democracy in america-1-第95节
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！
force of the government？
The annals of France furnish nothing analogous to the condition in which that country might then be thrown。 But it may more aptly be assimilated to the times of old； and to those hideous eras of Roman oppression； when the manners of the people were corrupted； their traditions obliterated； their habits destroyed； their opinions shaken； and freedom； expelled from the laws； could find no refuge in the land； when nothing protected the citizens； and the citizens no longer protected themselves； when human nature was the sport of man； and princes wearied out the clemency of Heaven before they exhausted the patience of their subjects。 Those who hope to revive the monarchy of Henry IV or of Louis XIV； appear to me to be afflicted with mental blindness； and when I consider the present condition of several European nations … a condition to which all the others tend … I am led to believe that they will soon be left with no other alternative than democratic liberty； or the tyranny of the Caesars。 *n
＇Footnote n： ＇This prediction of the return of France to imperial despotism； and of the true character of that despotic power； was written in 1832； and realized to the letter in 1852。＇＇
And indeed it is deserving of consideration； whether men are to be entirely emancipated or entirely enslaved； whether their rights are to be made equal； or wholly taken away from them。 If the rulers of society were reduced either gradually to raise the crowd to their own level； or to sink the citizens below that of humanity； would not the doubts of many be resolved； the consciences of many be healed； and the community prepared to make great sacrifices with little difficulty？ In that case； the gradual growth of democratic manners and institutions should be regarded； not as the best； but as the only means of preserving freedom； and without liking the government of democracy； it might be adopted as the most applicable and the fairest remedy for the present ills of society。
It is difficult to associate a people in the work of government； but it is still more difficult to supply it with experience； and to inspire it with the feelings which it requires in order to govern well。 I grant that the caprices of democracy are perpetual； its instruments are rude； its laws imperfect。 But if it were true that soon no just medium would exist between the empire of democracy and the dominion of a single arm； should we not rather incline towards the former than submit voluntarily to the latter？ And if complete equality be our fate； is it not better to be levelled by free institutions than by despotic power？
Those who； after having read this book； should imagine that my intention in writing it has been to propose the laws and manners of the Anglo…Americans for the imitation of all democratic peoples； would commit a very great mistake； they must have paid more attention to the form than to the substance of my ideas。 My aim has been to show； by the example of America； that laws； and especially manners； may exist which will allow a democratic people to remain free。 But I am very far from thinking that we ought to follow the example of the American democracy； and copy the means which it has employed to attain its ends； for I am well aware of the influence which the nature of a country and its political precedents exercise upon a constitution； and I should regard it as a great misfortune for mankind if liberty were to exist all over the world under the same forms。
But I am of opinion that if we do not succeed in gradually introducing democratic institutions into France； and if we despair of imparting to the citizens those ideas and sentiments which first prepare them for freedom； and afterwards allow them to enjoy it； there will be no independence at all； either for the middling classes or the nobility； for the poor or for the rich； but an equal tyranny over all； and I foresee that if the peaceable empire of the majority be not founded amongst us in time； we shall sooner or later arrive at the unlimited authority of a single despot。
Chapter XVIII： Future Condition Of Three Races In The United States … Part I
The Present And Probable Future Condition Of The Three Races Which Inhabit The Territory Of The United States
The principal part of the task which I had imposed upon myself is now performed。 I have shown； as far as I was able； the laws and the manners of the American democracy。 Here I might stop； but the reader would perhaps feel that I had not satisfied his expectations。
The absolute supremacy of democracy is not all that we meet with in America； the inhabitants of the New World may be considered from more than one point of view。 In the course of this work my subject has often led me to speak of the Indians and the Negroes； but I have never been able to stop in order to show what place these two races occupy in the midst of the democratic people whom I was engaged in describing。 I have mentioned in what spirit； and according to what laws； the Anglo…American Union was formed； but I could only glance at the dangers which menace that confederation； whilst it was equally impossible for me to give a detailed account of its chances of duration； independently of its laws and manners。 When speaking of the united republican States； I hazarded no conjectures upon the permanence of republican forms in the New World； and when making frequent allusion to the commercial activity which reigns in the Union； I was unable to inquire into the future condition of the Americans as a commercial people。
These topics are collaterally connected with my subject without forming a part of it； they are American without being democratic； and to portray democracy has been my principal aim。 It was therefore necessary to postpone these questions； which I now take up as the proper termination of my work。
The territory now occupied or claimed by the American Union spreads from the shores of the Atlantic to those of the Pacific Ocean。 On the east and west its limits are those of the continent itself。 On the south it advances nearly to the tropic； and it extends upwards to the icy regions of the North。 The human beings who are scattered over this space do not form； as in Europe； so many branches of the same stock。 Three races； naturally distinct； and； I might almost say； hostile to each other； are discoverable amongst them at the first glance。 Almost insurmountable barriers had been raised between them by education and by law； as well as by their origin and outward characteristics； but fortune has brought them together on the same soil； where； although they are mixed； they do not amalgamate； and each race fulfils its destiny apart。
Amongst these widely differing families of men； the first which attracts attention； the superior in intelligence； in power and in enjoyment； is the white or European； the man pre…eminent； and in subordinate grades； the negro and the Indian。 These two unhappy races have nothing in common； neither birth； nor features； nor language； nor habits。 Their only resemblance lies in their misfortunes。 Both of them occupy an inferior rank in the country they inhabit； both suffer from tyranny； and if their wrongs are not the same； they originate； at any rate； with the same authors。
If we reasoned from what passes in the world； we should almost say that the European is to the other races of mankind； what man is to the lower animals； … he makes them subservient to his use； and when he cannot subdue； he destroys them。 Oppression has； at one stroke； deprived the descendants of the Africans of almost all the privileges of humanity。 The negro of the United States has lost all remembrance of his country； the language which his forefathers spoke is never heard around him； he abjured their religion and forgot their customs when he ceased to belong to Africa； without acquiring any claim to European privileges。 But he remains half way between the two communities； sold by the one； repulsed by the other； finding not a spot in the universe to call by the name of country； except the faint image of a home which the shelter of his master's roof affords。
The negro has no family； woman is merely the temporary companion of his pleasures； and his children are upon an equality with himself from the moment of their birth。 Am I to call it a proof of God's mercy or a visitation of his wrath； that man in certain states appears to be insensible to his extreme wretchedness； and almost affects； with a depraved taste； the cause of his misfortunes？ The negro； who is plunged in this abyss of evils； scarcely feels his own calamitous situation。 Violence made him a slave； and the habit of servitude gives him the thoughts and desires of a slave； he admires his tyrants more than he hates them； and finds his joy and his pride in the servile imitation of those who oppress him： his understanding is degraded to the level of his soul。
The negro enters upon slavery as soon as he is born： nay； he may have been purchased in the womb； and have begun his slavery before he began his existence。 Equally devoid of wants and of enjoyment； and useless to himself； he learns； with his first notions of existence； that he is the property of another； who has an interest
