statesman and wise
counselor of the people； the independent and able politician is most
naturally developed。 … Because； on the one hand； thanks to his
fortune and his rank； a man of this class is above all vulgar
ambitions and temptations。 He is able to serve gratis； he is not
obliged to concern himself about money or about providing for his
family and making his way in the world。 A political mission is no
interruption to his career； he is not obliged； like the engineer；
merchant； or physician； to sacrifice either his business； his
advancement； or his clients。 He can resign his post without injury
to himself or to those dependent on him； follow his own convictions；
resist the noisy deleterious opinions of the day； and be the loyal
servant； not the low flatterer of the public。 Whilst； consequently；
in the inferior or average conditions of life； the incentive is
self…interest； with him the grand motive is pride。 Now； amongst the
deeper feelings of man there is none which is more adapted for
transformation into probity； patriotism； and conscientiousness； for
the first requisite of the high…spirited man is self…respect； and；
to obtain that； he is induced to deserve it。 Compare； from this
point of view； the gentry and nobility of England with the
〃politicians〃 of the United States。 … On the other hand； with equal
talents； a man who belongs to this sphere of life enjoys
opportunities for acquiring a better comprehension of public affairs
than a poor man of the lower classes。 The information he requires
is not the erudition obtained in libraries and in private study。 He
must be familiar with living men； and； besides these； with
agglomerations of men； and even more with human organizations； with
States； with Governments； with parties； with administrative systems；
at home and abroad； in full operation and on the spot。 There is but
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； discussin