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Democracy In America
书架
书页 | 目录
加书签

第1章
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Translator—HenryReeve

BookOne

IntroductionSpecialIntroductionByHon。JohnT。MorganIntheelevenyearsthatseparatedtheDeclarationoftheIndependenceoftheUnitedStatesfromthecompletionofthatactintheordinationofourwrittenConstitution,thegreatmindsofAmericawerebentuponthestudyoftheprinciplesofgovernmentthatwereessentialtothepreservationofthelibertieswhichhadbeenwonatgreatcostandwithheroiclaborsandsacrifices。

TheirstudieswereconductedinviewoftheimperfectionsthatexperiencehaddevelopedinthegovernmentoftheConfederation,andtheywere,therefore,practicalandthorough。

WhentheConstitutionwasthusperfectedandestablished,anewformofgovernmentwascreated,butitwasneitherspeculativenorexperimentalastotheprinciplesonwhichitwasbased。Iftheyweretrueprinciples,astheywere,thegovernmentfoundeduponthemwasdestinedtoalifeandaninfluencethatwouldcontinuewhilethelibertiesitwasintendedtopreserveshouldbevaluedbythehumanfamily。Thoselibertieshadbeenwrungfromreluctantmonarchsinmanycontests,inmanycountries,andweregroupedintocreedsandestablishedinordinancessealedwithblood,inmanygreatstrugglesofthepeople。Theywerenotnewtothepeople。Theywereconsecratedtheories,butnogovernmenthadbeenpreviouslyestablishedforthegreatpurposeoftheirpreservationandenforcement。Thatwhichwasexperimentalinourplanofgovernmentwasthequestionwhetherdemocraticrulecouldbesoorganizedandconductedthatitwouldnotdegenerateintolicenseandresultinthetyrannyofabsolutism,withoutsavingtothepeoplethepowersooftenfoundnecessaryofrepressingordestroyingtheirenemy,whenhewasfoundinthepersonofasingledespot。

When,in1831,AlexisdeTocquevillecametostudyDemocracyinAmerica,thetrialofnearlyahalf—centuryoftheworkingofoursystemhadbeenmade,andithadbeenproved,bymanycrucialtests,tobeagovernmentof"libertyregulatedbylaw,"withsuchresultsinthedevelopmentofstrength,inpopulation,wealth,andmilitaryandcommercialpower,asnoagehadeverwitnessed。

[SeeAlexisDeTocqueville]

DeTocquevillehadaspecialinquirytoprosecute,inhisvisittoAmerica,inwhichhisgenerousandfaithfulsoulandthepowersofhisgreatintellectwereengagedinthepatrioticefforttosecuretothepeopleofFrancetheblessingsthatDemocracyinAmericahadordainedandestablishedthroughoutnearlytheentireWesternHemisphere。HehadreadthestoryoftheFrenchRevolution,muchofwhichhadbeenrecentlywritteninthebloodofmenandwomenofgreatdistinctionwhowerehisprogenitors;andhadwitnessedtheagitationsandterrorsoftheRestorationandoftheSecondRepublic,fruitfulincrimeandsacrifice,andbarrenofanygoodtomankind。

HehadjustwitnessedthespreadofrepublicangovernmentthroughallthevastcontinentalpossessionsofSpaininAmerica,andthelossofhergreatcolonies。Hehadseenthattheserevolutionswereaccomplishedalmostwithoutthesheddingofblood,andhewasfilledwithanxietytolearnthecausesthathadplacedrepublicangovernment,inFrance,insuchcontrastwithDemocracyinAmerica。

DeTocquevillewasscarcelythirtyyearsoldwhenhebeganhisstudiesofDemocracyinAmerica。Itwasaboldeffortforonewhohadnospecialtrainingingovernment,orinthestudyofpoliticaleconomy,buthehadtheexampleofLafayetteinestablishingthemilitaryfoundationoftheseliberties,andofWashington,Jefferson,Madison,andHamilton,allofwhomwereyoungmen,inbuildingupontheIndependenceoftheUnitedStatesthatwisestandbestplanofgeneralgovernmentthatwaseverdevisedforafreepeople。

