The Political Testament of Cardinal Richelieu: The Significant Chapters and Supporting Selections

III. Public Interest the First Objective (Complete)

CHAPTER III PUBLIC INTEREST THE FIRST OBJECTIVE m The public interest ought to be the sole objective of the prince and his councillors, or, at the least, both are obliged to have it foremost in mind, and preferred to all private gain. It is impossible to overestimate the good which a prince and those serving him in government can do if they religiously follow this principle, and one can hardly imagine the evils which befall a state if private interest is preferred to the public good and actually gains the ascendency. True philosophy, as well as the precepts of both Christianity and sound politics, teach this truth so clearly that a prince's councillors can hardly too often remind him of so necessary a principle, nor the prince punish too severely those members of his council despicable enough not to practice it. I cannot but remark in this regard that the prosperity which has invariably blessed Spain for several centuries is solely due to the fact that its council has given prefer76 PUBLIC INTEREST 77 ence to the public interest above all other interests, while most of the misfortunes which have befallen France have occurred because many of those employed in government administration have been more concerned with their own advancement than with that of the public welfare . The former has always pursued the public interest, which by its very nature has induced it to act in the fashion most advantageous to the state, while the latter, accommodating everything to their selfish profit or whims, have often twisted the execution of government programs in order to make them privately more agreeable or advantageous. Neither death nor the changing of ministers has ever brought any modification in the council's program in Spain. But it has not been the same in this kingdom, where policy has been changed in more ways than simply by a change in councillors. It has even taken such a variety of directions under the same councillors because of the diversity of their advice that this assuredly would have ruined the monarchy if God in His goodness had not found in the imperfections of our nation the necessary defenses against the attendant evils. If the complexity of our interests and our natural inconstancy often carry us close to dangerous precipices, our irresponsibility itself does not long permit us to remain firm and stable even in what is for our own good, and we switch about so quickly that our enemies, being unable to adopt feasible programs to cope with such frequent fluctuations, are unable to profit from our faults. PUBLIC INTEREST Your own particular council having some time ago altered this mode of conduct, the course of your affairs has also changed, to the great benefit of your realm, and if, in the future, the example of the reign of Your Majesty is followed, your neighbors will never again have the advantages they formerly enjoyed. But this realm, displaying the same wisdom as prevails in theirs, will doubtless share the same good fortune, for although to be wise and to be happy are not always the same thing, nevertheless the best policy to adopt in the hope of avoiding unhappiness is to follow the path indicated by prudence and reason, and not to proceed in the aimless way customary with most men, especially the French. Ifthose in whose hands Your Majesty places the direction of your affairs have the ability and the probity of which I have spoken above, you have no more worries in this regard, which of itself offers no problems since the concern for the prince's own reputation and the public interest have a common end. Princes ordinarily easily consent to the over-all plans proposed for their states because in so doing they have nothing in mind save reason and justice, which they easily accept when they meet no obstacle which turns them off the path. When the occasion arises, however, of putting into practical action the wise programs they have adopted, they do not always show the same firmness . Distracting interests, pity and compassion, favoritism and importunities of all sorts obstruct their best THE FIRST OBJECTIVE 79 intentions to a degree they often cannot overcome sufficiently to ignore private consideration, which ought never influence public affairs. It is in such matters that they should summon up all their strength against inclinations toward weakness, keeping before their eyes the fact...