He is able to serve gratis; he is not obliged to concern himself about money or about providing for his family and making his way in the world.

A political mission is no interruption to his career; he is not obliged, like the engineer, merchant, or physician, to sacrifice either his business, his advancement, or his clients.

He can resign his post without injury to himself or to those dependent on him, follow his own convictions, resist the noisy deleterious opinions of the day, and be the loyal servant, not the low flatterer of the public.

Whilst, consequently, in the inferior or average conditions of life, the incentive is self-interest, with him the grand motive is pride.

Now, amongst the deeper feelings of man there is none which is more adapted for transformation into probity, patriotism, and conscientiousness; for the first requisite of the high-spirited man is self-respect, and, to obtain that, he is induced to deserve it.
Compare, from this point of view, the gentry and nobility of England with the "politicians" of the United States .-- On the other hand, with equal talents, a man who belongs to this sphere of life enjoys opportunities for acquiring a better comprehension of public affairs than a poor man of the lower classes.