Amongstaristocraticnations，asfamiliesremainforcenturiesinthesamecondition，oftenonthesamespot，allgenerationsbecomeasitwerecontemporaneous。Amanalmostalwaysknowshisforefathers，andrespectsthem:hethinkshealreadyseeshisremotedescendants，andhelovesthem。Hewillinglyimposesdutiesonhimselftowardstheformerandthelatter;andhewillfrequentlysacrificehispersonalgratificationstothosewhowentbeforeandtothosewhowillcomeafterhim。Aristocraticinstitutionshave，moreover，theeffectofcloselybindingeverymantoseveralofhisfellow—citizens。Astheclassesofanaristocraticpeoplearestronglymarkedandpermanent，eachofthemisregardedbyitsownmembersasasortoflessercountry，moretangibleandmorecherishedthanthecountryatlarge。Asinaristocraticcommunitiesallthecitizensoccupyfixedpositions，oneabovetheother，theresultisthateachofthemalwaysseesamanabovehimselfwhosepatronageisnecessarytohim，andbelowhimselfanothermanwhoseco—operationhemayclaim。Menlivinginaristocraticagesarethereforealmostalwayscloselyattachedtosomethingplacedoutoftheirownsphere，andtheyareoftendisposedtoforgetthemselves。Itistruethatinthoseagesthenotionofhumanfellowshipisfaint，andthatmenseldomthinkofsacrificingthemselvesformankind;buttheyoftensacrificethemselvesforothermen。Indemocraticages，onthecontrary，whenthedutiesofeachindividualtotheracearemuchmoreclear，devotedservicetoanyonemanbecomesmorerare;thebondofhumanaffectionisextended，butitisrelaxed。
Amongstdemocraticnationsnewfamiliesareconstantlyspringingup，othersareconstantlyfallingaway，andallthatremainchangetheircondition;thewoofoftimeiseveryinstantbroken，andthetrackofgenerationseffaced。Thosewhowentbeforearesoonforgotten;ofthosewhowillcomeafternoonehasanyidea:theinterestofmanisconfinedtothoseinclosepropinquitytohimself。Aseachclassapproximatestootherclasses，andintermingleswiththem，itsmembersbecomeindifferentandasstrangerstooneanother。Aristocracyhadmadeachainofallthemembersofthecommunity，fromthepeasanttotheking:democracybreaksthatchain，andseverseverylinkofit。Associalconditionsbecomemoreequal，thenumberofpersonsincreaseswho，althoughtheyareneitherrichenoughnorpowerfulenoughtoexerciseanygreatinfluenceovertheirfellow—creatures，haveneverthelessacquiredorretainedsufficienteducationandfortunetosatisfytheirownwants。
Theyowenothingtoanyman，theyexpectnothingfromanyman;
theyacquirethehabitofalwaysconsideringthemselvesasstandingalone，andtheyareapttoimaginethattheirwholedestinyisintheirownhands。Thusnotonlydoesdemocracymakeeverymanforgethisancestors，butithideshisdescendants，andseparateshiscontemporariesfromhim;itthrowshimbackforeveruponhimselfalone，andthreatensintheendtoconfinehimentirelywithinthesolitudeofhisownheart。
ChapterIII:IndividualismStrongerAtTheCloseOfADemocraticRevolutionThanAtOtherPeriodsTheperiodwhentheconstructionofdemocraticsocietyupontheruinsofanaristocracyhasjustbeencompleted，isespeciallythatatwhichthisseparationofmenfromoneanother，andtheegotismresultingfromit，mostforciblystriketheobservation。Democraticcommunitiesnotonlycontainalargenumberofindependentcitizens，buttheyareconstantlyfilledwithmenwho，havingenteredbutyesterdayupontheirindependentcondition，areintoxicatedwiththeirnewpower。Theyentertainapresumptuousconfidenceintheirstrength，andastheydonotsupposethattheycanhenceforwardeverhaveoccasiontoclaimtheassistanceoftheirfellow—creatures，theydonotscrupletoshowthattheycarefornobodybutthemselves。