HefoundthattheAmericanpeople,throughtheirchosenrepresentativeswhowereinstructedbytheirwisdomandexperienceandweresupportedbytheirvirtues—cultivated,purifiedandennobledbyself—relianceandtheloveofGod—hadmatured,intheexcellentwisdomoftheircounsels,anewplanofgovernment,whichembracedeverysecurityfortheirlibertiesandequalrightsandprivilegestoallinthepursuitofhappiness。

Hecameasanhonestandimpartialstudentandhisgreatcommentary,likethoseofPaul,waswrittenforthebenefitofallnationsandpeopleandinvindicationoftruthsthatwillstandfortheirdeliverancefrommonarchicalrule,whiletimeshalllast。

AFrencharistocratofthepureststrainofbloodandofthemosthonorablelineage,whosefamilyinfluencewascovetedbycrownedheads;whohadnoquarrelwiththerulersofthenation,andwassecureagainstwantbyhisinheritedestates;wasmovedbytheagitationsthatcompelledFrancetoattempttograspsuddenlythelibertiesandhappinesswehadgainedinourrevolutionand,byhisdevoutloveofFrance,tosearchoutandsubjecttothetestofreasonthebasicprinciplesoffreegovernmentthathadbeenembodiedinourConstitution。ThiswasthemissionofDeTocqueville,andnomissionwasevermorehonorablyorjustlyconducted,orconcludedwithgreatereclat,orbetterresultsforthewelfareofmankind。

Hisresearcheswerelogicalandexhaustive。Theyincludedeveryphaseofeveryquestionthatthenseemedtobeappositetothegreatinquiryhewasmaking。

Thejudgmentofallwhohavestudiedhiscommentariesseemstohavebeenunanimous,thathistalentsandlearningwerefullyequaltohistask。Hebeganwiththephysicalgeographyofthiscountry,andexaminedthecharacteristicsofthepeople,ofallracesandconditions,theirsocialandreligioussentiments,theireducationandtastes;theirindustries,theircommerce,theirlocalgovernments,theirpassionsandprejudices,andtheirethicsandliterature;leavingnothingunnoticedthatmightaffordanargumenttoprovethatourplanandformofgovernmentwasorwasnotadaptedespeciallytoapeculiarpeople,orthatitwouldbeimpracticableinanydifferentcountry,oramonganydifferentpeople。

TheprideandcomfortthattheAmericanpeopleenjoyinthegreatcommentariesofDeTocquevillearefarremovedfromtheselfishadulationthatcomesfromagreatandsingularsuccess。

Itistheconsciousnessofvictoryoverafalsetheoryofgovernmentwhichhasafflictedmankindformanyages,thatgivesjoytothetrueAmerican,asitdidtoDeTocquevilleinhisgreattriumph。

WhenDeTocquevillewrote,wehadlivedlessthanfiftyyearsunderourConstitution。Inthattimenogreatnationalcommotionhadoccurredthattesteditsstrength,oritspowerofresistancetointernalstrife,suchashadconvertedhisbelovedFranceintofieldsofslaughtertornbytempestsofwrath。

Hehadastrongconvictionthatnogovernmentcouldbeordainedthatcouldresisttheseinternalforces,when,theyaredirectedtoitsdestructionbybadmen,orunreasoningmobs,andmanythenbelieved,assomeyetbelieve,thatourgovernmentisunequaltosuchpressure,whentheassaultisthoroughlydesperate。

