more than it aids or profits him. In the countries of political Protestantism, i.e., in those which are Constitutional, the rights of princes are rather recognised as founded on reason, which furnishes sufficient cause for their inviolability so soon as we admit that they cannot act themselves, and are therefore neither accountable, responsible, nor punishable any more than any one can be who does nothing. The maxim that "the king can do no wrong," so far as irresponsibility is based on it, amounts to nothing unless we add to it "because he does nothing." But it is the Ministers who act in the place of the constitutional king, and they are in consequence responsible. They act independently; they may or can directly thwart any royal suggestion which does not agree with their own principles, and in case their manner of governing is displeasing to the king they can retire altogether. Without such freedom of will the responsibility of the Ministers, which they assume whenever they countersign any act of government, would be an impious injustice or cruelty—an absurdity; it would be an introduction of the doctrine of the scapegoat into political rights and principles. They are only accountable to their independent ruler, as he is to God.[1] They are only his devoted aids, his true servants,
- ↑ Thirteen lines of the German text are here wanting in the French version.—Translator.