Anaristocracyseldomyieldswithoutaprotractedstruggle，inthecourseofwhichimplacableanimositiesarekindledbetweenthedifferentclassesofsociety。Thesepassionssurvivethevictory，andtracesofthemmaybeobservedinthemidstofthedemocraticconfusionwhichensues。Thosemembersofthecommunitywhowereatthetopofthelategradationsofrankcannotimmediatelyforgettheirformergreatness;theywilllongregardthemselvesasaliensinthemidstofthenewlycomposedsociety。Theylookuponallthosewhomthisstateofsocietyhasmadetheirequalsasoppressors，whosedestinycanexcitenosympathy;theyhavelostsightoftheirformerequals，andfeelnolongerboundbyacommoninteresttotheirfate:eachofthem，standingaloof，thinksthatheisreducedtocareforhimselfalone。Those，onthecontrary，whowereformerlyatthefootofthesocialscale，andwhohavebeenbroughtuptothecommonlevelbyasuddenrevolution，cannotenjoytheirnewlyacquiredindependencewithoutsecretuneasiness;andiftheymeetwithsomeoftheirformersuperiorsonthesamefootingasthemselves，theystandalooffromthemwithanexpressionoftriumphandoffear。Itis，then，commonlyattheoutsetofdemocraticsocietythatcitizensaremostdisposedtoliveapart。Democracyleadsmennottodrawneartotheirfellow—creatures;butdemocraticrevolutionsleadthemtoshuneachother，andperpetuateinastateofequalitytheanimositieswhichthestateofinequalityengendered。ThegreatadvantageoftheAmericansisthattheyhavearrivedatastateofdemocracywithouthavingtoendureademocraticrevolution;andthattheyarebornequal，insteadofbecomingso。
ChapterIV:ThatTheAmericansCombatTheEffectsOfIndividualismByFreeInstitutionsDespotism，whichisofaverytimorousnature，isnevermoresecureofcontinuancethanwhenitcankeepmenasunder;andallisinfluenceiscommonlyexertedforthatpurpose。Noviceofthehumanheartissoacceptabletoitasegotism:adespoteasilyforgiveshissubjectsfornotlovinghim，providedtheydonotloveeachother。HedoesnotaskthemtoassisthimingoverningtheState;itisenoughthattheydonotaspiretogovernitthemselves。Hestigmatizesasturbulentandunrulyspiritsthosewhowouldcombinetheirexertionstopromotetheprosperityofthecommunity，and，pervertingthenaturalmeaningofwords，heapplaudsasgoodcitizensthosewhohavenosympathyforanybutthemselves。Thustheviceswhichdespotismengendersarepreciselythosewhichequalityfosters。Thesetwothingsmutuallyandperniciouslycompleteandassisteachother。
Equalityplacesmensidebyside，unconnectedbyanycommontie;
despotismraisesbarrierstokeepthemasunder;theformerpredisposesthemnottoconsidertheirfellow—creatures，thelattermakesgeneralindifferenceasortofpublicvirtue。
Despotismthen，whichisatalltimesdangerous，ismoreparticularlytobefearedindemocraticages。Itiseasytoseethatinthosesameagesmenstandmostinneedoffreedom。Whenthemembersofacommunityareforcedtoattendtopublicaffairs，theyarenecessarilydrawnfromthecircleoftheirowninterests，andsnatchedattimesfromself—observation。Assoonasamanbeginstotreatofpublicaffairsinpublic，hebeginstoperceivethatheisnotsoindependentofhisfellow—menashehadatfirstimagined，andthat，inordertoobtaintheirsupport，hemustoftenlendthemhisco—operation。
Whenthepublicissupreme，thereisnomanwhodoesnotfeelthevalueofpublicgoodwill，orwhodoesnotendeavortocourtitbydrawingtohimselftheesteemandaffectionofthoseamongstwhomheistolive。Manyofthepassionswhichcongealandkeepasunderhumanhearts，arethenobligedtoretireandhidebelowthesurface。Pridemustbedissembled;disdaindaresnotbreakout;egotismfearsitsownself。Underafreegovernment，asmostpublicofficesareelective，themenwhoseelevatedmindsoraspiringhopesaretoocloselycircumscribedinprivatelife，constantlyfeelthattheycannotdowithoutthepopulationwhichsurroundsthem。Menlearnatsuchtimestothinkoftheirfellow—menfromambitiousmotives;andtheyfrequentlyfindit，inamanner，theirinteresttoforgetthemselves。