HadDeTocquevillelivedtoexaminethehistoryoftheUnitedStatesfrom1860to1870,hismisgivingsastothispowerofself—preservationwould,probably,havebeenclearedoff。Hewouldhaveseenthat,attheendofthemostdestructivecivilwarthateveroccurred,whenanimositiesofthebitterestsorthadbanishedallgoodfeelingfromtheheartsofourpeople,theStatesoftheAmericanUnion,stillincompleteorganizationandequippedwithalltheirofficialentourage,alignedthemselvesintheirplacesandtookupthepowersanddutiesoflocalgovernmentinperfectorderandwithoutembarrassment。Thiswouldhavedispelledhisapprehensions,ifhehadany,aboutthepoweroftheUnitedStatestowithstandtheseverestshocksofcivilwar。Couldhehavetracedthefurthercourseofeventsuntiltheyopentheportalsofthetwentiethcentury,hewouldhavecastawayhisfearsofourabilitytorestorepeace,order,andprosperity,inthefaceofanydifficulties,andwouldhaverejoicedtofindintheConstitutionoftheUnitedStatestheremedythatisprovidedforthehealingofthenation。

DeTocquevilleexamined,withthecarethatisworthytheimportanceofthesubject,thenatureandvalueofthesystemof"localself—government,"aswestylethismostimportantfeatureofourplan,and(ashasoftenhappened)whenthisoranysubjecthasbecomeamatterofanxiousconcern,histreatmentofthequestionsisfoundtohavebeenmasterlyandhispreconceptionsalmostprophetic。

Wearefrequentlyindebtedtohimforableexpositionsandtruedoctrinesrelatingtosubjectsthathaveslumberedinthemindsofthepeopleuntiltheyweresuddenlyforcedonourattentionbyunexpectedevents。

Inhisintroductorychapter,M。DeTocquevillesays:

"AmongstthenovelobjectsthatattractedmyattentionduringmystayintheUnitedStates,nothingstruckmemoreforciblythanthegeneralequalityofconditions。"Hereferred,doubtless,tosocialandpoliticalconditionsamongthepeopleofthewhiterace,whoaredescribedas"We,thepeople,"intheopeningsentenceoftheConstitution。ThelastthreeamendmentsoftheConstitutionhavesochangedthis,thatthosewhowerethennegroslavesareclothedwiththerightsofcitizenship,includingtherightofsuffrage。Thiswasapoliticalpartymovement,intendedtoberadicalandrevolutionary,butitwill,ultimately,reactbecauseithasnotthesanctionofpublicopinion。

IfM。DeTocquevillecouldnowsearchforalawthatwouldnegativethisprovisioninitseffectuponsocialequality,hewouldfailtofindit。Buthewouldfinditintheunwrittenlawofthenaturalaversionoftheraces。Hewouldfinditinpublicopinion,whichisthevitalforceineverylawinafreegovernment。ThisisasubjectthatourConstitutionfailedtoregulate,becauseitwasnotcontemplatedbyitsauthors。Itisaquestionthatwillsettleitself,withoutseriousdifficulty。

Theequalityinthesuffrage,thusguaranteedtothenegrorace,alone—foritwasnotintendedtoincludeothercoloredraces—

createsanewphaseofpoliticalconditionsthatM。DeTocquevillecouldnotforesee。Yet,inhiscommendationofthelocaltownandcountygovernments,heapplaudsandsustainsthatelementaryfeatureofourpoliticalorganizationwhich,intheend,willrenderharmlessthiswidedeparturefromtheoriginalplanandpurposeofAmericanDemocracy。"LocalSelf—Government,"

independentofgeneralcontrol,exceptforgeneralpurposes,istherootandoriginofallfreerepublicangovernment,andistheantagonistofallgreatpoliticalcombinationsthatthreatentherightsofminorities。Itisthepublicopinionformedintheindependentexpressionsoftownsandothersmallcivildistrictsthatistherealconservatismoffreegovernment。Itisequallytheenemyofthatdangerousevil,thecorruptionoftheballot—box,fromwhichitisnowapprehendedthatoneofourgreatesttroublesistoarise。

Thevoterisselected,underourlaws,becausehehascertainphysicalqualifications—ageandsex。Hisdisqualifications,whenanyareimposed,relatetohiseducationorproperty,andtothefactthathehasnotbeenconvictedofcrime。Ofallmenheshouldbemostdirectlyamenabletopublicopinion。

