democracy in america-1-第74节
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ntages of democracy。
In the present age； when the destinies of Christendom seem to be in suspense； some hasten to assail democracy as its foe whilst it is yet in its early growth； and others are ready with their vows of adoration for this new deity which is springing forth from chaos： but both parties are very imperfectly acquainted with the object of their hatred or of their desires； they strike in the dark； and distribute their blows by mere chance。
We must first understand what the purport of society and the aim of government is held to be。 If it be your intention to confer a certain elevation upon the human mind； and to teach it to regard the things of this world with generous feelings； to inspire men with a scorn of mere temporal advantage； to give birth to living convictions； and to keep alive the spirit of honorable devotedness； if you hold it to be a good thing to refine the habits； to embellish the manners； to cultivate the arts of a nation； and to promote the love of poetry； of beauty； and of renown； if you would constitute a people not unfitted to act with power upon all other nations； nor unprepared for those high enterprises which； whatever be the result of its efforts； will leave a name forever famous in time … if you believe such to be the principal object of society； you must avoid the government of democracy； which would be a very uncertain guide to the end you have in view。
But if you hold it to be expedient to divert the moral and intellectual activity of man to the production of comfort； and to the acquirement of the necessaries of life； if a clear understanding be more profitable to man than genius； if your object be not to stimulate the virtues of heroism； but to create habits of peace； if you had rather witness vices than crimes and are content to meet with fewer noble deeds； provided offences be diminished in the same proportion； if； instead of living in the midst of a brilliant state of society； you are contented to have prosperity around you； if； in short； you are of opinion that the principal object of a Government is not to confer the greatest possible share of power and of glory upon the body of the nation； but to ensure the greatest degree of enjoyment and the least degree of misery to each of the individuals who compose it … if such be your desires； you can have no surer means of satisfying them than by equalizing the conditions of men； and establishing democratic institutions。
But if the time be passed at which such a choice was possible； and if some superhuman power impel us towards one or the other of these two governments without consulting our wishes； let us at least endeavor to make the best of that which is allotted to us； and let us so inquire into its good and its evil propensities as to be able to foster the former and repress the latter to the utmost。
Chapter XV： Unlimited Power Of Majority； And Its Consequences … Part I
Chapter Summary
Natural strength of the majority in democracies … Most of the American Constitutions have increased this strength by artificial means … How this has been done … Pledged delegates … Moral power of the majority … Opinion as to its infallibility … Respect for its rights； how augmented in the United States。
Unlimited Power Of The Majority In The United States； And Its Consequences
The very essence of democratic government consists in the absolute sovereignty of the majority； for there is nothing in democratic States which is capable of resisting it。 Most of the American Constitutions have sought to increase this natural strength of the majority by artificial means。 *a
＇Footnote a： We observed； in examining the Federal Constitution； that the efforts of the legislators of the Union had been diametrically opposed to the present tendency。 The consequence has been that the Federal Government is more independent in its sphere than that of the States。 But the Federal Government scarcely ever interferes in any but external affairs； and the governments of the State are in the governments of the States are in reality the authorities which direct society in America。＇
The legislature is； of all political institutions； the one which is most easily swayed by the wishes of the majority。 The Americans determined that the members of the legislature should be elected by the people immediately； and for a very brief term； in order to subject them； not only to the general convictions； but even to the daily passion； of their constituents。 The members of both houses are taken from the same class in society； and are nominated in the same manner； so that the modifications of the legislative bodies are almost as rapid and quite as irresistible as those of a single assembly。 It is to a legislature thus constituted that almost all the authority of the government has been entrusted。
But whilst the law increased the strength of those authorities which of themselves were strong； it enfeebled more and more those which were naturally weak。 It deprived the representatives of the executive of all stability and independence； and by subjecting them completely to the caprices of the legislature； it robbed them of the slender influence which the nature of a democratic government might have allowed them to retain。 In several States the judicial power was also submitted to the elective discretion of the majority； and in all of them its existence was made to depend on the pleasure of the legislative authority； since the representatives were empowered annually to regulate the stipend of the judges。
Custom； however； has done even more than law。 A proceeding which will in the end set all the guarantees of representative government at naught is becoming more and more general in the United States； it frequently happens that the electors； who choose a delegate； point out a certain line of conduct to him； and impose upon him a certain number of positive obligations which he is pledged to fulfil。 With the exception of the tumult； this comes to the same thing as if the majority of the populace held its deliberations in the market…place。
Several other circumstances concur in rendering the power of the majority in America not only preponderant； but irresistible。 The moral authority of the majority is partly based upon the notion that there is more intelligence and more wisdom in a great number of men collected together than in a single individual； and that the quantity of legislators is more important than their quality。 The theory of equality is in fact applied to the intellect of man： and human pride is thus assailed in its last retreat by a doctrine which the minority hesitate to admit； and in which they very slowly concur。 Like all other powers； and perhaps more than all other powers； the authority of the many requires the sanction of time； at first it enforces obedience by constraint； but its laws are not respected until they have long been maintained。
The right of governing society； which the majority supposes itself to derive from its superior intelligence； was introduced into the United States by the first settlers； and this idea； which would be sufficient of itself to create a free nation； has now been amalgamated with the manners of the people and the minor incidents of social intercourse。
The French； under the old monarchy； held it for a maxim （which is still a fundamental principle of the English Constitution） that the King could do no wrong； and if he did do wrong； the blame was imputed to his advisers。 This notion was highly favorable to habits of obedience； and it enabled the subject to complain of the law without ceasing to love and honor the lawgiver。 The Americans entertain the same opinion with respect to the majority。
The moral power of the majority is founded upon yet another principle； which is； that the interests of the many are to be preferred to those of the few。 It will readily be perceived that the respect here professed for the rights of the majority must naturally increase or diminish according to the state of parties。 When a nation is divided into several irreconcilable factions； the privilege of the majority is often overlooked； because it is intolerable to comply with its demands。
If there existed in America a class of citizens whom the legislating majority sought to deprive of exclusive privileges which they had possessed for ages； and to bring down from an elevated station to the level of the ranks of the multitude； it is probable that the minority would be less ready to comply with its laws。 But as the United States were colonized by men holding equal rank amongst themselves； there is as yet no natural or permanent source of dissension between the interests of its different inhabitants。
There are certain communities in which the persons who constitute the minority can never hope to draw over the majority to their side； because they must then give up the very point which is at issue between them。 Thus； an aristocracy can never become a majority whilst it retains its exclusive privileges； and it cannot cede its privileges without ceasing to be an aristocracy。
In the United States political questions cannot be taken up in so general and absolute a manner； and all parties are willing to recognize the right of t