Imayherebemetbyanobjectionderivedfromelectioneeringintrigues，themeannessesofcandidates，andthecalumniesoftheiropponents。Theseareopportunitiesforanimositywhichoccurtheoftenerthemorefrequentelectionsbecome。Suchevilsaredoubtlessgreat，buttheyaretransient;
whereasthebenefitswhichattendthemremain。Thedesireofbeingelectedmayleadsomemenforatimetoviolenthostility;
butthissamedesireleadsallmeninthelongrunmutuallytosupporteachother;andifithappensthatanelectionaccidentallyseverstwofriends，theelectoralsystembringsamultitudeofcitizenspermanentlytogether，whowouldalwayshaveremainedunknowntoeachother。Freedomengendersprivateanimosities，butdespotismgivesbirthtogeneralindifference。
TheAmericanshavecombatedbyfreeinstitutionsthetendencyofequalitytokeepmenasunder，andtheyhavesubduedit。ThelegislatorsofAmericadidnotsupposethatageneralrepresentationofthewholenationwouldsufficetowardoffadisorderatoncesonaturaltotheframeofdemocraticsociety，andsofatal:theyalsothoughtthatitwouldbewelltoinfusepoliticallifeintoeachportionoftheterritory，inordertomultiplytoaninfiniteextentopportunitiesofactinginconcertforallthemembersofthecommunity，andtomakethemconstantlyfeeltheirmutualdependenceoneachother。Theplanwasawiseone。Thegeneralaffairsofacountryonlyengagetheattentionofleadingpoliticians，whoassemblefromtimetotimeinthesameplaces;andastheyoftenlosesightofeachotherafterwards，nolastingtiesareestablishedbetweenthem。Butiftheobjectbetohavethelocalaffairsofadistrictconductedbythemenwhoresidethere，thesamepersonsarealwaysincontact，andtheyare，inamanner，forcedtobeacquainted，andtoadaptthemselvestooneanother。
ItisdifficulttodrawamanoutofhisowncircletointeresthiminthedestinyoftheState，becausehedoesnotclearlyunderstandwhatinfluencethedestinyoftheStatecanhaveuponhisownlot。Butifitbeproposedtomakearoadcrosstheendofhisestate，hewillseeataglancethatthereisaconnectionbetweenthissmallpublicaffairandhisgreatestprivateaffairs;andhewilldiscover，withoutitsbeingshowntohim，theclosetiewhichunitesprivatetogeneralinterest。
Thus，farmoremaybedonebyintrustingtothecitizenstheadministrationofminoraffairsthanbysurrenderingtothemthecontrolofimportantones，towardsinterestingtheminthepublicwelfare，andconvincingthemthattheyconstantlystandinneedoneoftheotherinordertoprovideforit。Abrilliantachievementmaywinforyouthefavorofapeopleatonestroke;
buttoearntheloveandrespectofthepopulationwhichsurroundsyou，alongsuccessionoflittleservicesrenderedandofobscuregooddeeds—aconstanthabitofkindness，andanestablishedreputationfordisinterestedness—willberequired。
Localfreedom，then，whichleadsagreatnumberofcitizenstovaluetheaffectionoftheirneighborsandoftheirkindred，perpetuallybringsmentogether，andforcesthemtohelponeanother，inspiteofthepropensitieswhichseverthem。
IntheUnitedStatesthemoreopulentcitizenstakegreatcarenottostandalooffromthepeople;onthecontrary，theyconstantlykeeponeasytermswiththelowerclasses:theylistentothem，theyspeaktothemeveryday。Theyknowthattherichindemocraciesalwaysstandinneedofthepoor;andthatindemocraticagesyouattachapoormantoyoumorebyyourmannerthanbybenefitsconferred。Themagnitudeofsuchbenefits，whichsetsoffthedifferenceofconditions，causesasecretirritationtothosewhoreapadvantagefromthem;butthecharmofsimplicityofmannersisalmostirresistible:theiraffabilitycarriesmenaway，andeventheirwantofpolishisnotalwaysdispleasing。Thistruthdoesnottakerootatonceinthemindsoftherich。Theygenerallyresistitaslongasthedemocraticrevolutionlasts，andtheydonotacknowledgeitimmediatelyafterthatrevolutionisaccomplished。Theyareveryreadytodogoodtothepeople，buttheystillchoosetokeepthematarm’slength;theythinkthatissufficient，buttheyaremistaken。