Thetestofmoralcharacteranddevotiontothedutiesofgoodcitizenshipareignoredinthelaws,becausethecourtscanseldomdealwithsuchquestionsinauniformandsatisfactoryway,underrulesthatapplyaliketoall。Thusthevoter,selectedbylawtorepresenthimselfandfourothernon—votingcitizens,isoftenapersonwhoisunfitforanypublicdutyortrust。Inatowngovernment,havingasmallareaofjurisdiction,wherethevoiceofthemajorityofqualifiedvotersisconclusive,thefitnessofthepersonwhoistoexercisethathighrepresentativeprivilegecanbedeterminedbyhisneighborsandacquaintances,and,inthegreatmajorityofcases,itwillbedecidedhonestlyandforthegoodofthecountry。Insuchmeetings,thereisalwaysaspiritofloyaltytotheState,becausethatisloyaltytothepeople,andareverenceforGodthatgivesweighttothedutiesandresponsibilitiesofcitizenship。

M。DeTocquevillefoundintheseminorlocaljurisdictionsthetheoreticalconservatismwhich,intheaggregate,isthesafestrelianceoftheState。Sowehavefoundthem,inpractice,thetrueprotectorsofthepurityoftheballot,withoutwhichallfreegovernmentwilldegenerateintoabsolutism。

InthefutureoftheRepublic,wemustencountermanydifficultanddangeroussituations,buttheprinciplesestablishedintheConstitutionandthecheckuponhastyorinconsideratelegislation,anduponexecutiveaction,andthesupremearbitramentofthecourts,willbefoundsufficientforthesafetyofpersonalrights,andforthesafetyofthegovernment,andthepropheticoutlookofM。DeTocquevillewillbefullyrealizedthroughtheinfluenceofDemocracyinAmerica。

EachsucceedinggenerationofAmericanswillfindinthepureandimpartialreflectionsofDeTocquevilleanewsourceofprideinourinstitutionsofgovernment,andsoundreasonsforpatrioticefforttopreservethemandtoinculcatetheirteachings。TheyhavemasteredthepowerofmonarchicalruleintheAmericanHemisphere,freeingreligionfromallshackles,andwillspread,byaquietbutresistlessinfluence,throughtheislandsoftheseastootherlands,wheretheappealsofDeTocquevilleforhumanrightsandlibertieshavealreadyinspiredthesoulsofthepeople。

Hon。JohnT。MorganSpecialIntroductionByHon。JohnJ。IngallsNearlytwo—thirdsofacenturyhaselapsedsincetheappearanceof"DemocracyinAmerica,"byAlexisCharlesHenriClereldeTocqueville,aFrenchnobleman,bornatParis,July29,1805。

Bredtothelaw,heexhibitedanearlypredilectionforphilosophyandpoliticaleconomy,andattwenty—twowasappointedjudge—auditoratthetribunalofVersailles。

In1831,commissionedostensiblytoinvestigatethepenitentiarysystemoftheUnitedStates,hevisitedthiscountry,withhisfriend,GustavedeBeaumont,travellingextensivelythroughthosepartsoftheRepublicthensubduedtosettlement,studyingthemethodsoflocal,State,andnationaladministration,andobservingthemannersandhabits,thedailylife,thebusiness,theindustriesandoccupationsofthepeople。

"DemocracyinAmerica,"thefirstoffourvolumesupon"AmericanInstitutionsandtheirInfluence,"waspublishedin1835。ItwasreceivedatoncebythescholarsandthinkersofEuropeasaprofound,impartial,andentertainingexpositionoftheprinciplesofpopular,representativeself—government。

Napoleon,"Themightysomnambulistofavanisheddream,"hadabolishedfeudalismandabsolutism,mademonarchsanddynastiesobsolete,andsubstitutedforthedivinerightofkingsthesovereigntyofthepeople。

