democracy in america-1-第69章
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dition to that of New York。 The frequent disturbances in the great cities of America； and the excessive corruption of their local governments … over which there is no effectual control … are amongst the greatest evils and dangers of the country。＇＇
To subject the provinces to the metropolis is therefore not only to place the destiny of the empire in the hands of a portion of the community； which may be reprobated as unjust； but to place it in the hands of a populace acting under its own impulses； which must be avoided as dangerous。 The preponderance of capital cities is therefore a serious blow upon the representative system； and it exposes modern republics to the same defect as the republics of antiquity； which all perished from not having been acquainted with that form of government。
It would be easy for me to adduce a great number of secondary causes which have contributed to establish； and which concur to maintain； the democratic republic of the United States。 But I discern two principal circumstances amongst these favorable elements； which I hasten to point out。 I have already observed that the origin of the American settlements may be looked upon as the first and most efficacious cause to which the present prosperity of the United States may be attributed。 The Americans had the chances of birth in their favor； and their forefathers imported that equality of conditions into the country whence the democratic republic has very naturally taken its rise。 Nor was this all they did； for besides this republican condition of society； the early settler bequeathed to their descendants those customs； manners； and opinions which contribute most to the success of a republican form of government。 When I reflect upon the consequences of this primary circumstance； methinks I see the destiny of America embodied in the first Puritan who landed on those shores； just as the human race was represented by the first man。
The chief circumstance which has favored the establishment and the maintenance of a democratic republic in the United States is the nature of the territory which the American inhabit。 Their ancestors gave them the love of equality and of freedom； but God himself gave them the means of remaining equal and free； by placing them upon a boundless continent； which is open to their exertions。 General prosperity is favorable to the stability of all governments； but more particularly of a democratic constitution； which depends upon the dispositions of the majority； and more particularly of that portion of the community which is most exposed to feel the pressure of want。 When the people rules； it must be rendered happy； or it will overturn the State； and misery is apt to stimulate it to those excesses to which ambition rouses kings。 The physical causes； independent of the laws； which contribute to promote general prosperity； are more numerous in America than they have ever been in any other country in the world； at any other period of history。 In the United States not only is legislation democratic； but nature herself favors the cause of the people。
In what part of human tradition can be found anything at all similar to that which is occurring under our eyes in North America？ The celebrated communities of antiquity were all founded in the midst of hostile nations； which they were obliged to subjugate before they could flourish in their place。 Even the moderns have found； in some parts of South America； vast regions inhabited by a people of inferior civilization； but which occupied and cultivated the soil。 To found their new states it was necessary to extirpate or to subdue a numerous population； until civilization has been made to blush for their success。 But North America was only inhabited by wandering tribes； who took no thought of the natural riches of the soil； and that vast country was still； properly speaking； an empty continent； a desert land awaiting its inhabitants。
Everything is extraordinary in America； the social condition of the inhabitants； as well as the laws； but the soil upon which these institutions are founded is more extraordinary than all the rest。 When man was first placed upon the earth by the Creator； the earth was inexhaustible in its youth； but man was weak and ignorant； and when he had learned to explore the treasures which it contained； hosts of his fellow creatures covered its surface； and he was obliged to earn an asylum for repose and for freedom by the sword。 At that same period North America was discovered； as if it had been kept in reserve by the Deity； and had just risen from beneath the waters of the deluge。
That continent still presents； as it did in the primeval time； rivers which rise from never…failing sources； green and moist solitudes； and fields which the ploughshare of the husbandman has never turned。 In this state it is offered to man； not in the barbarous and isolated condition of the early ages； but to a being who is already in possession of the most potent secrets of the natural world； who is united to his fellow…men； and instructed by the experience of fifty centuries。 At this very time thirteen millions of civilized Europeans are peaceably spreading over those fertile plains； with whose resources and whose extent they are not yet themselves accurately acquainted。 Three or four thousand soldiers drive the wandering races of the aborigines before them； these are followed by the pioneers； who pierce the woods； scare off the beasts of prey； explore the courses of the inland streams； and make ready the triumphal procession of civilization across the waste。
