democracy in america-1-第93节
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differences arise？ Why； in the Eastern States of the Union； does the republican government display vigor and regularity； and proceed with mature deliberation？ Whence does it derive the wisdom and the durability which mark its acts； whilst in the Western States； on the contrary； society seems to be ruled by the powers of chance？ There； public business is conducted with an irregularity and a passionate and feverish excitement； which does not announce a long or sure duration。
I am no longer comparing the Anglo…American States to foreign nations； but I am contrasting them with each other； and endeavoring to discover why they are so unlike。 The arguments which are derived from the nature of the country and the difference of legislation are here all set aside。 Recourse must be had to some other cause； and what other cause can there be except the manners of the people？
It is in the Eastern States that the Anglo…Americans have been longest accustomed to the government of democracy； and that they have adopted the habits and conceived the notions most favorable to its maintenance。 Democracy has gradually penetrated into their customs； their opinions； and the forms of social intercourse； it is to be found in all the details of daily life equally as in the laws。 In the Eastern States the instruction and practical education of the people have been most perfected； and religion has been most thoroughly amalgamated with liberty。 Now these habits； opinions； customs； and convictions are precisely the constituent elements of that which I have denominated manners。
In the Western States； on the contrary； a portion of the same advantages is still wanting。 Many of the Americans of the West were born in the woods； and they mix the ideas and the customs of savage life with the civilization of their parents。 Their passions are more intense； their religious morality less authoritative； and their convictions less secure。 The inhabitants exercise no sort of control over their fellow…citizens； for they are scarcely acquainted with each other。 The nations of the West display； to a certain extent； the inexperience and the rude habits of a people in its infancy； for although they are composed of old elements； their assemblage is of recent date。
The manners of the Americans of the United States are； then； the real cause which renders that people the only one of the American nations that is able to support a democratic government； and it is the influence of manners which produces the different degrees of order and of prosperity that may be distinguished in the several Anglo…American democracies。 Thus the effect which the geographical position of a country may have upon the duration of democratic institutions is exaggerated in Europe。 Too much importance is attributed to legislation； too little to manners。 These three great causes serve； no doubt； to regulate and direct the American democracy； but if they were to be classed in their proper order； I should say that the physical circumstances are less efficient than the laws； and the laws very subordinate to the manners of the people。 I am convinced that the most advantageous situation and the best possible laws cannot maintain a constitution in spite of the manners of a country； whilst the latter may turn the most unfavorable positions and the worst laws to some advantage。 The importance of manners is a common truth to which study and experience incessantly direct our attention。 It may be regarded as a central point in the range of human observation； and the common termination of all inquiry。 So seriously do I insist upon this head； that if I have hitherto failed in making the reader feel the important influence which I attribute to the practical experience； the habits； the opinions； in short； to the manners of the Americans； upon the maintenance of their institutions； I have failed in the principal object of my work。
Whether Laws And Manners Are Sufficient To Maintain Democratic Institutions In Other Countries Besides America
The Anglo…Americans； if transported into Europe； would be obliged to modify their laws … Distinction to be made between democratic institutions and American institutions … Democratic laws may be conceived better than； or at least different from； those which the American democracy has adopted … The example of America only proves that it is possible to regulate democracy by the assistance of manners and legislation。
I have asserted that the success of democratic institutions in the United States is more intimately connected with the laws themselves； and the manners of the people； than with the nature of the country。 But does it follow that the same causes would of themselves produce the same results； if they were put into operation elsewhere； and if the country is no adequate substitute for laws and manners； can laws and manners in their turn prove a substitute for the country？ It will readily be understood that the necessary elements of a reply to this question are wanting： other peoples are to be found in the New World besides the Anglo… Americans； and as these people are affected by the same physical circumstances as the latter； they may fairly be compared together。 But there are no nations out of America which have adopted the same laws and manners； being destitute of the physical advantages peculiar to the Anglo…Americans。 No standard of comparison therefore exists； and we can only hazard an opinion upon this subject。
It appears to me； in the first place； that a careful distinction must be made between the institutions of the United States and democratic institutions in general。 When I reflect upon the state of Europe； its mighty nations； its populous cities； its formidable armies； and the complex nature of its politics； I cannot suppose that even the Anglo…Americans； if they were transported to our hemisphere； with their ideas； their religion； and their manners； could exist without considerably altering their laws。 But a democratic nation may be imagined； organized differently from the American people。 It is not impossible to conceive a government really established upon the will of the majority； but in which the majority； repressing its natural propensity to equality； should consent； with a view to the order and the stability of the State； to invest a family or an individual with all the prerogatives of the executive。 A democratic society might exist； in which the forces of the nation would be more centralized than they are in the United States； the people would exercise a less direct and less irresistible influence upon public affairs； and yet every citizen invested with certain rights would participate； within his sphere； in the conduct of the government。 The observations I made amongst the Anglo…Americans induce me to believe that democratic institutions of this kind； prudently introduced into society； so as gradually to mix with the habits and to be interfused with the opinions of the people； might subsist in other countries besides America。 If the laws of the United States were the only imaginable democratic laws； or the most perfect which it is possible to conceive； I should admit that the success of those institutions affords no proof of the success of democratic institutions in general； in a country less favored by natural circumstances。 But as the laws of America appear to me to be defective in several respects； and as I can readily imagine others of the same general nature； the peculiar advantages of that country do not prove that democratic institutions cannot succeed in a nation less favored by circumstances； if ruled by better laws。
If human nature were different in America from what it is elsewhere； or if the social condition of the Americans engendered habits and opinions amongst them different from those which originate in the same social condition in the Old World； the American democracies would afford no means of predicting what may occur in other democracies。 If the Americans displayed the same propensities as all other democratic nations； and if their legislators had relied upon the nature of the country and the favor of circumstances to restrain those propensities within due limits； the prosperity of the United States would be exclusively attributable to physical causes； and it would afford no encouragement to a people inclined to imitate their example； without sharing their natural advantages。 But neither of these suppositions is borne out by facts。
In America the same passions are to be met with as in Europe； some originating in human nature； others in the democratic condition of society。 Thus in the United States I found that restlessness of heart which is natural to men； when all ranks are nearly equal and the chances of elevation are the same to all。 I found the democratic feeling of envy expressed under a thousand different forms。 I remarked that the people frequently displayed； in the conduct of affairs； a consummate mixture of ignorance and presumption； and I inferred that in America； men are liable to the same failings and the same absurdities as amongst ourselves。 But upon examining the state of society more attentively； I speedily discovered that the Americans had made great and successful efforts to coun