Althoughbybirthandsympathiesanaristocrat,M。deTocquevillesawthatthereignoftraditionandprivilegeatlastwasended。Heperceivedthatcivilization,aftermanybloodycenturies,hadenteredanewepoch。Hebeheld,anddeplored,theexcessesthathadattendedthegenesisofthedemocraticspiritinFrance,andwhilehelovedliberty,hedetestedthecrimesthathadbeencommittedinitsname。Belongingneithertotheclasswhichregardedthesocialrevolutionasaninnovationtoberesisted,nortothatwhichconsideredpoliticalequalitytheuniversalpanaceafortheevilsofhumanity,heresolvedbypersonalobservationoftheresultsofdemocracyintheNewWorldtoascertainitsnaturalconsequences,andtolearnwhatthenationsofEuropehadtohopeorfearfromitsfinalsupremacy。

Thatayouthoftwenty—sixshouldentertainadesignsobroadandboldimpliessingularintellectualintrepidity。Hehadneithermodelnorprecedent。Thevastnessandnoveltyoftheundertakingincreaseadmirationfortheremarkableabilitywithwhichthetaskwasperformed。

Wereliteraryexcellencethesoleclaimof"DemocracyinAmerica"todistinction,thesplendorofitscompositionalonewouldentitleittohighplaceamongthemasterpiecesofthecentury。Thefirstchapter,upontheexteriorformofNorthAmerica,asthetheatreuponwhichthegreatdramaistobeenacted,forgraphicandpicturesquedescriptionofthephysicalcharacteristicsofthecontinentisnotsurpassedinliterature:

noristhereanysubdivisionoftheworkinwhichtheseverestphilosophyisnotinvestedwiththegraceofpoetry,andthedrieststatisticswiththecharmofromance。WesternemigrationseemedcommonplaceandprosaictillM。deTocquevillesaid,"ThisgradualandcontinuousprogressoftheEuropeanracetowardtheRockyMountainshasthesolemnityofaprovidentialevent;itislikeadelugeofmenrisingunabatedly,anddailydrivenonwardbythehandofGod!"

ThemindofM。deTocquevillehadthecandorofthephotographiccamera。Itrecordedimpressionswiththeimpartialityofnature。Theimagewassometimesdistorted,andtheperspectivewasnotalwaystrue,buthewasneitherapanegyrist,noranadvocate,noracritic。HeobservedAmericanphenomenaasillustrations,notasproofnorarguments;andalthoughitisapparentthatthetendencyofhismindwasnotwhollyfavorabletothedemocraticprinciple,yetthosewhodissentfromhisconclusionsmustcommendtheabilityandcouragewithwhichtheyareexpressed。

ThoughnotoriginallywrittenforAmericans,"DemocracyinAmerica"mustalwaysremainaworkofengrossingandconstantlyincreasinginteresttocitizensoftheUnitedStatesasthefirstphilosophicandcomprehensiveviewofoursociety,institutions,anddestiny。Noonecanriseevenfromthemostcursoryperusalwithoutclearerinsightandmorepatrioticappreciationoftheblessingsoflibertyprotectedbylaw,norwithoutencouragementforthestabilityandperpetuityoftheRepublic。ThecauseswhichappearedtoM。deTocquevilletomenaceboth,havegone。

Thedespotismofpublicopinion,thetyrannyofmajorities,theabsenceofintellectualfreedomwhichseemedtohimtodegradeadministrationandbringstatesmanship,learning,andliteraturetothelevelofthelowest,arenolongerconsidered。Theviolenceofpartyspirithasbeenmitigated,andthejudgmentofthewiseisnotsubordinatedtotheprejudicesoftheignorant。

Otherdangershavecome。Equalityofconditionsnolongerexists。Prophetsofevilpredictthedownfallofdemocracy,butthestudentofM。deTocquevillewillfindconsolationandencouragementinthereflectionthatthesamespiritwhichhasvanquishedtheperilsofthepast,whichheforesaw,willbeequallypreparedfortheresponsibilitiesofthepresentandthefuture。

ThelastofthefourvolumesofM。deTocqueville’sworkuponAmericaninstitutionsappearedin1840。

In1838hewaschosenmemberoftheAcademyofMoralandPoliticalSciences。In1839hewaselectedtotheChamberofDeputies。HebecameamemberoftheFrenchAcademyin1841。

