democracy in america-1-第59章
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ever obtained in free communities … the one tending to limit； the other to extend indefinitely； the power of the people。 The conflict of these two opinions never assumed that degree of violence in America which it has frequently displayed elsewhere。 Both parties of the Americans were； in fact； agreed upon the most essential points； and neither of them had to destroy a traditionary constitution； or to overthrow the structure of society； in order to ensure its own triumph。 In neither of them； consequently； were a great number of private interests affected by success or by defeat； but moral principles of a high order； such as the love of equality and of independence； were concerned in the struggle； and they sufficed to kindle violent passions。
The party which desired to limit the power of the people endeavored to apply its doctrines more especially to the Constitution of the Union； whence it derived its name of Federal。 The other party； which affected to be more exclusively attached to the cause of liberty； took that of Republican。 America is a land of democracy； and the Federalists were always in a minority； but they reckoned on their side almost all the great men who had been called forth by the War of Independence； and their moral influence was very considerable。 Their cause was； moreover； favored by circumstances。 The ruin of the Confederation had impressed the people with a dread of anarchy； and the Federalists did not fail to profit by this transient disposition of the multitude。 For ten or twelve years they were at the head of affairs； and they were able to apply some； though not all； of their principles； for the hostile current was becoming from day to day too violent to be checked or stemmed。 In 1801 the Republicans got possession of the Government； Thomas Jefferson was named President； and he increased the influence of their party by the weight of his celebrity； the greatness of his talents； and the immense extent of his popularity。
The means by which the Federalists had maintained their position were artificial； and their resources were temporary； it was by the virtues or the talents of their leaders that they had risen to power。 When the Republicans attained to that lofty station； their opponents were overwhelmed by utter defeat。 An immense majority declared itself against the retiring party； and the Federalists found themselves in so small a minority that they at once despaired of their future success。 From that moment the Republican or Democratic party *a has proceeded from conquest to conquest； until it has acquired absolute supremacy in the country。 The Federalists； perceiving that they were vanquished without resource； and isolated in the midst of the nation； fell into two divisions； of which one joined the victorious Republicans； and the other abandoned its rallying…point and its name。 Many years have already elapsed since they ceased to exist as a party。
＇Footnote a： ＇It is scarcely necessary to remark that in more recent times the signification of these terms has changed。 The Republicans are the representatives of the old Federalists； and the Democrats of the old Republicans。 … Trans。 Note （1861）。＇＇ The accession of the Federalists to power was； in my opinion； one of the most fortunate incidents which accompanied the formation of the great American Union； they resisted the inevitable propensities of their age and of the country。 But whether their theories were good or bad； they had the effect of being inapplicable； as a system； to the society which they professed to govern； and that which occurred under the auspices of Jefferson must therefore have taken place sooner or later。 But their Government gave the new republic time to acquire a certain stability； and afterwards to support the rapid growth of the very doctrines which they had combated。 A considerable number of their principles were in point of fact embodied in the political creed of their opponents； and the Federal Constitution which subsists at the present day is a lasting monument of their patriotism and their wisdom。
Great political parties are not； then； to be met with in the United States at the present time。 Parties； indeed； may be found which threaten the future tranquillity of the Union； but there are none which seem to contest the present form of Government or the present course of society。 The parties by which the Union is menaced do not rest upon abstract principles； but upon temporal interests。 These interests； disseminated in the provinces of so vast an empire； may be said to constitute rival nations rather than parties。 Thus； upon a recent occasion； the North contended for the system of commercial prohibition； and the South took up arms in favor of free trade； simply because the North is a manufacturing and the South an agricultural district； and that the restrictive system which was profitable to the one was prejudicial to the other。 *b
＇Footnote b： ＇The divisions of North and South have since acquired a far greater degree of intensity； and the South； though conquered； still presents a formidable spirit of opposition to Northern government。 … Translator's Note； 1875。＇＇
In the absence of great parties； the United States abound with lesser controversies； and public opinion is divided into a thousand minute shades of difference upon questions of very little moment。 The pains which are taken to create parties are inconceivable； and at the present day it is no easy task。 In the United States there is no religious animosity； because all religion is respected； and no sect is predominant； there is no jealousy of rank； because the people is everything； and none can contest its authority； lastly； there is no public indigence to supply the means of agitation； because the physical position of the country opens so wide a field to industry that man is able to accomplish the most surprising undertakings with his own native resources。 Nevertheless； ambitious men are interbsted in the creation of parties； since it is difficult to eject a person from authority upon the mere ground that his place is coveted by others。 The skill of the actors in the political world lies therefore in the art of creating parties。 A political aspirant in the United States begins by discriminating his own interest； and by calculating upon those interests which may be collected around and amalgamated with it； he then contrives to discover some doctrine or some principle which may suit the purposes of this new association； and which he adopts in order to bring forward his party and to secure his popularity； just as the imprimatur of a King was in former days incorporated with the volume which it authorized； but to which it nowise belonged。 When these preliminaries are terminated； the new party is ushered into the political world。
All the domestic controversies of the Americans at first appear to a stranger to be so incomprehensible and so puerile that he is at a loss whether to pity a people which takes such arrant trifles in good earnest； or to envy the happiness which enables it to discuss them。 But when he comes to study the secret propensities which govern the factions of America； he easily perceives that the greater part of them are more or less connected with one or the other of those two divisions which have always existed in free communities。 The deeper we penetrate into the working of these parties； the more do we perceive that the object of the one is to limit； and that of the other to extend； the popular authority。 I do not assert that the ostensible end； or even that the secret aim； of American parties is to promote the rule of aristocracy or democracy in the country； but I affirm that aristocratic or democratic passions may easily be detected at the bottom of all parties； and that； although they escape a superficial observation； they are the main point and the very soul of every faction in the United States。
To quote a recent example。 When the President attacked the Bank； the country was excited and parties were formed； the well… informed classes rallied round the Bank； the common people round the President。 But it must not be imagined that the people had formed a rational opinion upon a question which offers so many diffi
