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！
is therefore supposed that as soon as society has resumed a certain degree of composure the press will abandon its present vehemence。 I am inclined to think that the above causes explain the reason of the extraordinary ascendency it has acquired over the nation； but that they do not exercise much influence upon the tone of its language。 The periodical press appears to me to be actuated by passions and propensities independent of the circumstances in which it is placed； and the present position of America corroborates this opinion。
America is perhaps； at this moment； the country of the whole world which contains the fewest germs of revolution； but the press is not less destructive in its principles than in France； and it displays the same violence without the same reasons for indignation。 In America； as in France； it constitutes a singular power； so strangely composed of mingled good and evil that it is at the same time indispensable to the existence of freedom； and nearly incompatible with the maintenance of public order。 Its power is certainly much greater in France than in the United States； though nothing is more rare in the latter country than to hear of a prosecution having been instituted against it。 The reason of this is perfectly simple： the Americans； having once admitted the doctrine of the sovereignty of the people； apply it with perfect consistency。 It was never their intention to found a permanent state of things with elements which undergo daily modifications； and there is consequently nothing criminal in an attack upon the existing laws； provided it be not attended with a violent infraction of them。 They are moreover of opinion that courts of justice are unable to check the abuses of the press； and that as the subtilty of human language perpetually eludes the severity of judicial analysis； offences of this nature are apt to escape the hand which attempts to apprehend them。 They hold that to act with efficacy upon the press it would be necessary to find a tribunal； not only devoted to the existing order of things； but capable of surmounting the influence of public opinion； a tribunal which should conduct its proceedings without publicity； which should pronounce its decrees without assigning its motives； and punish the intentions even more than the language of an author。 Whosoever should have the power of creating and maintaining a tribunal of this kind would waste his time in prosecuting the liberty of the press； for he would be the supreme master of the whole community； and he would be as free to rid himself of the authors as of their writings。 In this question； therefore； there is no medium between servitude and extreme license； in order to enjoy the inestimable benefits which the liberty of the press ensures； it is necessary to submit to the inevitable evils which it engenders。 To expect to acquire the former and to escape the latter is to cherish one of those illusions which commonly mislead nations in their times of sickness； when； tired with faction and exhausted by effort； they attempt to combine hostile opinions and contrary principles upon the same soil。
The small influence of the American journals is attributable to several reasons； amongst which are the following：
The liberty of writing； like all other liberty； is most formidable when it is a novelty； for a people which has never been accustomed to co…operate in the conduct of State affairs places implicit confidence in the first tribune who arouses its attention。 The Anglo…Americans have enjoyed this liberty ever since the foundation of the settlements； moreover； the press cannot create human passions by its own power； however skillfully it may kindle them where they exist。 In America politics are discussed with animation and a varied activity； but they rarely touch those deep passions which are excited whenever the positive interest of a part of the community is impaired： but in the United States the interests of the community are in a most prosperous condition。 A single glance upon a French and an American newspaper is sufficient to show the difference which exists between the two nations on this head。 In France the space allotted to commercial advertisements is very limited； and the intelligence is not considerable； but the most essential part of the journal is that which contains the discussion of the politics of the day。 In America three…quarters of the enormous sheet which is set before the reader are filled with advertisements； and the remainder is frequently occupied by political intelligence or trivial anecdotes： it is only from time to time that one finds a corner devoted to passionate discussions like those with which the journalists of France are wont to indulge their readers。
It has been demonstrated by observation； and discovered by the innate sagacity of the pettiest as well as the greatest of despots； that the influence of a power is increased in proportion as its direction is rendered more central。 In France the press combines a twofold centralization； almost all its power is centred in the same spot； and vested in the same hands； for its organs are far from numerous。 The influence of a public press thus constituted； upon a sceptical nation； must be unbounded。 It is an enemy with which a Government may sign an occasional truce； but which it is difficult to resist for any length of time。
Neither of these kinds of centralization exists in America。 The United States have no metropolis； the intelligence as well as the power of the country are dispersed abroad； and instead of radiating from a point； they cross each other in every direction； the Americans have established no central control over the expression of opinion； any more than over the conduct of business。 These are circumstances which do not depend on human foresight； but it is owing to the laws of the Union that there are no licenses to be granted to printers； no securities demanded from editors as in France； and no stamp duty as in France and formerly in England。 The consequence of this is that nothing is easier than to set up a newspaper； and a small number of readers suffices to defray the expenses of the editor。
The number of periodical and occasional publications which appears in the United States actually surpasses belief。 The most enlightened Americans attribute the subordinate influence of the press to this excessive dissemination； and it is adopted as an axiom of political science in that country that the only way to neutralize the effect of public journals is to multiply them indefinitely。 I cannot conceive that a truth which is so self… evident should not already have been more generally admitted in Europe； it is comprehensible that the persons who hope to bring about revolutions by means of the press should be desirous of confining its action to a few powerful organs； but it is perfectly incredible that the partisans of the existing state of things； and the natural supporters of the law； should attempt to diminish the influence of the press by concentrating its authority。 The Governments of Europe seem to treat the press with the courtesy of the knights of old； they are anxious to furnish it with the same central power which they ha