InAmericatheattempthasneverbeenmade;forhowwouldsuchaninvestigationbepossibleinacountrywheresocietyhasnotyetsettledintohabitsofregularityandtranquillity;wherethenationalGovernmentisnotassistedbyamultipleofagentswhoseexertionsitcancommandanddirecttoonesoleend;andwherestatisticsarenotstudied，becausenooneisabletocollectthenecessarydocuments，ortofindtimetoperusethem？
ThustheprimaryelementsofthecalculationswhichhavebeenmadeinFrancecannotbeobtainedintheUnion;therelativewealthofthetwocountriesisunknown;thepropertyoftheformerisnotaccuratelydetermined，andnomeansexistofcomputingthatofthelatter。
Iconsent，therefore，forthesakeofthediscussion，toabandonthisnecessarytermofthecomparison，andIconfinemyselftoacomputationoftheactualamountoftaxation，withoutinvestigatingtherelationwhichsubsistsbetweenthetaxationandtherevenue。ButthereaderwillperceivethatmytaskhasnotbeenfacilitatedbythelimitswhichIherelaydownformyresearches。
ItcannotbedoubtedthatthecentraladministrationofFrance，assistedbyallthepublicofficerswhoareatitsdisposal，mightdeterminewithexactitudetheamountofthedirectandindirecttaxeslevieduponthecitizens。Butthisinvestigation，whichnoprivateindividualcanundertake，hasnothithertobeencompletedbytheFrenchGovernment，or，atleast，itsresultshavenotbeenmadepublic。WeareacquaintedwiththesumtotalofthechargesoftheState;weknowtheamountofthedepartmentalexpenditure;buttheexpensesofthecommunaldivisionshavenotbeencomputed，andtheamountofthepublicexpensesofFranceisconsequentlyunknown。
IfwenowturntoAmerica，weshallperceivethatthedifficultiesaremultipliedandenhanced。TheUnionpublishesanexactreturnoftheamountofitsexpenditure;thebudgetsofthefourandtwentyStatesfurnishsimilarreturnsoftheirrevenues;
buttheexpensesincidenttotheaffairsofthecountiesandthetownshipsareunknown。*k[Footnotek:TheAmericans，aswehaveseen，havefourseparatebudgets，theUnion，theStates，theCounties，andtheTownshipshavingeachseverallytheirown。DuringmystayinAmericaI
madeeveryendeavortodiscovertheamountofthepublicexpenditureinthetownshipsandcountiesoftheprincipalStatesoftheUnion，andIreadilyobtainedthebudgetofthelargertownships，butIfounditquiteimpossibletoprocurethatofthesmallerones。Ipossess，however，somedocumentsrelatingtocountyexpenses，which，althoughincomplete，arestillcurious。
IhavetothankMr。Richards，MayorofPhiladelphia，forthebudgetsofthirteenofthecountiesofPennsylvania，viz。，Lebanon，Centre，Franklin，Fayette，Montgomery，Luzerne，Dauphin，Butler，Alleghany，Columbia，Northampton，Northumberland，andPhiladelphia，fortheyear1830。Theirpopulationatthattimeconsistedof495，207inhabitants。OnlookingatthemapofPennsylvania，itwillbeseenthatthesethirteencountiesarescatteredineverydirection，andsogenerallyaffectedbythecauseswhichusuallyinfluencetheconditionofacountry，thattheymayeasilybesupposedtofurnishacorrectaverageofthefinancialstateofthecountiesofPennsylvaniaingeneral;andthus，uponreckoningthattheexpensesofthesecountiesamountedintheyear1830toabout$361，650，ornearly75centsforeachinhabitant，andcalculatingthateachofthemcontributedinthesameyearabout$2。55towardstheUnion，andabout75centstotheStateofPennsylvania，itappearsthattheyeachcontributedastheirshareofallthepublicexpenses（exceptthoseofthetownships）thesumof$4。05。Thiscalculationisdoublyincomplete，asitappliesonlytoasingleyearandtoonepartofthepubliccharges;butithasatleastthemeritofnotbeingconjectural。]
TheauthorityoftheFederalgovernmentcannotobligetheprovincialgovernmentstothrowanylightuponthispoint;andevenifthesegovernmentswereinclinedtoaffordtheirsimultaneousco—operation，itmaybedoubtedwhethertheypossessthemeansofprocuringasatisfactoryanswer。
Independentlyofthenaturaldifficultiesofthetask，thepoliticalorganizationofthecountrywouldactasahindrancetothesuccessoftheirefforts。ThecountyandtownmagistratesarenotappointedbytheauthoritiesoftheState，andtheyarenotsubjectedtotheircontrol。Itisthereforeveryallowabletosupposethat，iftheStatewasdesirousofobtainingthereturnswhichwerequire，itsdesignwouldbecounteractedbytheneglectofthosesubordinateofficerswhomitwouldbeobligedtoemploy。*lItis，inpointoffact，uselesstoinquirewhattheAmericansmightdotoforwardthisinquiry，sinceitiscertainthattheyhavehithertodonenothingatall。Theredoesnotexistasingleindividualatthepresentday，inAmericaorinEurope，whocaninformuswhateachcitizenoftheUnionannuallycontributestothepublicchargesofthenation。