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.
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