democracy in america-1-第94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！
A thousand circumstances； independent of the will of man； concur to facilitate the maintenance of a democratic republic in the United States。 Some of these peculiarities are known； the others may easily be pointed out； but I shall confine myself to the most prominent amongst them。
The Americans have no neighbors； and consequently they have no great wars； or financial crises； or inroads； or conquest to dread； they require neither great taxes； nor great armies； nor great generals； and they have nothing to fear from a scourge which is more formidable to republics than all these evils combined； namely； military glory。 It is impossible to deny the inconceivable influence which military glory exercises upon the spirit of a nation。 General Jackson； whom the Americans have twice elected to the head of their Government； is a man of a violent temper and mediocre talents； no one circumstance in the whole course of his career ever proved that he is qualified to govern a free people； and indeed the majority of the enlightened classes of the Union has always been opposed to him。 But he was raised to the Presidency； and has been maintained in that lofty station； solely by the recollection of a victory which he gained twenty years ago under the walls of New Orleans； a victory which was； however； a very ordinary achievement； and which could only be remembered in a country where battles are rare。 Now the people which is thus carried away by the illusions of glory is unquestionably the most cold and calculating； the most unmilitary （if I may use the expression）； and the most prosaic of all the peoples of the earth。
America has no great capital *a city； whose influence is directly or indirectly felt over the whole extent of the country； which I hold to be one of the first causes of the maintenance of republican institutions in the United States。 In cities men cannot be prevented from concerting together； and from awakening a mutual excitement which prompts sudden and passionate resolutions。 Cities may be looked upon as large assemblies； of which all the inhabitants are members； their populace exercises a prodigious influence upon the magistrates； and frequently executes its own wishes without their intervention。
＇Footnote a： The United States have no metropolis； but they already contain several very large cities。 Philadelphia reckoned 161；000 inhabitants and New York 202；000 in the year 1830。 The lower orders which inhabit these cities constitute a rabble even more formidable than the populace of European towns。 They consist of freed blacks in the first place； who are condemned by the laws and by public opinion to a hereditary state of misery and degradation。 They also contain a multitude of Europeans who have been driven to the shores of the New World by their misfortunes or their misconduct； and these men inoculate the United States with all our vices； without bringing with them any of those interests which counteract their baneful influence。 As inhabitants of a country where they have no civil rights； they are ready to turn all the passions which agitate the community to their own advantage； thus； within the last few months serious riots have broken out in Philadelphia and in New York。 Disturbances of this kind are unknown in the rest of the country； which is nowise alarmed by them； because the population of the cities has hitherto exercised neither power nor influence over the rural districts。 Nevertheless； I look upon the size of certain American cities； and especially on the nature of their population； as a real danger which threatens the future security of the democratic republics of the New World； and I venture to predict that they will perish from this circumstance unless the government succeeds in creating an armed force； which； whilst it remains under the control of the majority of the nation； will be independent of the town population； and able to repress its excesses。
＇The population of the city of New York had risen； in 1870； to 942；292； and that of Philadelphia to 674；022。 Brooklyn； which may be said to form part of New York city； has a population of 396；099； in addition to that of New York。 The frequent disturbances in the great cities of America； and the excessive corruption of their local governments … over which there is no effectual control … are amongst the greatest evils and dangers of the country。＇＇
To subject the provinces to the metropolis is therefore not only to place the destiny of the empire in the hands of a portion of the community； which may be reprobated as unjust； but to place it in the hands of a populace acting under its own impulses； which must be avoided as dangerous。 The preponderance of capital cities is therefore a serious blow upon the representative system； and it exposes modern republics to the same defect as the republics of antiquity； which all perished from not having been acquainted with that form of government。
It would be easy for me to adduce a great number of secondary causes which have contributed to establish； and which concur to maintain； the democratic republic of the United States。 But I discern two principal circumstances amongst these favorable elements； which I hasten to point out。 I have already observed that the origin of the American settlements may be looked upon as the first and most efficacious cause to which the present prosperity of the United States may be attributed。 The Americans had the chances of birth in their favor； and their forefathers imported that equality of conditions into the country whence the democratic republic has very naturally taken its rise。 Nor was this all they did； for besides this republican condition of society； the early settler bequeathed to their descendants those customs； manners； and opinions which contribute most to the success of a republican form of government。 When I reflect upon the consequences of this primary circumstance； methinks I see the destiny of America embodied in the first Puritan who landed on those shores； just as the human race was represented by the first man。
The chief circumstance which has favored the establishment and the maintenance of a democratic republic in the United States is the nature of the territory which the American inhabit。 Their ancestors gave them the love of equality and of freedom； but God himself gave them the means of remaining equal and free； by placing them upon a boundless continent； which is open to their exertions。 General prosperity is favorable to the stability of all governments； but more particularly of a democratic constitution； which depends upon the dispositions of the majority； and more particularly of that portion of the community which is most exposed to feel the pressure of want。 When the people rules； it must be rendered happy； or it will overturn the State； and misery is apt to stimulate it to those excesses to which ambition rouses kings。 The physical causes； independent of the laws； which contribute to promote general prosperity； are more numerous in America than they have ever been in any other country in the world； at any other period of history。 In the United States not only is legislation democratic； but nature herself favors the cause of the people。
In what part of human tradition can be found anything at all similar to that which is occurring under our eyes in North America？ The celebrated communities of antiquity were all founded in the midst of hostile nations； which they were obliged to subjugate before they could flourish in their place。 Even the moderns have found； in some parts of South America； vast regions inhabited by a people of inferior civilization； but which occupied and cultivated the soil。 To found their new states it was necessary to extirpate or to subdue a numerous population； until civilization has been made to blush for their success。 But North America was only inhabited by wandering tribes； who took no thought of the natural riches of the soil； and that vast country was still； properly speaking； an empty continent； a desert land awaiting its inhabitants。
Everything is extraordinary in America； the social condition of the inhabitants； as well as the laws； but the soil upon which these institutions are founded is mor
