NOW it is absolutely impossible, from the Nature of an Arbitrary Government,* that she should enjoy Security and Protection, or indeed be free from Violence, under it. There is not one Man in a Thousand that has the Endowments and Abilities necessary to govern a State, and much fewer yet that have just Notions how to make Trade and Commerce useful and advantageous to it; and amongst these, ’tis rare to find one who will forgo all personal Advantages, and devote himself and his Labours wholly to his Country’s Interest: But if such a Phoenix* should arise in any Country, he will find it hard to get Access to an Arbitrary Court, and much harder yet to grapple with and stem the reigning Corruptions in it, where Virtue has nothing to do, and Vice rides triumphant; where Bribery, servile Flattery, blind Submission, riotous Expense, and very often Lust and unnatural Prostitutions, are the Ladders to Greatness; which will certainly be supported by the same Methods by which it is obtained.
original spelling
* Arbitrary government is a government where those in authority — whether a king, a president or a council of ministers — are allowed to act as they please because constitutional restraints are weak or dormant. By comparison with (say) Louis XV (r. 1715-1774) in France or Peter the Great (r. 1682-1725) in Russia, Great Britain’s George I (r. 1714-1727) and his prime minister Sir Robert Walpole (in office 1721-42) were under considerable constitutional restraint, but evidently not enough for Trenchard.
* A fantastical bird, said to be reborn to new life in a blaze of fire. Trenchard is emphasising that honest politicians are rare to the point of being both spectacular and also legendary.