They have granted to the people from time to time as much liberty as public opinion demanded, and have in this way maintained to the present day their political and social prestige.

But although they have been, on the whole, individually disinterested, they have not been and they could not be disinterested as a class.

Owning as they did much of the land, they had as a class certain economic interests.

Possessing as they did certain special privileges, they had as a class certain political interests.

These interests have been scrupulously preserved, no matter whether they did or did not conflict with the national interest.