Theymightspendfortunesthuswithoutwarmingtheheartsofthepopulationaroundthem;—thatpopulationdoesnotaskthemforthesacrificeoftheirmoney，butoftheirpride。
ItwouldseemasifeveryimaginationintheUnitedStateswereuponthestretchtoinventmeansofincreasingthewealthandsatisfyingthewantsofthepublic。Thebest—informedinhabitantsofeachdistrictconstantlyusetheirinformationtodiscovernewtruthswhichmayaugmentthegeneralprosperity;andiftheyhavemadeanysuchdiscoveries，theyeagerlysurrenderthemtothemassofthepeople。
Whenthevicesandweaknesses，frequentlyexhibitedbythosewhogoverninAmerica，arecloselyexamined，theprosperityofthepeopleoccasions—butimproperlyoccasions—surprise。
ElectedmagistratesdonotmaketheAmericandemocracyflourish;
itflourishesbecausethemagistratesareelective。
ItwouldbeunjusttosupposethatthepatriotismandthezealwhicheveryAmericandisplaysforthewelfareofhisfellow—
citizensarewhollyinsincere。AlthoughprivateinterestdirectsthegreaterpartofhumanactionsintheUnitedStatesaswellaselsewhere，itdoesnotregulatethemall。ImustsaythatIhaveoftenseenAmericansmakegreatandrealsacrificestothepublicwelfare;andIhaveremarkedahundredinstancesinwhichtheyhardlyeverfailedtolendfaithfulsupporttoeachother。ThefreeinstitutionswhichtheinhabitantsoftheUnitedStatespossess，andthepoliticalrightsofwhichtheymakesomuchuse，remindeverycitizen，andinathousandways，thathelivesinsociety。Theyeveryinstantimpressuponhismindthenotionthatitistheduty，aswellastheinterestofmen，tomakethemselvesusefultotheirfellow—creatures;andasheseesnoparticulargroundofanimositytothem，sinceheisnevereithertheirmasterortheirslave，hisheartreadilyleanstothesideofkindness。Menattendtotheinterestsofthepublic，firstbynecessity，afterwardsbychoice:whatwasintentionalbecomesaninstinct;andbydintofworkingforthegoodofone’sfellowcitizens，thehabitandthetasteforservingthemisatlengthacquired。
ManypeopleinFranceconsiderequalityofconditionsasoneevil，andpoliticalfreedomasasecond。Whentheyareobligedtoyieldtotheformer，theystriveatleasttoescapefromthelatter。ButIcontendthatinordertocombattheevilswhichequalitymayproduce，thereisonlyoneeffectualremedy—
namely，politicalfreedom。
BookTwo—ChaptersV—VII
ChapterV:OfTheUseWhichTheAmericansMakeOfPublicAssociationsInCivilLifeIdonotproposetospeakofthosepoliticalassociations—
bytheaidofwhichmenendeavortodefendthemselvesagainstthedespoticinfluenceofamajority—oragainsttheaggressionsofregalpower。ThatsubjectIhavealreadytreated。Ifeachcitizendidnotlearn，inproportionasheindividuallybecomesmorefeeble，andconsequentlymoreincapableofpreservinghisfreedomsingle—handed，tocombinewithhisfellow—citizensforthepurposeofdefendingit，itisclearthattyrannywouldunavoidablyincreasetogetherwithequality。
Thoseassociationsonlywhichareformedincivillife，withoutreferencetopoliticalobjects，arehereadvertedto。
ThepoliticalassociationswhichexistintheUnitedStatesareonlyasinglefeatureinthemidstoftheimmenseassemblageofassociationsinthatcountry。Americansofallages，allconditions，andalldispositions，constantlyformassociations。
Theyhavenotonlycommercialandmanufacturingcompanies，inwhichalltakepart，butassociationsofathousandotherkinds—
