When the French revolution came along, it swept away the aristocrats regardless of whether they were abusive or kind and paternalistic to commoners. Mobs don't frequently make moral calculations the same way that individuals might.
I think the argument is not to curry favor with the mob, it is to take preventive measures to ensure the mob never forms by investing in society.
I don't think he's talking about paying favors to avoid the pitchforks. The idea is collaborating with the community so they improve their lives and the revolution isn't necessary. Some will do it out of selfishness, others from real believe in the community.
I think the logic is less “Give money so the pitchfork folks won’t come after you personally” and more “Give money so there’s no need for a revolution”
The presupposes that it was possible to exist as an aristocrat in that society and not be structurally abusive, which is not at all obvious.
This is about preventing the revolution from starting in the first place, but once it starts, the mob is very proper to ask themselves why we need aristocrats in the first place. What purpose do they serve? Why do they suck up all the air in the room and actively harm us?