But the mere position of the rulers does not in these, as it does in
the other cases which we have examined, of itself invest them with
interests and tendencies operating in the beneficial direction. From
the general weaknesses of the people or of the state of
civilisation, the One and his counsellors, or the Few, are not
likely to be habitually exempt; except in the case of their being
foreigners, belonging to a superior people or a more advanced state of
society. Then, indeed, the rulers may be, to almost any extent,
superior in civilisation to those over whom they rule; and
subjection to a foreign government of this description,
notwithstanding its inevitable evils, is of ten of the greatest
advantage to a people, carrying them rapidly through several stages of
progress, and clearing away obstacles to improvement which might
have lasted indefinitely if the subject population had been left
unassisted to its native tendencies and chances. In a country not
under the dominion of foreigners, the only cause adequate to producing
similar benefits is the rare accident of a monarch of extraordinary
genius. There have been in history a few of these, who, happily for
humanity, have reigned long enough to render some of their
improvements permanent, by leaving them under the guardianship of a
generation which had grown up under their influence. Charlemagne may
be cited as one instance; Peter the Great is another.
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