religious，moral，serious，futile，extensive，orrestricted，enormousordiminutive。TheAmericansmakeassociationstogiveentertainments，tofoundestablishmentsforeducation，tobuildinns，toconstructchurches，todiffusebooks，tosendmissionariestotheantipodes;andinthismannertheyfoundhospitals，prisons，andschools。Ifitbeproposedtoadvancesometruth，ortofostersomefeelingbytheencouragementofagreatexample，theyformasociety。Wherever，attheheadofsomenewundertaking，youseethegovernmentinFrance，oramanofrankinEngland，intheUnitedStatesyouwillbesuretofindanassociation。ImetwithseveralkindsofassociationsinAmerica，ofwhichIconfessIhadnopreviousnotion;andIhaveoftenadmiredtheextremeskillwithwhichtheinhabitantsoftheUnitedStatessucceedinproposingacommonobjecttotheexertionsofagreatmanymen，andingettingthemvoluntarilytopursueit。IhavesincetravelledoverEngland，whencetheAmericanshavetakensomeoftheirlawsandmanyoftheircustoms;anditseemedtomethattheprincipleofassociationwasbynomeanssoconstantlyorsoadroitlyusedinthatcountry。TheEnglishoftenperformgreatthingssingly;
whereastheAmericansformassociationsforthesmallestundertakings。Itisevidentthattheformerpeopleconsiderassociationasapowerfulmeansofaction，butthelatterseemtoregarditastheonlymeanstheyhaveofacting。
Thusthemostdemocraticcountryonthefaceoftheearthisthatinwhichmenhaveinourtimecarriedtothehighestperfectiontheartofpursuingincommontheobjectoftheircommondesires，andhaveappliedthisnewsciencetothegreatestnumberofpurposes。Isthistheresultofaccident？oristhereinrealityanynecessaryconnectionbetweentheprincipleofassociationandthatofequality？Aristocraticcommunitiesalwayscontain，amongstamultitudeofpersonswhobythemselvesarepowerless，asmallnumberofpowerfulandwealthycitizens，eachofwhomcanachievegreatundertakingssingle—handed。Inaristocraticsocietiesmendonotneedtocombineinordertoact，becausetheyarestronglyheldtogether。Everywealthyandpowerfulcitizenconstitutestheheadofapermanentandcompulsoryassociation，composedofallthosewhoaredependentuponhim，orwhomhemakessubservienttotheexecutionofhisdesigns。Amongstdemocraticnations，onthecontrary，allthecitizensareindependentandfeeble;theycandohardlyanythingbythemselves，andnoneofthemcanobligehisfellow—mentolendhimtheirassistance。Theyall，therefore，fallintoastateofincapacity，iftheydonotlearnvoluntarilytohelpeachother。
Ifmenlivingindemocraticcountrieshadnorightandnoinclinationtoassociateforpoliticalpurposes，theirindependencewouldbeingreatjeopardy;buttheymightlongpreservetheirwealthandtheircultivation:whereasiftheyneveracquiredthehabitofformingassociationsinordinarylife，civilizationitselfwouldbeendangered。Apeopleamongstwhichindividualsshouldlosethepowerofachievinggreatthingssingle—handed，withoutacquiringthemeansofproducingthembyunitedexertions，wouldsoonrelapseintobarbarism。
Unhappily，thesamesocialconditionwhichrendersassociationssonecessarytodemocraticnations，renderstheirformationmoredifficultamongstthosenationsthanamongstallothers。Whenseveralmembersofanaristocracyagreetocombine，theyeasilysucceedindoingso;aseachofthembringsgreatstrengthtothepartnership，thenumberofitsmembersmaybeverylimited;andwhenthemembersofanassociationarelimitedinnumber，theymayeasilybecomemutuallyacquainted，understandeachother，andestablishfixedregulations。Thesameopportunitiesdonotoccuramongstdemocraticnations，wheretheassociatedmembersmustalwaysbeverynumerousfortheirassociationtohaveanypower。
Iamawarethatmanyofmycountrymenarenotintheleastembarrassedbythisdifficulty。Theycontendthatthemoreenfeebledandincompetentthecitizensbecome，themoreableandactivethegovernmentoughttoberendered，inorderthatsocietyatlargemayexecutewhatindividualscannolongeraccomplish。