In1848hewasintheAssembly,andfromJune2ndtoOctober31sthewasMinisterofForeignAffairs。Thecoupd’etatofDecember2,1851drovehimfromthepublicservice。In1856hepublished"TheOldRegimeandtheRevolution。"HediedatCannes,April15,1859,attheageoffifty—four。

Hon。JohnJ。IngallsIntroductoryChapterAmongstthenovelobjectsthatattractedmyattentionduringmystayintheUnitedStates,nothingstruckmemoreforciblythanthegeneralequalityofconditions。Ireadilydiscoveredtheprodigiousinfluencewhichthisprimaryfactexercisesonthewholecourseofsociety,bygivingacertaindirectiontopublicopinion,andacertaintenortothelaws;byimpartingnewmaximstothegoverningpowers,andpeculiarhabitstothegoverned。I

speedilyperceivedthattheinfluenceofthisfactextendsfarbeyondthepoliticalcharacterandthelawsofthecountry,andthatithasnolessempireovercivilsocietythanovertheGovernment;itcreatesopinions,engenderssentiments,suggeststheordinarypracticesoflife,andmodifieswhateveritdoesnotproduce。ThemoreIadvancedinthestudyofAmericansociety,themoreIperceivedthattheequalityofconditionsisthefundamentalfactfromwhichallothersseemtobederived,andthecentralpointatwhichallmyobservationsconstantlyterminated。

Ithenturnedmythoughtstoourownhemisphere,whereI

imaginedthatIdiscernedsomethinganalogoustothespectaclewhichtheNewWorldpresentedtome。IobservedthattheequalityofconditionsisdailyprogressingtowardsthoseextremelimitswhichitseemstohavereachedintheUnitedStates,andthatthedemocracywhichgovernstheAmericancommunitiesappearstoberapidlyrisingintopowerinEurope。Ihenceconceivedtheideaofthebookwhichisnowbeforethereader。

Itisevidenttoallalikethatagreatdemocraticrevolutionisgoingonamongstus;buttherearetwoopinionsastoitsnatureandconsequences。Tosomeitappearstobeanovelaccident,whichassuchmaystillbechecked;toothersitseemsirresistible,becauseitisthemostuniform,themostancient,andthemostpermanenttendencywhichistobefoundinhistory。

LetusrecollectthesituationofFrancesevenhundredyearsago,whentheterritorywasdividedamongstasmallnumberoffamilies,whoweretheownersofthesoilandtherulersoftheinhabitants;therightofgoverningdescendedwiththefamilyinheritancefromgenerationtogeneration;forcewastheonlymeansbywhichmancouldactonman,andlandedpropertywasthesolesourceofpower。Soon,however,thepoliticalpoweroftheclergywasfounded,andbegantoexertitself:theclergyopeneditsrankstoallclasses,tothepoorandtherich,thevilleinandthelord;equalitypenetratedintotheGovernmentthroughtheChurch,andthebeingwhoasaserfmusthavevegetatedinperpetualbondagetookhisplaceasapriestinthemidstofnobles,andnotinfrequentlyabovetheheadsofkings。

Thedifferentrelationsofmenbecamemorecomplicatedandmorenumerousassocietygraduallybecamemorestableandmorecivilized。Thencethewantofcivillawswasfelt;andtheorderoflegalfunctionariessoonrosefromtheobscurityofthetribunalsandtheirdustychambers,toappearatthecourtofthemonarch,bythesideofthefeudalbaronsintheirermineandtheirmail。Whilstthekingswereruiningthemselvesbytheirgreatenterprises,andthenoblesexhaustingtheirresourcesbyprivatewars,thelowerorderswereenrichingthemselvesbycommerce。TheinfluenceofmoneybegantobeperceptibleinStateaffairs。Thetransactionsofbusinessopenedanewroadtopower,andthefinancierrosetoastationofpoliticalinfluenceinwhichhewasatonceflatteredanddespised。Graduallythespreadofmentalacquirements,andtheincreasingtasteforliteratureandart,openedchancesofsuccesstotalent;sciencebecameameansofgovernment,intelligenceledtosocialpower,andthemanofletterstookapartintheaffairsoftheState。

