One of the great commissions which the Society will have to appoint
will be the council of State jurists. These must formulate the best,
that is, the best modern constitution possible. I believe that a good
constitution should be of moderately elastic nature. In another work I
have explained in detail what forms of government I hold to be the
best. I think a democratic monarchy and an aristocratic republic are
the finest forms of a State, because in them the form of State and the
principle of government are opposed to each other, and thus preserve a
true balance of power. I am a staunch supporter of monarchial
institutions, because these allow of a continuous policy, and
represent the interests of a historically famous family born and
educated to rule, whose desires are bound up with the preservation of
the State. But our history has been too long interrupted for us to
attempt direct continuity of ancient constitutional forms, without
exposing ourselves to the charge of absurdity.
A democracy without a sovereign's useful counterpoise is extreme in
appreciation and condemnation, tends to idle discussion in Parliaments,
and produces that objectionable class of men--professional politicians.
Nations are also really not fit for unlimited democracy at present, and
will become less and less fitted for it in the future. For a pure
democracy presupposes a predominance of simple customs, and our customs
become daily more complex with the growth of commerce and increase of
culture. "_Le ressort d'une democratic est la vertu_," said wise
Montesquieu. And where is this virtue, that is to say, this political
virtue, to be met with? I do not believe in our political virtue;
first, because we are no better than the rest of modern humanity; and,
secondly, because freedom will make us show our fighting qualities at
first. I also hold a settling of questions by the referendum to be an
unsatisfactory procedure, because there are no simple political
questions which can be answered merely by Yes and No. The masses are
also more prone even than Parliaments to be led away by heterodox
opinions, and to be swayed by vigorous ranting. It is impossible to
formulate a wise internal or external policy in a popular assembly.
Politics must take shape in the upper strata and work downwards. But
no member of the Jewish State will be oppressed, every man will be
able and will wish to rise in it. Thus a great upward tendency will
pass through our people; every individual by trying to raise himself,
raising also the whole body of citizens. The ascent will take a normal
form, useful to the State and serviceable to the National Idea.
Hence I incline to an aristocratic republic. This would satisfy the
ambitious spirit in our people, which has now degenerated into petty
vanity. Many of the institutions of Venice pass through my mind; but
all that which caused the ruin of Venice must be carefully avoided. We
shall learn from the historic mistakes of others, in the same way as
we learn from our own; for we are a modern nation, and wish to be the
most modern in the world. Our people, who are receiving the new
country from the Society, will also thankfully accept the new
constitution it offers them. Should any opposition manifest itself,
the Society will suppress it. The Society cannot permit the exercise
of its functions to be interpreted by short-sighted or ill-disposed
individuals.