The favorable influence of the temporal prosperity of America upon the institutions of that country has been so often described by others； and adverted to by myself； that I shall not enlarge upon it beyond the addition of a few facts。 An erroneous notion is generally entertained that the deserts of America are peopled by European emigrants； who annually disembark upon the coasts of the New World； whilst the American population increases and multiplies upon the soil which its forefathers tilled。 The European settler； however； usually arrives in the United States without friends； and sometimes without resources； in order to subsist he is obliged to work for hire； and he rarely proceeds beyond that belt of industrious population which adjoins the ocean。 The desert cannot be explored without capital or credit； and the body must be accustomed to the rigors of a new climate before it can be exposed to the chances of forest life。 It is the Americans themselves who daily quit the spots which gave them birth to acquire extensive domains in a remote country。 Thus the European leaves his cottage for the trans…Atlantic shores； and the American； who is born on that very coast； plunges in his turn into the wilds of Central America。 This double emigration is incessant； it begins in the remotest parts of Europe； it crosses the Atlantic Ocean； and it advances over the solitudes of the New World。 Millions of men are marching at once towards the same horizon； their language； their religion； their manners differ； their object is the same。 The gifts of fortune are promised in the West； and to the West they bend their course。 *b
＇Footnote b： ＇The number of foreign immigrants into the United States in the last fifty years （from 1820 to 1871） is stated to be 7；556；007。 Of these； 4；104；553 spoke English … that is； they came from Great Britain； Ireland； or the British colonies； 2；643；069 came from Germany or northern Europe； and about half a million from the south of Europe。＇＇
No event can be compared with this continuous removal of the human race； except perhaps those irruptions which preceded the fall of the Roman Empire。 Then； as well as now； generations of men were impelled forwards in the same direction to meet and struggle on the same spot； but the designs of Providence were not the same； then； every newcomer was the harbinger of destruction and of death； now； every adventurer brings with him the elements of prosperity and of life。 The future still conceals from us the ulterior consequences of this emigration of the Americans towards the West； but we can readily apprehend its more immediate results。 As a portion of the inhabitants annually leave the States in which they were born； the population of these States increases very slowly； although they have long been established： thus in Connecticut； which only contains fifty…nine inhabitants to the square mile； the population has not increased by more than one…quarter in forty years； whilst that of England has been augmented by one…third in the lapse of the same period。 The European emigrant always lands； therefore； in a country which is but half full； and where hands are in request： he becomes a workman in easy circumstances； his son goes to seek his fortune in unpeopled regions； and he becomes a rich landowner。 The former amasses the capital which the latter invests； and the stranger as well as the native is unacquainted with want。
The laws of the United States are extremely favorable to the division of property； but a cause which is more powerful than the laws prevents property from being divided to excess。 *c This is very perceptible in the States which are beginning to be thickly peopled； Massachusetts is the most populous part of the Union； but it contains only eighty inhabitants to the square mile； which is must less than in France； where 162 are reckoned to the same extent of country。 But in Massachusetts estates are very rarely divided； the eldest son takes the land； and the others go to seek their fortune in the desert。 The law has abolished the rights of primogeniture； but circumstances have concurred to re…establish it under a form of which none can complain； and by which no just rights are impaired。
＇Footnote c： In New England the estates are exceedingly small； but they are rarely subjected to further division。＇
A single fact will suffice to show the prodigious number of individuals who leave New England； in this manner； to settle themselves in the wilds。 We were assured in 1830 that thirty…six of the members of Congress were born in the little State of Connecticut。 The population of Connecticut； which constitutes only one forty…third part of that of the United States； thus furnished one…eighth of the whole body of representatives。 The States of Connecticut； however； only sends five delegates to Congress； and the thirty…one others sit for the new Western States。 If these thirty…one individuals had remained in Connecticut； it is probable that instead of becoming rich landowners they would have remained humble laborers； that they would have lived in obscurity without being able to rise into public life； and that； far from becoming useful members of the legislature； they might have been unruly citizens。
These reflections do not escape the observation of the Americans any more than of ourselves。 〃It cannot be doubted；〃 says Chancellor Kent in his 〃Treatise on American Law；〃 〃that the division of landed estates must produce great evils when it is carried to such excess as that each parcel of land is insufficient to support a family； but these disadvantages have never been felt in the United States； and many generations must elapse before they can be fel
