democracy in america-1-第128章
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eas； the South and the West consequently stand in need of the commercial resources of the North。 They are likewise interested in the maintenance of a powerful fleet by the Union； to protect them efficaciously。 The South and the West have no vessels； but they cannot refuse a willing subsidy to defray the expenses of the navy； for if the fleets of Europe were to blockade the ports of the South and the delta of the Mississippi； what would become of the rice of the Carolinas； the tobacco of Virginia； and the sugar and cotton which grow in the valley of the Mississippi？ Every portion of the federal budget does therefore contribute to the maintenance of material interests which are common to all the confederate States。
Independently of this commercial utility； the South and the West of the Union derive great political advantages from their connection with the North。 The South contains an enormous slave population； a population which is already alarming； and still more formidable for the future。 The States of the West lie in the remotest parts of a single valley； and all the rivers which intersect their territory rise in the Rocky Mountains or in the Alleghanies； and fall into the Mississippi； which bears them onwards to the Gulf of Mexico。 The Western States are consequently entirely cut off； by their position； from the traditions of Europe and the civilization of the Old World。 The inhabitants of the South； then； are induced to support the Union in order to avail themselves of its protection against the blacks； and the inhabitants of the West in order not to be excluded from a free communication with the rest of the globe； and shut up in the wilds of central America。 The North cannot but desire the maintenance of the Union； in order to remain； as it now is； the connecting link between that vast body and the other parts of the world。
The temporal interests of all the several parts of the Union are； then； intimately connected； and the same assertion holds true respecting those opinions and sentiments which may be termed the immaterial interests of men。
Chapter XVIII： Future Condition Of Three Races … Part VII
The inhabitants of the United States talk a great deal of their attachment to their country； but I confess that I do not rely upon that calculating patriotism which is founded upon interest； and which a change in the interests at stake may obliterate。 Nor do I attach much importance to the language of the Americans； when they manifest； in their daily conversations； the intention of maintaining the federal system adopted by their forefathers。 A government retains its sway over a great number of citizens； far less by the voluntary and rational consent of the multitude； than by that instinctive； and to a certain extent involuntary agreement； which results from similarity of feelings and resemblances of opinion。 I will never admit that men constitute a social body； simply because they obey the same head and the same laws。 Society can only exist when a great number of men consider a great number of things in the same point of view； when they hold the same opinions upon many subjects； and when the same occurrences suggest the same thoughts and impressions to their minds。
The observer who examines the present condition of the United States upon this principle； will readily discover； that although the citizens are divided into twenty…four distinct sovereignties； they nevertheless constitute a single people； and he may perhaps be led to think that the state of the Anglo…American Union is more truly a state of society than that of certain nations of Europe which live under the same legislation and the same prince。
Although the Anglo…Americans have several religious sects； they all regard religion in the same manner。 They are not always agreed upon the measures which are most conducive to good government； and they vary upon some of the forms of government which it is expedient to adopt； but they are unanimous upon the general principles which ought to rule human society。 From Maine to the Floridas； and from the Missouri to the Atlantic Ocean； the people is held to be the legitimate source of all power。 The same notions are entertained respecting liberty and equality； the liberty of the press； the right of association； the jury； and the responsibility of the agents of Government。
If we turn from their political and religious opinions to the moral and philosophical principles which regulate the daily actions of life and govern their conduct； we shall still find the same uniformity。 The Anglo…Americans *d acknowledge the absolute moral authority of the reason of the community； as they acknowledge the political authority of the mass of citizens； and they hold that public opinion is the surest arbiter of what is lawful or forbidden； true or false。 The majority of them believe that a man will be led to do what is just and good by following his own interest rightly understood。 They hold that every man is born in possession of the right of self…government； and that no one has the right of constraining his fellow…creatures to be happy。 They have all a lively faith in the perfectibility of man； they are of opinion that the effects of the diffusion of knowledge must necessarily be advantageous； and the consequences of ignorance fatal； they all consider society as a body in a state of improvement； humanity as a changing scene； in which nothing is； or ought to be； permanent； and they admit that what appears to them to be good to…day may be superseded by something better…to…morrow。 I do not give all these opinions as true； but I quote them as characteristic of the Americans。
＇Footnote d： It is scarcely necessary for me to observe that by the expression Anglo…Americans； I only mean to designate the great majority of the nation； for a certain number of isolated individuals are of course to be met with holding very different opinions。＇
The Anglo…Americans are not only united together by these common opinions； but they are separated from all other nations by a common feeling of pride。 For the last fifty years no pains have been spared to convince the inhabitants of the United States that they constitute the only religious； enlightened； and free people。 They perceive that； for the present； their own democratic institutions succeed； whilst those of other countries fail； hence they conceive an overweening opinion of their superiority； and they are not very remote from believing themselves to belong to a distinct race of mankind。
The dangers which threaten the American Union do not originate in the diversity of interests or of opinions； but in the various characters and passions of the Americans。 The men who inhabit the vast territory of the United States are almost all the issue of a common stock； but the effects of the climate； and more especially of slavery； have gradually introduced very striking differences between the British settler of the Southern States and the British settler of the North。 In Europe it is generally believed that slavery has rendered the interests of one part of the Union contrary to those of another part； but I by no means remarked this to be the case： slavery has not created interests in the South contrary to those of the North； but it has modified the character and changed the habits of the natives of the South。
I have already explained the influence which slavery has exercised upon the commercial ability of the Americans in the South； and this same influence equally extends to their manners。 The slave is a servant who never remonstrates； and who submits to everything without complaint。 He may sometimes assassinate； but he never withstands； his master。 In the South there are no families so poor as not to have slaves。 The citizen of the Southern States of the Union is invested with a sort of domestic dictatorship； from his earliest years； the first notion he acquires in life is that he is born to command； and the first habit which he contracts is that of being obeyed without resistance。 His education tends； then； to give him the character of a supercilious and a hasty man； irascible； violent； and ardent in his desires； impatient of obstacles； but easily discouraged if he cannot succe
