How did the baron de Montesquieu and other liberal thinkers in the eighteenth century understand the idea of "representative government"?

voting was to be restricted to people owning private property with financial stake in society

Explanation:

Montesquieu was an enlighted thinker in the 1800's introducing liberal ideas that were only to involve the burguois, those who directly had taxation or some form of tribute to the state.

Therefore the right of voting and participating in politics was only limited to people active financially and with high regards.

He also considers people with voting should have some culture and education to exercise voting.

The representative government would therefore only foreseek the interests of this privileged class.