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priesthood composed of hypocrites and profligates； that the
mediaeval Nobility has been as much slandered as the mediaeval
Church； and the exceptions takenas more salient and excitingfor
the average： that side by side with ruffians like Gaston de Foix
hundreds of honest gentlemen were trying to do their duty to the
best of their light； and were raising； and not depressing； the
masses below themone very important item in that duty being； the
doing the whole fighting of the country at their own expense；
instead of leaving it to a standing army of mercenaries； at the beck
and call of a despot； and that； as M。 de Tocqueville says： 〃In
feudal times； the Nobility were regarded pretty much as the
government is regarded in our own； the burdens they imposed were
endured in consequence of the security they afforded。 The nobles
had many irksome privileges； they possessed many onerous rights：
but they maintained public order； they administered justice； they
caused the law to be executed； they came to the relief of the weak；
they conducted the business of the community。 In proportion as they
ceased to do these things； the burden of their privileges appeared
more oppressive； and their existence became an anomaly in proportion
as they ceased to do these things。〃 And the Ancien Regime may be
defined as the period in which they ceased to do these thingsin
which they began to play the idlers； and expected to take their old
wages without doing their old work。
But in any case； government by a ruling caste； whether of the
patriarchal or of the feudal kind； is no ideal or permanent state of
society。 So far from it； it is but the first or second step out of
primeval savagery。 For the more a ruling race becomes conscious of
its own duty； and not merely of its own powerthe more it learns to
regard its peculiar gifts as entrusted to it for the good of menso
much the more earnestly will it labour to raise the masses below to
its own level； by imparting to them its own light； and so will it
continually tend to abolish itself； by producing a general equality；
moral and intellectual； and fulfil that law of self…sacrifice which
is the beginning and the end of all virtue。
A race of noblest men and women； trying to make all below them as
noble as themselvesthat is at least a fair ideal； tending toward；
though it has not reached； the highest ideal of all。
But suppose that the very opposite tendencyinherent in the heart
of every child of manshould conquer。 Suppose the ruling caste no
longer the physical； intellectual； and moral superiors of the mass；
but their equals。 Suppose themshameful； but not without example
actually sunk to be their inferiors。 And that such a fall did come…
…nay； that it must have comeis matter of history。 And its cause；
like all social causes； was not a political nor a physical； but a
moral cause。 The profligacy of the French and Italian
aristocracies； in the sixteenth century； avenged itself on them by a
curse （derived from the newly…discovered America） from which they
never recovered。 The Spanish aristocracy suffered； I doubt not very
severely。 The English and German； owing to the superior homeliness
and purity of ruling their lives； hardly at all。 But the
continental caste； instead of recruiting their tainted blood by
healthy blood from below； did all； under pretence of keeping it
pure； to keep it tainted by continual intermarriage； and paid； in
increasing weakness of body and mind； the penalty of their exclusive
pride。 It is impossible for anyone who reads the French memoirs of
the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries； not to perceive； if he be
wise； that the aristocracy therein depicted was ripe for ruinyea；
already ruinedunder any form of government whatsoever； independent
of all political changes。 Indeed； many of the political changes
were not the causes but the effects of the demoralisation of the
noblesse。 Historians will tell you how； as early as the beginning
of the seventeenth century； Henry IV。 complained that the nobles
were quitting their country districts； how succeeding kings and
statesmen； notably Richelieu and Louis XIV。； tempted the noblesse up
to Paris； that they might become mere courtiers； instead of powerful
country gentlemen； how those who remained behind were only the poor
hobereaux； little hobby…hawks among the gentry； who considered it
degradation to help in governing the parish； as their forefathers
had governed it； and lived shabbily in their chateaux； grinding the
last farthing out of their tenants； that they might spend it in town
during the winter。 No wonder that with such an aristocracy； who had
renounced that very duty of governing the country； for which alone
they and their forefathers had existed； there arose government by
intendants and sub…delegates； and all the other evils of
administrative centralisation； which M。 de Tocqueville anatomises
and deplores。 But what was the cause of the curse？ Their moral
degradation。 What drew them up to Paris save vanity and profligacy？
What kept them from intermarrying with the middle class save pride？
What made them give up the office of governors save idleness？ And
if vanity； profligacy； pride； and idleness be not injustices and
moral vices； what are？
The race of heroic knights and nobles who fought under the walls of
Jerusalemwho wrestled； and not in vain； for centuries with the
equally heroic English； in defence of their native soilwho had set
to all Europe the example of all knightly virtues； had rotted down
to this； their only virtue left； as Mr。 Carlyle says； beinga
perfect readiness to fight duels。
Every Intendant； chosen by the Comptroller…General out of the lower…
born members of the Council of State； a needy young plebeian with
his fortune to make； and a stranger to the province； was； in spite
of his greed； ambition； chicane； arbitrary tyranny； a better man
abler； more energetic； and often； to judge from the pages of De
Tocqueville； with far more sympathy and mercy for the wretched
peasantrythan was the count or marquis in the chateau above； who
looked down on him as a roturier； and let him nevertheless become
first his deputy； and then his master。
Understand meI am not speaking against the hereditary principle of
the Ancien Regime； but against its caste principletwo widely
different elements； continually confounded nowadays。
The hereditary principle is good； because it is founded on fact and
nature。 If men's minds come into the world blank sheets of paper
which I much doubtevery other part and faculty of them comes in
stamped with hereditary tendencies and peculiarities。 There are
such things as transmitted capabilities for good and for evil； and
as surely as the offspring of a good horse or dog is likely to be
good； so is the offspring of a good man； and still more of a good
woman。 If the parents have any special ability； their children will
probably inherit it； at least in part； and ove