Theybelievethisanswersthewholedifficulty，butIthinktheyaremistaken。AgovernmentmightperformthepartofsomeofthelargestAmericancompanies;andseveralStates，membersoftheUnion，havealreadyattemptedit;butwhatpoliticalpowercouldevercarryonthevastmultitudeoflesserundertakingswhichtheAmericancitizensperformeveryday，withtheassistanceoftheprincipleofassociation？Itiseasytoforeseethatthetimeisdrawingnearwhenmanwillbelessandlessabletoproduce，ofhimselfalone，thecommonestnecessariesoflife。Thetaskofthegoverningpowerwillthereforeperpetuallyincrease，anditsveryeffortswillextenditeveryday。Themoreitstandsintheplaceofassociations，themorewillindividuals，losingthenotionofcombiningtogether，requireitsassistance:thesearecausesandeffectswhichunceasinglyengendereachother。Willtheadministrationofthecountryultimatelyassumethemanagementofallthemanufacturers，whichnosinglecitizenisabletocarryon？Andifatimeatlengtharrives，when，inconsequenceoftheextremesubdivisionoflandedproperty，thesoilissplitintoaninfinitenumberofparcels，sothatitcanonlybecultivatedbycompaniesofhusbandmen，willitbenecessarythattheheadofthegovernmentshouldleavethehelmofstatetofollowtheplough？Themoralsandtheintelligenceofademocraticpeoplewouldbeasmuchendangeredasitsbusinessandmanufactures，ifthegovernmenteverwhollyusurpedtheplaceofprivatecompanies。
Feelingsandopinionsarerecruited，theheartisenlarged，andthehumanmindisdevelopedbynoothermeansthanbythereciprocalinfluenceofmenuponeachother。Ihaveshownthattheseinfluencesarealmostnullindemocraticcountries;theymustthereforebeartificiallycreated，andthiscanonlybeaccomplishedbyassociations。
Whenthemembersofanaristocraticcommunityadoptanewopinion，orconceiveanewsentiment，theygiveitastation，asitwere，besidethemselves，upontheloftyplatformwheretheystand;andopinionsorsentimentssoconspicuoustotheeyesofthemultitudeareeasilyintroducedintothemindsorheartsofallaround。Indemocraticcountriesthegoverningpoweraloneisnaturallyinaconditiontoactinthismanner;butitiseasytoseethatitsactionisalwaysinadequate，andoftendangerous。A
governmentcannomorebecompetenttokeepaliveandtorenewthecirculationofopinionsandfeelingsamongstagreatpeople，thantomanageallthespeculationsofproductiveindustry。Nosoonerdoesagovernmentattempttogobeyonditspoliticalsphereandtoenteruponthisnewtrack，thanitexercises，evenunintentionally，aninsupportabletyranny;foragovernmentcanonlydictatestrictrules，theopinionswhichitfavorsarerigidlyenforced，anditisnevereasytodiscriminatebetweenitsadviceanditscommands。Worsestillwillbethecaseifthegovernmentreallybelievesitselfinterestedinpreventingallcirculationofideas;itwillthenstandmotionless，andoppressedbytheheavinessofvoluntarytorpor。Governmentsthereforeshouldnotbetheonlyactivepowers:associationsought，indemocraticnations，tostandinlieuofthosepowerfulprivateindividualswhomtheequalityofconditionshassweptaway。
AssoonasseveraloftheinhabitantsoftheUnitedStateshavetakenupanopinionorafeelingwhichtheywishtopromoteintheworld，theylookoutformutualassistance;andassoonastheyhavefoundeachotherout，theycombine。Fromthatmomenttheyarenolongerisolatedmen，butapowerseenfromafar，whoseactionsserveforanexample，andwhoselanguageislistenedto。ThefirsttimeIheardintheUnitedStatesthat100，000menhadboundthemselvespubliclytoabstainfromspirituousliquors，itappearedtomemorelikeajokethanaseriousengagement;andIdidnotatonceperceivewhythesetemperatecitizenscouldnotcontentthemselveswithdrinkingwaterbytheirownfiresides。Iatlastunderstoodthat300，000
