They pay the poor for attending
the assemblies and the law-courts, and they inflict no penalty on
the rich for non-attendance. It is obvious that he who would duly
mix the two principles should combine the practice of both, and
provide that the poor should be paid to attend, and the rich fined
if they do not attend, for then all will take part; if there is no
such combination, power will be in the hands of one party only. The
government should be confined to those who carry arms. As to the
property qualification, no absolute rule can be laid down, but we must
see what is the highest qualification sufficiently comprehensive to
secure that the number of those who have the rights of citizens
exceeds the number of those excluded. Even if they have no share in
office, the poor, provided only that they are not outraged or deprived
of their property, will be quiet enough.
But to secure gentle treatment for the poor is not an easy thing,
since a ruling class is not always humane. And in time of war the poor
are apt to hesitate unless they are fed; when fed, they are willing
enough to fight. In some states the government is vested, not only
in those who are actually serving, but also in those who have
served; among the Malians, for example, the governing body consisted
of the latter, while the magistrates were chosen from those actually
on service.
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