democracy in america-1-第122章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
The pride of origin； which is natural to the English； is singularly augmented by the personal pride which democratic liberty fosters amongst the Americans： the white citizen of the United States is proud of his race； and proud of himself。 But if the whites and the negroes do not intermingle in the North of the Union； how should they mix in the South？ Can it be supposed for an instant； that an American of the Southern States； placed； as he must forever be； between the white man with all his physical and moral superiority and the negro； will ever think of preferring the latter？ The Americans of the Southern States have two powerful passions which will always keep them aloof； the first is the fear of being assimilated to the negroes； their former slaves； and the second the dread of sinking below the whites； their neighbors。
If I were called upon to predict what will probably occur at some future time； I should say； that the abolition of slavery in the South will； in the common course of things； increase the repugnance of the white population for the men of color。 I found this opinion upon the analogous observation which I already had occasion to make in the North。 I there remarked that the white inhabitants of the North avoid the negroes with increasing care； in proportion as the legal barriers of separation are removed by the legislature； and why should not the same result take place in the South？ In the North； the whites are deterred from intermingling with the blacks by the fear of an imaginary danger； in the South； where the danger would be real； I cannot imagine that the fear would be less general。
If； on the one hand； it be admitted （and the fact is unquestionable） that the colored population perpetually accumulates in the extreme South； and that it increases more rapidly than that of the whites； and if； on the other hand； it be allowed that it is impossible to foresee a time at which the whites and the blacks will be so intermingled as to derive the same benefits from society； must it not be inferred that the blacks and the whites will； sooner or later； come to open strife in the Southern States of the Union？ But if it be asked what the issue of the struggle is likely to be； it will readily be understood that we are here left to form a very vague surmise of the truth。 The human mind may succeed in tracing a wide circle； as it were； which includes the course of future events； but within that circle a thousand various chances and circumstances may direct it in as many different ways； and in every picture of the future there is a dim spot； which the eye of the understanding cannot penetrate。 It appears； however； to be extremely probable that in the West Indian Islands the white race is destined to be subdued； and the black population to share the same fate upon the continent。
In the West India Islands the white planters are surrounded by an immense black population； on the continent； the blacks are placed between the ocean and an innumerable people； which already extends over them in a dense mass； from the icy confines of Canada to the frontiers of Virginia； and from the banks of the Missouri to the shores of the Atlantic。 If the white citizens of North America remain united； it cannot be supposed that the negroes will escape the destruction with which they are menaced； they must be subdued by want or by the sword。 But the black population which is accumulated along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico； has a chance of success if the American Union is dissolved when the struggle between the two races begins。 If the federal tie were broken； the citizens of the South would be wrong to rely upon any lasting succor from their Northern countrymen。 The latter are well aware that the danger can never reach them； and unless they are constrained to march to the assistance of the South by a positive obligation； it may be foreseen that the sympathy of color will be insufficient to stimulate their exertions。
Yet； at whatever period the strife may break out； the whites of the South； even if they are abandoned to their own resources； will enter the lists with an immense superiority of knowledge and of the means of warfare； but the blacks will have numerical strength and the energy of despair upon their side； and these are powerful resources to men who have taken up arms。 The fate of the white population of the Southern States will； perhaps； be similar to that of the Moors in Spain。 After having occupied the land for centuries； it will perhaps be forced to retire to the country whence its ancestors came； and to abandon to the negroes the possession of a territory； which Providence seems to have more peculiarly destined for them； since they can subsist and labor in it more easily that the whites。
The danger of a conflict between the white and the black inhabitants of the Southern States of the Union … a danger which； however remote it may be； is inevitable … perpetually haunts the imagination of the Americans。 The inhabitants of the North make it a common topic of conversation； although they have no direct injury to fear from the struggle； but they vainly endeavor to devise some means of obviating the misfortunes which they foresee。 In the Southern States the subject is not discussed： the planter does not allude to the future in conversing with strangers； the citizen does not communicate his apprehensions to his friends； he seeks to conceal them from himself； but there is something more alarming in the tacit forebodings of the South； than in the clamorous fears of the Northern States。
This all…pervading disquietude has given birth to an undertaking which is but little known； but which may have the effect of changing the fate of a portion of the human race。 From apprehension of the dangers which I have just been describing； a certain number of American citizens have formed a society for the purpose of exporting to the coast of Guinea； at their own expense； such free negroes as may be willing to escape from the oppression to which they are subject。 *t In 1820； the society to which I allude formed a settlement in Africa； upon the seventh degree of north latitude； which bears the name of Liberia。 The most recent intelligence informs us that 2；500 negroes are collected there； they have introduced the democratic institutions of America into the country of their forefathers； and Liberia has a representative system of government； negro jurymen； negro magistrates； and negro priests； churches have been built； newspapers established； and； by a singular change in the vicissitudes of the world； white men are prohibited from sojourning within the settlement。 *u
＇Footnote t： This society assumed the name of 〃The Society for the Colonization of the Blacks。〃 See its annual reports； and more particularly the fifteenth。 See also the pamphlet； to which allusion has already been made； entitled 〃Letters on the Colonization Society； and on its probable Results；〃 by Mr。 Carey； Philadelphia； 1833。＇
＇Footnote u： This last regulation was laid down by the founders of the settlement； they apprehended that a state of things might arise in Africa similar to that which exists on the frontiers of the United States； and that if the negroes； like the Indians； were brought into collision with a people more enlightened than themselves； they would be destroyed before they could be civilized。＇
This is indeed a strange caprice of fortune。 Two hundred years have now elapsed since the inhabitants of Europe undertook to tear the negro from his family and his home； in order to transport him to the shores of North America； at the present day； the European settlers are engaged in sending back the descendants of those very negroes to the Continent from which they were originally taken； and the barbarous Africans have been brought into contact with civilization in the midst of bondage； and have become acquainted with free political institutions in slavery。 Up to the present time Africa has been closed against the arts and sciences of the whites； but the inventions of Europe will perhaps penetrate into those regions； now that they are introduced by Africans themselves。 The settlement of Liberia is founded upon a lofty and a most fruitful idea； but whate