Americans，alarmedbytheprogressofdrunkennessaroundthem，hadmadeuptheirmindstopatronizetemperance。Theyactedjustinthesamewayasamanofhighrankwhoshoulddressveryplainly，inordertoinspirethehumblerorderswithacontemptofluxury。Itisprobablethatifthese100，000menhadlivedinFrance，eachofthemwouldsinglyhavememorializedthegovernmenttowatchthepublichousesalloverthekingdom。
Nothing，inmyopinion，ismoredeservingofourattentionthantheintellectualandmoralassociationsofAmerica。Thepoliticalandindustrialassociationsofthatcountrystrikeusforcibly;buttheotherseludeourobservation，orifwediscoverthem，weunderstandthemimperfectly，becausewehavehardlyeverseenanythingofthekind。Itmust，however，beacknowledgedthattheyareasnecessarytotheAmericanpeopleastheformer，andperhapsmoreso。Indemocraticcountriesthescienceofassociationisthemotherofscience;theprogressofalltherestdependsupontheprogressithasmade。Amongstthelawswhichrulehumansocietiesthereisonewhichseemstobemorepreciseandclearthanallothers。Ifmenaretoremaincivilized，ortobecomeso，theartofassociatingtogethermustgrowandimproveinthesameratioinwhichtheequalityofconditionsisincreased。
ChapterVI:OfTheRelationBetweenPublicAssociationsAndNewspapersWhenmenarenolongerunitedamongstthemselvesbyfirmandlastingties，itisimpossibletoobtainthecooperationofanygreatnumberofthem，unlessyoucanpersuadeeverymanwhoseconcurrenceyourequirethatthisprivateinterestobligeshimvoluntarilytounitehisexertionstotheexertionsofalltherest。Thiscanonlybehabituallyandconvenientlyeffectedbymeansofanewspaper;nothingbutanewspapercandropthesamethoughtintoathousandmindsatthesamemoment。Anewspaperisanadviserwhodoesnotrequiretobesought，butwhocomesofhisownaccord，andtalkstoyoubrieflyeverydayofthecommonweal，withoutdistractingyoufromyourprivateaffairs。
Newspapersthereforebecomemorenecessaryinproportionasmenbecomemoreequal，andindividualismmoretobefeared。Tosupposethattheyonlyservetoprotectfreedomwouldbetodiminishtheirimportance:theymaintaincivilization。Ishallnotdenythatindemocraticcountriesnewspapersfrequentlyleadthecitizenstolaunchtogetherinveryill—digestedschemes;butiftherewerenonewspaperstherewouldbenocommonactivity。
Theevilwhichtheyproduceisthereforemuchlessthanthatwhichtheycure。
Theeffectofanewspaperisnotonlytosuggestthesamepurposetoagreatnumberofpersons，butalsotofurnishmeansforexecutingincommonthedesignswhichtheymayhavesinglyconceived。Theprincipalcitizenswhoinhabitanaristocraticcountrydiscerneachotherfromafar;andiftheywishtounitetheirforces，theymovetowardseachother，drawingamultitudeofmenafterthem。Itfrequentlyhappens，onthecontrary，indemocraticcountries，thatagreatnumberofmenwhowishorwhowanttocombinecannotaccomplishit，becauseastheyareveryinsignificantandlostamidstthecrowd，theycannotsee，andknownotwheretofind，oneanother。Anewspaperthentakesupthenotionorthefeelingwhichhadoccurredsimultaneously，butsingly，toeachofthem。Allarethenimmediatelyguidedtowardsthisbeacon;andthesewanderingminds，whichhadlongsoughteachotherindarkness，atlengthmeetandunite。
Thenewspaperbroughtthemtogether，andthenewspaperisstillnecessarytokeepthemunited。Inorderthatanassociationamongstademocraticpeopleshouldhaveanypower，itmustbeanumerousbody。Thepersonsofwhomitiscomposedarethereforescatteredoverawideextent，andeachofthemisdetainedintheplaceofhisdomicilebythenarrownessofhisincome，orbythesmallunremittingexertionsbywhichheearnsit。Meansthenmustbefoundtoconverseeverydaywithoutseeingeachother，andtotakestepsincommonwithouthavingmet。Thushardlyanydemocraticassociationcandowithoutnewspapers。
