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！
ic Morality
In aristocracies rulers sometimes endeavor to corrupt the people … In democracies rulers frequently show themselves to be corrupt … In the former their vices are directly prejudicial to the morality of the people … In the latter their indirect influence is still more pernicious。
A distinction must be made； when the aristocratic and the democratic principles mutually inveigh against each other； as tending to facilitate corruption。 In aristocratic governments the individuals who are placed at the head of affairs are rich men； who are solely desirous of power。 In democracies statesmen are poor； and they have their fortunes to make。 The consequence is that in aristocratic States the rulers are rarely accessible to corruption； and have very little craving for money； whilst the reverse is the case in democratic nations。
But in aristocracies； as those who are desirous of arriving at the head of affairs are possessed of considerable wealth； and as the number of persons by whose assistance they may rise is comparatively small； the government is； if I may use the expression； put up to a sort of auction。 In democracies； on the contrary； those who are covetous of power are very seldom wealthy； and the number of citizens who confer that power is extremely great。 Perhaps in democracies the number of men who might be bought is by no means smaller； but buyers are rarely to be met with； and； besides； it would be necessary to buy so many persons at once that the attempt is rendered nugatory。
Many of the men who have been in the administration in France during the last forty years have been accused of making their fortunes at the expense of the State or of its allies； a reproach which was rarely addressed to the public characters of the ancient monarchy。 But in France the practice of bribing electors is almost unknown； whilst it is notoriously and publicly carried on in England。 In the United States I never heard a man accused of spending his wealth in corrupting the populace； but I have often heard the probity of public officers questioned； still more frequently have I heard their success attributed to low intrigues and immoral practices。
If； then； the men who conduct the government of an aristocracy sometimes endeavor to corrupt the people； the heads of a democracy are themselves corrupt。 In the former case the morality of the people is directly assailed； in the latter an indirect influence is exercised upon the people which is still more to be dreaded。
As the rulers of democratic nations are almost always exposed to the suspicion of dishonorable conduct； they in some measure lend the authority of the Government to the base practices of which they are accused。 They thus afford an example which must prove discouraging to the struggles of virtuous independence； and must foster the secret calculations of a vicious ambition。 If it be asserted that evil passions are displayed in all ranks of society； that they ascend the throne by hereditary right； and that despicable characters are to be met with at the head of aristocratic nations as well as in the sphere of a democracy； this objection has but little weight in my estimation。 The corruption of men who have casually risen to power has a coarse and vulgar infection in it which renders it contagious to the multitude。 On the contrary； there is a kind of aristocratic refinement and an air of grandeur in the depravity of the great； which frequently prevent it from spreading abroad。
The people can never penetrate into the perplexing labyrinth of court intrigue； and it will always have difficulty in detecting the turpitude which lurks under elegant manners； refined tastes； and graceful language。 But to pillage the public purse； and to vend the favors of the State； are arts which the meanest villain may comprehend； and hope to practice in his turn。
In reality it is far less prejudicial to witness the immorality of the great than to witness that immorality which leads to greatness。 In a democracy private citizens see a man of their own rank in life； who rises from that obscure position； and who becomes possessed of riches and of power in a few years； the spectacle excites their surprise and their envy； and they are led to inquire how the person who was yesterday their equal is to…day their ruler。 To attribute his rise to his talents or his virtues is unpleasant； for it is tacitly to acknowledge that they are themselves less virtuous and less talented than he was。 They are therefore led （and not unfrequently their conjecture is a correct one） to impute his success mainly to some one of his defects； and an odious mixture is thus formed of the ideas of turpitude and power； unworthiness and success； utility and dishonor。
Efforts Of Which A Democracy Is Capable
The Union has only had one struggle hitherto for its existence … Enthusiasm at the commencement of the war … Indifference towards its close … Difficulty of establishing military conscription or impressment of seamen in America … Why a democratic people is less capable of sustained effort than another。
I here warn the reader that I speak of a government which implicitly follows the real desires of a people； and not of a government which simply commands in its name。 Nothing is so irresistible as a tyrannical power commanding in the name of the people； because； whilst it exercises that moral influence which belongs to the decision of the majority； it acts at the same time with the promptitude and the tenacity of a single man。
It is difficult to say what degree of exertion a democratic government may be capable of making a crisis in the history of the nation。 But no great democratic republic has hitherto existed in the world。 To style the oligarchy which ruled over France in 1793 by that name would be to offer an insult to the republican form of government。 The United States afford the first example of the kind。
The American Union has now subsisted for half a century； in the course of which time its existence has only once been attacked； namely； during the War of Independence。 At the commencement of that long war； various occurrences took place which betokened an extraordinary zeal for the service of the country。 *p But as the contest was prolonged； symptoms of private egotism began to show themselves。 No money was poured into the public treasury； few recruits could be raised to join the army； the people wished to acquire independence； but was very ill…disposed to undergo the privations by which alone it could be obtained。 〃Tax laws；〃 says Hamilton in the 〃Federalist〃 （No。 12）； 〃have in vain been multiplied； new methods to enforce the collection have in vain been tried； the public expectation has been uniformly disappointed and the treasuries of the States have remained empty。 The popular system of administration inherent in the nature of popular government； coinciding with the real scarcity of money incident to a languid and mutilated state of trade； has hitherto defeated every experiment for extensive collections； and has at length taught the different legislatures the folly of attempting them。〃
＇Footnote p： One of the most singular of these occurrences was the resolution which the Ame