democracy in america-1-第115节
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ppiness。
The citizen of the North has not only experience； but knowledge： nevertheless he sets but little value upon the pleasures of knowledge； he esteems it as the means of attaining a certain end； and he is only anxious to seize its more lucrative applications。 The citizen of the South is more given to act upon impulse； he is more clever； more frank； more generous； more intellectual； and more brilliant。 The former； with a greater degree of activity； of common…sense； of information； and of general aptitude； has the characteristic good and evil qualities of the middle classes。 The latter has the tastes； the prejudices； the weaknesses； and the magnanimity of all aristocracies。 If two men are united in society； who have the same interests； and to a certain extent the same opinions； but different characters； different acquirements； and a different style of civilization； it is probable that these men will not agree。 The same remark is applicable to a society of nations。 Slavery； then； does not attack the American Union directly in its interests； but indirectly in its manners。
＇Footnote e： Census of 1790； 3；929；328； 1830； 12；856；165； 1860； 31；443；321； 1870； 38；555；983； 1890； 62；831；900。＇
The States which gave their assent to the federal contract in 1790 were thirteen in number； the Union now consists of thirty…four members。 The population； which amounted to nearly 4；000；000 in 1790； had more than tripled in the space of forty years； and in 1830 it amounted to nearly 13；000；000。 *e Changes of such magnitude cannot take place without some danger。
A society of nations； as well as a society of individuals； derives its principal chances of duration from the wisdom of its members； their individual weakness； and their limited number。 The Americans who quit the coasts of the Atlantic Ocean to plunge into the western wilderness； are adventurers impatient of restraint； greedy of wealth； and frequently men expelled from the States in which they were born。 When they arrive in the deserts they are unknown to each other； and they have neither traditions； family feeling； nor the force of example to check their excesses。 The empire of the laws is feeble amongst them； that of morality is still more powerless。 The settlers who are constantly peopling the valley of the Mississippi are； then； in every respect very inferior to the Americans who inhabit the older parts of the Union。 Nevertheless； they already exercise a great influence in its councils； and they arrive at the government of the commonwealth before they have learnt to govern themselves。 *f
＇Footnote f： This indeed is only a temporary danger。 I have no doubt that in time society will assume as much stability and regularity in the West as it has already done upon the coast of the Atlantic Ocean。＇
The greater the individual weakness of each of the contracting parties； the greater are the chances of the duration of the contract； for their safety is then dependent upon their union。 When； in 1790； the most populous of the American republics did not contain 500；000 inhabitants； *g each of them felt its own insignificance as an independent people； and this feeling rendered compliance with the federal authority more easy。 But when one of the confederate States reckons； like the State of New York； 2；000；000 of inhabitants； and covers an extent of territory equal in surface to a quarter of France； *h it feels its own strength； and although it may continue to support the Union as advantageous to its prosperity； it no longer regards that body as necessary to its existence； and as it continues to belong to the federal compact； it soon aims at preponderance in the federal assemblies。 The probable unanimity of the States is diminished as their number increases。 At present the interests of the different parts of the Union are not at variance； but who is able to foresee the multifarious changes of the future； in a country in which towns are founded from day to day； and States almost from year to year？
＇Footnote g： Pennsylvania contained 431；373 inhabitants in 1790 ＇and 5；258；014 in 1890。＇＇
＇Footnote h： The area of the State of New York is 49；170 square miles。 ＇See U。 S。 census report of 1890。＇＇
Since the first settlement of the British colonies； the number of inhabitants has about doubled every twenty…two years。 I perceive no causes which are likely to check this progressive increase of the Anglo…American population for the next hundred years； and before that space of time has elapsed； I believe that the territories and dependencies of the United States will be covered by more than 100；000；000 of inhabitants； and divided into forty States。 *i I admit that these 100；000；000 of men have no ho hostile interests。 I suppose； on the contrary； that they are all equally interested in the maintenance of the Union； but I am still of opinion that where there are 100；000；000 of men； and forty distinct nations； unequally strong； the continuance of the Federal Government can only be a fortunate accident。
＇Footnote i： If the population continues to double every twenty…two years； as it has done for the last two hundred years； the number of inhabitants in the United States in 1852 will be twenty millions； in 1874； forty…eight millions； and in 1896； ninety…six millions。 This may still be the case even if the lands on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains should be found to be unfit for cultivation。 The territory which is already occupied can easily contain this number of inhabitants。 One hundred millions of men disseminated over the surface of the twenty…four States； and the three dependencies； which constitute the Union； would only give 762 inhabitants to the square league； this would be far below the mean population of France； which is 1；063 to the square league； or of England； which is 1；457； and it would even be below the population of Switzerland； for that country； notwithstanding its lakes and mountains； contains 783 inhabitants to the square league。 See 〃Malte Brun；〃 vol。 vi。 p。 92。
＇The actual result has fallen somewhat short of these calculations； in spite of the vast territorial acquisitions of the United States： but in 1899 the population is probably about eighty… seven millions； including the population of the Philippines； Hawaii； and Porto Rico。＇＇
Whatever faith I may have in the perfectibility of man； until human nature is altered； and men wholly transformed； I shall refuse to believe in the duration of a government which is called upon to hold together forty different peoples； disseminated over a territory equal to one…half of Europe in extent； to avoid all rivalry； ambition； and struggles between them； and to direct their independent activity to the accomplishment of the same designs。
But the greatest peril to which the Union is exposed by its increase arises from the continual changes which take place in the position of its internal strength。 The distance from Lake Superior to the Gulf of Mexico extends from the 47th to the 30th degree of latitude； a distance of more than 1；200 miles as the bird flies。 The frontier of the United States winds along the whole of this immense line； sometimes falling within its limits； but more frequently extending far beyond it； into the waste。 It has been calculated that the whites advance every year a mean distance of seventeen miles along the whole of his vast boundary。 *j Obstacles； such as an unproductive district； a lake or an Indian nation unexpectedly encountered； are sometimes met with。 The advancing column then halts for a while； its two extremities fall back upon themselves； and as soon as they are reunited they proceed onwards。 This gradual and continuous progress of the European race towards the Rocky Mountains has the solemnity of a providential event； it is like a deluge of men rising unabatedly； and daily driven onwards by the hand of God。
＇Footnote j： See Legislative Documents； 20th Congress； No。 117； p。 105。＇
Within this first line of conquering settlers towns are built； and vast States founded。 In 1790 there were only a few thousand pioneers sprinkled along the valleys of the Mississippi； and at the present day these valleys contain as many inhabitants as were to be found in the whole Union in 1790。 Their population amounts to nearly 4；000；000。 *k The city of Washington was founded in 1800； in the very centre of the Union； but such are the changes which have taken place； that it now stands at one of the extremities； and the delegates of the most remote Western States are already obliged to perform a journey as long as that from Vienna to Paris。 *l
＇Footnote k： 3；672；317 … Census of 1830。＇
＇Footnote l： The distance from Jefferson； the capital of the State of Missouri； to Washington is 1；019 miles。 （〃American Almanac；〃 1831； p。 48。）＇
All the States are borne onwards at the same time in the path of fortune； but of course they do not all increase and prosper in the same proportion。 To the North of the Union the detached branches of the Alleghany chain； which extend as far as the Atlantic Ocean； form spacious roads and ports； which are constantly accessible to vessels of the greatest burden。 But from the Potomac to the mouth of the Mississippi the coast is sandy and flat。 In this part of
