democracy in america-1-第86节
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to society than these virtues。 The French Canadians； who have faithfully preserved the traditions of their pristine manners； are already embarrassed for room upon their small territory； and this little community； which has so recently begun to exist； will shortly be a prey to the calamities incident to old nations。 In Canada； the most enlightened； patriotic； and humane inhabitants make extraordinary efforts to render the people dissatisfied with those simple enjoyments which still content it。 There； the seductions of wealth are vaunted with as much zeal as the charms of an honest but limited income in the Old World； and more exertions are made to excite the passions of the citizens there than to calm them elsewhere。 If we listen to their eulogies； we shall hear that nothing is more praiseworthy than to exchange the pure and homely pleasures which even the poor man tastes in his own country for the dull delights of prosperity under a foreign sky； to leave the patrimonial hearth and the turf beneath which his forefathers sleep； in short； to abandon the living and the dead in quest of fortune。
At the present time America presents a field for human effort far more extensive than any sum of labor which can be applied to work it。 In America too much knowledge cannot be diffused； for all knowledge； whilst it may serve him who possesses it； turns also to the advantage of those who are without it。 New wants are not to be feared； since they can be satisfied without difficulty； the growth of human passions need not be dreaded； since all passions may find an easy and a legitimate object； nor can men be put in possession of too much freedom； since they are scarcely ever tempted to misuse their liberties。
The American republics of the present day are like companies of adventurers formed to explore in common the waste lands of the New World； and busied in a flourishing trade。 The passions which agitate the Americans most deeply are not their political but their commercial passions； or； to speak more correctly； they introduce the habits they contract in business into their political life。 They love order； without which affairs do not prosper； and they set an especial value upon a regular conduct； which is the foundation of a solid business； they prefer the good sense which amasses large fortunes to that enterprising spirit which frequently dissipates them； general ideas alarm their minds； which are accustomed to positive calculations； and they hold practice in more honor than theory。
It is in America that one learns to understand the influence which physical prosperity exercises over political actions； and even over opinions which ought to acknowledge no sway but that of reason； and it is more especially amongst strangers that this truth is perceptible。 Most of the European emigrants to the New World carry with them that wild love of independence and of change which our calamities are so apt to engender。 I sometimes met with Europeans in the United States who had been obliged to leave their own country on account of their political opinions。 They all astonished me by the language they held； but one of them surprised me more than all the rest。 As I was crossing one of the most remote districts of Pennsylvania I was benighted； and obliged to beg for hospitality at the gate of a wealthy planter； who was a Frenchman by birth。 He bade me sit down beside his fire； and we began to talk with that freedom which befits persons who meet in the backwoods； two thousand leagues from their native country。 I was aware that my host had been a great leveller and an ardent demagogue forty years ago； and that his name was not unknown to fame。 I was； therefore； not a little surprised to hear him discuss the rights of property as an economist or a landowner might have done： he spoke of the necessary gradations which fortune establishes among men； of obedience to established laws； of the influence of good morals in commonwealths； and of the support which religious opinions give to order and to freedom； he even went to far as to quote an evangelical authority in corroboration of one of his political tenets。
I listened； and marvelled at the feebleness of human reason。 A proposition is true or false； but no art can prove it to be one or the other； in the midst of the uncertainties of science and the conflicting lessons of experience； until a new incident disperses the clouds of doubt； I was poor； I become rich； and I am not to expect that prosperity will act upon my conduct； and leave my judgment free； my opinions change with my fortune； and the happy circumstances which I turn to my advantage furnish me with that decisive argument which was before wanting。 The influence of prosperity acts still more freely upon the American than upon strangers。 The American has always seen the connection of public order and public prosperity； intimately united as they are； go on before his eyes； he does not conceive that one can subsist without the other； he has therefore nothing to forget； nor has he； like so many Europeans； to unlearn the lessons of his early education。
Chapter XVII： Principal Causes Maintaining The Democratic Republic … Part II
Influence Of The Laws Upon The Maintenance Of The Democratic Republic In The United States
Three principal causes of the maintenance of the democratic republic … Federal Constitutions … Municipal institutions … Judicial power。
The principal aim of this book has been to make known the laws of the United States； if this purpose has been accomplished； the reader is already enabled to judge for himself which are the laws that really tend to maintain the democratic republic； and which endanger its existence。 If I have not succeeded in explaining this in the whole course of my work； I cannot hope to do so within the limits of a single chapter。 It is not my intention to retrace the path I have already pursued； and a very few lines will suffice to recapitulate what I have previously explained。
Three circumstances seem to me to contribute most powerfully to the maintenance of the democratic republic in the United States。
The first is that Federal form of Government which the Americans have adopted； and which enables the Union to combine the power of a great empire with the security of a small State。
The second consists in those municipal institutions which limit the despotism of the majority； and at the same time impart a taste for freedom and a knowledge of the art of being free to the people。
The third is to be met with in the constitution of the judicial power。 I have shown in what manner the courts of justice serve to repress the excesses of democracy； and how they check and direct the impulses of the majority without stopping its activity。
Influence Of Manners Upon The Maintenance Of The Democratic Republic In The United States
I have previously remarked that the manners of the people may be considered as one of the general causes to which the maintenance of a democratic republic in the United States is attributable。 I here used the word manners with the meaning which the ancients attached to the word mores； for I apply it not only to manners in their proper sense of what constitutes the character of social intercourse； but I extend it to the various notions and opinions current among men； and to the mass of those ideas which constitute their character of mind。 I comprise； therefore； under this term the whole moral and intellectual condition of a people。 My intention is not to draw a picture of American manners； but simply to point out such features of them as are favorable to the maintenance of political institutions。
Religion Considered As A Political Institution； Which Powerfully Contributes To The Maintenance Of The Democratic Republic Amongst The Americans
North America peopled by men who professed a democratic and republican Christianity … Arrival of the Catholics … For what reason the Catholics form the most democratic and the most republican class at the present time。
Every religion is to be found in juxtaposition to a political opinion which is connected with it by affinity。 If the human mind be left to follow its own bent； it will regulate the temporal and spiritual institutions of society upon one uniform principle； and man will endeavor； if I may use the expression； to harmonize the state in which he lives upon earth with the state which he believes to await him in heaven。 The greatest part of British America was peopled by men who； after having shaken off the authority of the Pope； acknowledged no other religious supremacy； they brought with them into the New World a form of Christianity which I cannot better describe than by styling it a democratic and republican religion。 This sect contributed powerfully to the establishment of a democracy and a republic； and from the earliest settlement of the emigrants politics and religion contracted an alliance which has never been dissolved。
About fifty years ago Ireland began to pour a Catholic population into the United States； on the other hand； the Catholics of America made proselytes； and at the present moment more than a million of Christians professing the truths of the Church of Rome are to be met with in the