Thevalueattachedtotheprivilegesofbirthdecreasedintheexactproportioninwhichnewpathswerestruckouttoadvancement。Intheeleventhcenturynobilitywasbeyondallprice;inthethirteenthitmightbepurchased;itwasconferredforthefirsttimein1270;andequalitywasthusintroducedintotheGovernmentbythearistocracyitself。

InthecourseofthesesevenhundredyearsitsometimeshappenedthatinordertoresisttheauthorityoftheCrown,ortodiminishthepoweroftheirrivals,thenoblesgrantedacertainshareofpoliticalrightstothepeople。Or,morefrequently,thekingpermittedthelowerorderstoenjoyadegreeofpower,withtheintentionofrepressingthearistocracy。InFrancethekingshavealwaysbeenthemostactiveandthemostconstantoflevellers。Whentheywerestrongandambitioustheysparednopainstoraisethepeopletothelevelofthenobles;

whentheyweretemperateorweaktheyallowedthepeopletoriseabovethemselves。Someassistedthedemocracybytheirtalents,othersbytheirvices。LouisXIandLouisXIVreducedeveryrankbeneaththethronetothesamesubjection;LouisXVdescended,himselfandallhisCourt,intothedust。

Assoonaslandwasheldonanyotherthanafeudaltenure,andpersonalpropertybeganinitsturntoconferinfluenceandpower,everyimprovementwhichwasintroducedincommerceormanufacturewasafreshelementoftheequalityofconditions。

Henceforwardeverynewdiscovery,everynewwantwhichitengendered,andeverynewdesirewhichcravedsatisfaction,wasasteptowardstheuniversallevel。Thetasteforluxury,theloveofwar,theswayoffashion,andthemostsuperficialaswellasthedeepestpassionsofthehumanheart,co—operatedtoenrichthepoorandtoimpoverishtherich。

Fromthetimewhentheexerciseoftheintellectbecamethesourceofstrengthandofwealth,itisimpossiblenottoconsidereveryadditiontoscience,everyfreshtruth,andeverynewideaasagermofpowerplacedwithinthereachofthepeople。Poetry,eloquence,andmemory,thegraceofwit,theglowofimagination,thedepthofthought,andallthegiftswhicharebestowedbyProvidencewithanequalhand,turnedtotheadvantageofthedemocracy;andevenwhentheywereinthepossessionofitsadversariestheystillserveditscausebythrowingintoreliefthenaturalgreatnessofman;itsconquestsspread,therefore,withthoseofcivilizationandknowledge,andliteraturebecameanarsenalwherethepoorestandtheweakestcouldalwaysfindweaponstotheirhand。

Inperusingthepagesofourhistory,weshallscarcelymeetwithasinglegreatevent,inthelapseofsevenhundredyears,whichhasnotturnedtotheadvantageofequality。TheCrusadesandthewarsoftheEnglishdecimatedthenoblesanddividedtheirpossessions;theerectionofcommunitiesintroducedanelementofdemocraticlibertyintothebosomoffeudalmonarchy;

theinventionoffire—armsequalizedthevilleinandthenobleonthefieldofbattle;printingopenedthesameresourcestothemindsofallclasses;thepostwasorganizedsoastobringthesameinformationtothedoorofthepoorman’scottageandtothegateofthepalace;andProtestantismproclaimedthatallmenarealikeabletofindtheroadtoheaven。ThediscoveryofAmericaofferedathousandnewpathstofortune,andplacedrichesandpowerwithinthereachoftheadventurousandtheobscure。IfweexaminewhathashappenedinFranceatintervalsoffiftyyears,beginningwiththeeleventhcentury,weshallinvariablyperceivethatatwofoldrevolutionhastakenplaceinthestateofsociety。Thenoblehasgonedownonthesocialladder,andtheroturierhasgoneup;theonedescendsastheotherrises。Everyhalfcenturybringsthemnearertoeachother,andtheywillveryshortlymeet。