Thereisconsequentlyanecessaryconnectionbetweenpublicassociationsandnewspapers:newspapersmakeassociations，andassociationsmakenewspapers;andifithasbeencorrectlyadvancedthatassociationswillincreaseinnumberastheconditionsofmenbecomemoreequal，itisnotlesscertainthatthenumberofnewspapersincreasesinproportiontothatofassociations。ThusitisinAmericathatwefindatthesametimethegreatestnumberofassociationsandofnewspapers。
Thisconnectionbetweenthenumberofnewspapersandthatofassociationsleadsustothediscoveryofafurtherconnectionbetweenthestateoftheperiodicalpressandtheformoftheadministrationinacountry;andshowsthatthenumberofnewspapersmustdiminishorincreaseamongstademocraticpeople，inproportionasitsadministrationismoreorlesscentralized。
Foramongstdemocraticnationstheexerciseoflocalpowerscannotbeintrustedtotheprincipalmembersofthecommunityasinaristocracies。Thosepowersmusteitherbeabolished，orplacedinthehandsofverylargenumbersofmen，whotheninfactconstituteanassociationpermanentlyestablishedbylawforthepurposeofadministeringtheaffairsofacertainextentofterritory;andtheyrequireajournal，tobringtothemeveryday，inthemidstoftheirownminorconcerns，someintelligenceofthestateoftheirpublicweal。Themorenumerouslocalpowersare，thegreateristhenumberofmeninwhomtheyarevestedbylaw;andasthiswantishourlyfelt，themoreprofuselydonewspapersabound。
TheextraordinarysubdivisionofadministrativepowerhasmuchmoretodowiththeenormousnumberofAmericannewspapersthanthegreatpoliticalfreedomofthecountryandtheabsolutelibertyofthepress。IfalltheinhabitantsoftheUnionhadthesuffrage—butasuffragewhichshouldonlyextendtothechoiceoftheirlegislatorsinCongress—theywouldrequirebutfewnewspapers，becausetheywouldonlyhavetoacttogetheronafewveryimportantbutveryrareoccasions。Butwithinthepaleofthegreatassociationofthenation，lesserassociationshavebeenestablishedbylawineverycountry，everycity，andindeedineveryvillage，forthepurposesoflocaladministration。ThelawsofthecountrythuscompeleveryAmericantoco—operateeverydayofhislifewithsomeofhisfellow—citizensforacommonpurpose，andeachoneofthemrequiresanewspapertoinformhimwhatalltheothersaredoing。
Iamofopinionthatademocraticpeople，*awithoutanynationalrepresentativeassemblies，butwithagreatnumberofsmalllocalpowers，wouldhaveintheendmorenewspapersthananotherpeoplegovernedbyacentralizedadministrationandanelectivelegislation。WhatbestexplainstometheenormouscirculationofthedailypressintheUnitedStates，isthatamongsttheAmericansIfindtheutmostnationalfreedomcombinedwithlocalfreedomofeverykind。ThereisaprevailingopinioninFranceandEnglandthatthecirculationofnewspaperswouldbeindefinitelyincreasedbyremovingthetaxeswhichhavebeenlaiduponthepress。Thisisaveryexaggeratedestimateoftheeffectsofsuchareform。Newspapersincreaseinnumbers，notaccordingtotheircheapness，butaccordingtothemoreorlessfrequentwantwhichagreatnumberofmenmayfeelforintercommunicationandcombination。
[Footnotea:Isayademocraticpeople:theadministrationofanaristocraticpeoplemaybethereverseofcentralized，andyetthewantofnewspapersbelittlefelt，becauselocalpowersarethenvestedinthehandsofaverysmallnumberofmen，whoeitheractapart，orwhoknoweachotherandcaneasilymeetandcometoanunderstanding。]
InlikemannerIshouldattributetheincreasinginfluenceofthedailypresstocausesmoregeneralthanthosebywhichitiscommonlyexplained。Anewspapercanonlysubsistontheconditionofpublishingsentimentsorprinciplescommontoalargenumberofmen。Anewspaperthereforealwaysrepresentsanassociationwhichiscomposedofitshabitualreaders。Thisassociationmaybemoreorlessdefined，moreorlessrestricted，moreorlessnumerous;butthefactthatthenewspaperkeepsalive，isaproofthatatleastthegermofsuchanassociationexistsinthemindsofitsreaders。