In the next place we must inquire how this equality
is to be procured. Shall the qualifications be
divided so that five hundred rich should be equal
to a thousand poor, or shall the thousand have equal
power with the five hundred? or shall we not establish
our equality in this manner? but divide indeed thus,
and afterwards taking an equal number both out of
the five hundred and the thousand, invest them with
the power of creating the magistrates and judges.
Is this state then established according to perfect
democratical justice, or rather that which is guided
by numbers only? For the defenders of a democracy
say, that that is just which the majority approve
of: but the favourers of an oligarchy say, that
that is just which those who have most approve of;
and that we ought to be directed by the value of property.
Both the propositions are unjust; for if we agree
with what the few propose we erect a tyranny:
for if it should happen that an individual should
have more than the rest who are rich, according to
oligarchical justice, this man alone has a right to
the supreme power; but if superiority of numbers is
to prevail, injustice will then be done by confiscating
the property of the rich, who are few, as we have already
said. What then that equality is, which both parties
will admit, must be collected from the definition
of right which is common to them both; for they both
say that what the majority of the state approves of
ought to be established. Be it so; but not entirely:
but since a city happens to be made up of two different
ranks of people, the rich and the poor, let that be
established which is approved of by both these, or
the greater part: but should there be opposite
sentiments, let that be established which shall be
approved of by the greater part: but let this
be according to the census; for instance, if there
should be ten of the rich and twenty of the poor, and
six of the first and fifteen of the last should agree
upon any measure, and the remaining four of the rich
should join with the remaining five of the poor in
opposing it, that party whose census when added together
should determine which opinion should be law, and should
these happen to be equal, it should be regarded as
a case similar to an assembly or court of justice
dividing equally upon any question that comes before
them, who either determine it by lot or some such method.
But although, with [1318b] respect to what is equal
and just, it may be very difficult to establish the
truth, yet it is much easier to do than to persuade
those who have it in their power to encroach upon
others to be guided thereby; for the weak always desire
what is equal and just, but the powerful pay no regard
thereunto.
CHAPTER IV
Copyrights
Politics: A Treatise on Government from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.