NoristhisphenomenonatallpeculiartoFrance。

WhithersoeverweturnoureyesweshallwitnessthesamecontinualrevolutionthroughoutthewholeofChristendom。Thevariousoccurrencesofnationalexistencehaveeverywhereturnedtotheadvantageofdemocracy;allmenhaveaideditbytheirexertions:thosewhohaveintentionallylaboredinitscause,andthosewhohaveserveditunwittingly;thosewhohavefoughtforitandthosewhohavedeclaredthemselvesitsopponents,haveallbeendrivenalonginthesametrack,havealllaboredtooneend,someignorantlyandsomeunwillingly;allhavebeenblindinstrumentsinthehandsofGod。

Thegradualdevelopmentoftheequalityofconditionsisthereforeaprovidentialfact,anditpossessesallthecharacteristicsofadivinedecree:itisuniversal,itisdurable,itconstantlyeludesallhumaninterference,andalleventsaswellasallmencontributetoitsprogress。Wouldit,then,bewisetoimaginethatasocialimpulsewhichdatesfromsofarbackcanbecheckedbytheeffortsofageneration?Isitcrediblethatthedemocracywhichhasannihilatedthefeudalsystemandvanquishedkingswillrespectthecitizenandthecapitalist?Willitstopnowthatithasgrownsostronganditsadversariessoweak?Nonecansaywhichwaywearegoing,foralltermsofcomparisonarewanting:theequalityofconditionsismorecompleteintheChristiancountriesofthepresentdaythanithasbeenatanytimeorinanypartoftheworld;sothattheextentofwhatalreadyexistspreventsusfromforeseeingwhatmaybeyettocome。

Thewholebookwhichishereofferedtothepublichasbeenwrittenundertheimpressionofakindofreligiousdreadproducedintheauthor’smindbythecontemplationofsoirresistiblearevolution,whichhasadvancedforcenturiesinspiteofsuchamazingobstacles,andwhichisstillproceedinginthemidstoftheruinsithasmade。ItisnotnecessarythatGodhimselfshouldspeakinordertodisclosetoustheunquestionablesignsofHiswill;wecandiscerntheminthehabitualcourseofnature,andintheinvariabletendencyofevents:Iknow,withoutaspecialrevelation,thattheplanetsmoveintheorbitstracedbytheCreator’sfinger。Ifthemenofourtimewereledbyattentiveobservationandbysincerereflectiontoacknowledgethatthegradualandprogressivedevelopmentofsocialequalityisatoncethepastandfutureoftheirhistory,thissolitarytruthwouldconferthesacredcharacterofaDivinedecreeuponthechange。ToattempttocheckdemocracywouldbeinthatcasetoresistthewillofGod;

andthenationswouldthenbeconstrainedtomakethebestofthesociallotawardedtothembyProvidence。

TheChristiannationsofourageseemtometopresentamostalarmingspectacle;theimpulsewhichisbearingthemalongissostrongthatitcannotbestopped,butitisnotyetsorapidthatitcannotbeguided:theirfateisintheirhands;yetalittlewhileanditmaybesonolonger。Thefirstdutywhichisatthistimeimposeduponthosewhodirectouraffairsistoeducatethedemocracy;towarmitsfaith,ifthatbepossible;topurifyitsmorals;todirectitsenergies;tosubstituteaknowledgeofbusinessforitsinexperience,andanacquaintancewithitstrueinterestsforitsblindpropensities;toadaptitsgovernmenttotimeandplace,andtomodifyitincompliancewiththeoccurrencesandtheactorsoftheage。Anewscienceofpoliticsisindispensabletoanewworld。This,however,iswhatwethinkofleast;launchedinthemiddleofarapidstream,weobstinatelyfixoureyesontheruinswhichmaystillbedescribedupontheshorewehaveleft,whilstthecurrentsweepsusalong,anddrivesusbackwardstowardsthegulf。

【推荐阅读】幽幽深宫,醒来一梦似千年,重生于下堂妃身躯中的她,将如何手刃仇人? 点击阅读

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