The difference between a republican and a courtier with respect to monarchy, is that the one opposes monarchy, believing it to be something; and the other laughs at it, knowing it to be nothing.
Expanding on his observation in "Rights of Man," Paine distinguishes between a republican's principled opposition to monarchy and a courtier's cynical dismissal of it as an empty institution.
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But from such opposition the French Revolution, instead of suffering, receives an homage.
It was become evident, that no constitution, worthy of being called by that name, could be established on anything less than a national ground.
But the spirit of the nation was not to be overcome, and it was so fully sensible of the strong ground it had taken--that of withholding taxes--that it contented itself with keeping up a sort of quiet resistance, which effectually…
Burke's Book is easily accounted for.--When a man in a wrong cause attempts to steer his course by anything else than some polar truth or principle, he is sure to be lost.