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The evolution of democratic ideas has thus produced not only the
political results already mentioned； but also a considerable
effect upon the mentality of modern men。
If the ancient dogmas have long ago exhausted their power； the
theories of democracy are far from having lost theirs； and we see
their consequences increasing daily。 One of the chief results
has been the general hatred of superiority。
This hatred of whatever passes the average in social fortune or
intelligence is to…day general in all classes； from the working…
classes to the upper strata of the bourgeoisie。 The results
are envy； detraction； and a love of attack； of raillery； of
persecution； and a habit of attributing all actions to low
motives； of refusing to believe in probity； disinterestedness；
and intelligence。
Conversation； among the people as among the most cultivated
Frenchmen； is stamped with the craze for abasing and abusing
everything and everyone。 Even the greatest of the dead do not
escape this tendency。 Never were so many books written to
depreciate the merit of famous men； men who were formerly
regarded as the most precious patrimony of their country。
Envy and hatred seem from all time to have been inseparable from
democratic theories； but the spread of these sentiments has never
been so great as to…day。 It strikes all observers。
‘‘There is a low demagogic instinct；'' writes M。 Bourdeau；
‘‘without any moral inspiration； which dreams of pulling humanity
down to the lowest level； and for which any superiority； even of
culture； is an offence to society。 。 。 it is the sentiment of
ignoble equality which animated the Jacobin butchers when they
struck off the head of a Lavoisier or a Chenier。
This hatred of superiority； the most prominent element in the
modern progress of Socialism； is not the only characteristic of
the new spirit created by democratic ideas。
Other consequences； although indirect； are not less profound。
Such； for example； are the progress of ‘‘statism；'' the
diminution of the power of the bourgeoisie； the increasing
activity of financiers； the conflict of the classes； the
vanishing of the old social constraints； and the degradation
of morality。
All these effects are displayed in a general insubordination and
anarchy。 The son revolts against the father； the employee
against his patron； the soldier against his officers。
Discontent； hatred； and envy reign throughout。
A social movement which continues is necessarily like a machine
in movement which accelerates its motion。 We shall therefore
find that the results of this mentality will become yet more
important。 It is betrayed from time to time by incidents whose
gravity is daily increasingrailway strikes； postmen's strikes；
explosions on board ironclads； &c。 A propos of the destruction
of the Liberte； which cost more than two million pounds and
slew two hundred men in the space of a minute； an ex…Minister of
Marine； M。 de Lanessan； expresses himself as follows：
''The evil that is gnawing at our fleet is the same as that which
is devouring our army； our public administrations； our
parliamentary system； our governmental system； and the whole
fabric of our society。 This evil is anarchythat is to say；
such a disorder of minds and things that nothing is done as
reason would dictate； and no one behaves as his professional or
moral duty should require him to behave。''
On the subject of the catastrophe of the Liberte； which
followed that of the Iena； M。 Felix Roussel said； in a
speech delivered as president of the municipal council of
Paris：
‘‘The causes of the evil are not peculiar to our day。 The evil
is more general； and bears a triple name： irresponsibility；
indiscipline； and anarchy。''
These quotations； which state facts with which everyone is
familiar； show that the staunchest upholders of the republican
system themselves recognise the progress of social
disorganisation。＇12＇ Everyone sees it； while he is conscious of
his own impotence to change anything。 It results； in fact； from
mental influences whose power is greater than that of our wills。
＇12＇ This disorder is the same in all the Government departments
Interesting examples will be found in a report of M。 Dausset to
the Municipal Council：
‘‘The service of the public highways； which ought above all to be
noted for its rapid execution； is； on the contrary； the very type
of red…tape； bureaucratic； and ink…slinging administration；
possessing men and money and wasting both in tasks which are
often useless； for lack of order； initiative； and methodin a
word； of organisation。
Speaking then of the directors of departments； each of whom works
as he pleases； and after his own fashion； he adds：
‘‘These important persons completely ignore one another； they
prepare and execute their plans without knowing anything of what
their neighbours are doing； there is no one above them to group
and co…ordinate their work。'' This is why a road is often torn
up； repaired； and then torn up again a few days later； because
the departments dealing with the supply of water； gas；
electricity； and the sewers are mutually jealous； and never
attempt to work together。 This anarchy and indiscipline
naturally cost enormous sums of money； and a private firm which
operated in this manner would soon find itself bankrupt。
3。 Universal Suffrage and its Representatives。
Among the dogmas of democracy perhaps the most fundamental of all
and the most attractive is that of universal suffrage。 It gives
the masses the idea of equality； since for a moment at least rich
and poor； learned and ignorant； are equal before the electoral
urn。 The minister elbows the least of his servants； and during
this brief moment the power of one is as great as the others。
All Governments； including that of the Revolution； have feared
universal suffrage。 At a first glance； indeed； the objections
which suggests themselves are numerous。 The idea that the
multitude could usefully choose the men capable of governing；
that individuals of indifferent morality； feeble knowledge； and
narrow minds should possess； by the sole fact of number； a
certain talent for judging the candidate proposed for its
selection is surely a shocking one。
From a rational point of view the suffrage of numbers is to a
certain extent justified if we think with Pascal。
‘‘Plurality is the best way； because it is visible and has
strength to make itself obeyed； it is； however； the advice of the
less able。''
As universal suffrage cannot in our times be replaced by any
other institution； we must accept it and try to adapt it。 It is
accordingly useless to protest against it or to repeat with the
queen Marie Caroline； at the time of her struggle with Napoleon：
‘‘Nothing is more dreadful than to govern men in this enlightened
century； when every cobbler reasons and crit