*m[Footnotel:ThosewhohaveattemptedtodrawacomparisonbetweentheexpensesofFranceandAmericahaveatonceperceivedthatnosuchcomparisoncouldbedrawnbetweenthetotalexpenditureofthetwocountries;buttheyhaveendeavoredtocontrastdetachedportionsofthisexpenditure。Itmayreadilybeshownthatthissecondsystemisnotatalllessdefectivethanthefirst。IfIattempttocomparetheFrenchbudgetwiththebudgetoftheUnion，itmustberememberedthatthelatterembracesmuchfewerobjectsthanthencentralGovernmentoftheformercountry，andthattheexpendituremustconsequentlybemuchsmaller。IfIcontrastthebudgetsoftheDepartmentswiththoseoftheStateswhichconstitutetheUnion，itmustbeobservedthat，asthepowerandcontrolexercisedbytheStatesismuchgreaterthanthatwhichisexercisedbytheDepartments，theirexpenditureisalsomoreconsiderable。Asforthebudgetsofthecounties，nothingofthekindoccursintheFrenchsystemoffinances;anditis，again，doubtfulwhetherthecorrespondingexpensesshouldbereferredtothebudgetoftheStateortothoseofthemunicipaldivisions。Municipalexpensesexistinbothcountries，buttheyarenotalwaysanalogous。InAmericathetownshipsdischargeavarietyofofficeswhicharereservedinFrancetotheDepartmentsortotheState。Itmay，moreover，beaskedwhatistobeunderstoodbythemunicipalexpensesofAmerica。TheorganizationofthemunicipalbodiesortownshipsdiffersintheseveralStates。ArewetobeguidedbywhatoccursinNewEnglandorinGeorgia，inPennsylvaniaorintheStateofIllinois？Akindofanalogymayveryreadilybeperceivedbetweencertainbudgetsinthetwocountries;butastheelementsofwhichtheyarecomposedalwaysdiffermoreorless，nofaircomparisoncanbeinstitutedbetweenthem。[Thesamedifficultyexists，perhapstoagreaterdegreeatthepresenttime，whenthetaxationofAmericahaslargelyincreased。
—1874。]]
[Footnotem:EvenifweknewtheexactpecuniarycontributionsofeveryFrenchandAmericancitizentothecoffersoftheState，weshouldonlycomeataportionofthetruth。Governmentsdonotonlydemandsuppliesofmoney，buttheycallforpersonalservices，whichmaybelookeduponasequivalenttoagivensum。
WhenaStateraisesanarmy，besidesthepayofthetroops，whichisfurnishedbytheentirenation，eachsoldiermustgiveuphistime，thevalueofwhichdependsontheusehemightmakeofitifhewerenotintheservice。Thesameremarkappliestothemilitia;thecitizenwhoisinthemilitiadevotesacertainportionofvaluabletimetothemaintenanceofthepublicpeace，andhedoesinrealitysurrendertotheStatethoseearningswhichheispreventedfromgaining。Manyotherinstancesmightbecitedinadditiontothese。ThegovernmentsofFranceandofAmericabothlevytaxesofthiskind，whichweighuponthecitizens;butwhocanestimatewithaccuracytheirrelativeamountinthetwocountries？
This，however，isnotthelastofthedifficultieswhichpreventusfromcomparingtheexpenditureoftheUnionwiththatofFrance。TheFrenchGovernmentcontractscertainobligationswhichdonotexistinAmerica，andviceversa。TheFrenchGovernmentpaystheclergy;inAmericathevoluntaryprincipleprevails。InAmericathereisalegalprovisionforthepoor;inFrancetheyareabandonedtothecharityofthepublic。TheFrenchpublicofficersarepaidbyafixedsalary;inAmericatheyareallowedcertainperquisites。InFrancecontributionsinkindtakeplaceonveryfewroads;inAmericauponalmostallthethoroughfares:intheformercountrytheroadsarefreetoalltravellers;inthelatterturnpikesabound。Allthesedifferencesinthemannerinwhichcontributionsareleviedinthetwocountriesenhancethedifficultyofcomparingtheirexpenditure;fortherearecertainexpenseswhichthecitizenswouldnotbesubjectto，orwhichwouldatanyratebemuchlessconsiderable，iftheStatedidnottakeuponitselftoactinthenameofthepublic。]
HencewemustconcludethatitisnolessdifficulttocomparethesocialexpenditurethanitistoestimatetherelativewealthofFranceandAmerica。Iwillevenaddthatitwouldbedangeroustoattemptthiscomparison;forwhenstatisticsarenotbaseduponcomputationswhicharestrictlyaccurate，theymisleadinsteadofguidingaright。Themindiseasilyimposeduponbythefalseaffectationofexactness，whichprevailseveninthemisstatementsofscience，anditadoptswithconfidenceerrorswhicharedressedintheformsofmathematicaltruth。
Weabandon，therefore，ournumericalinvestigation，withthehopeofmeetingwithdataofanotherkind。Intheabsenceofpositivedocuments，wemayformanopinionastotheproportionwhichthetaxationofapeoplebearstoitsrealprosperity，byobservingwhetheritsexternalappearanceisflourishing;
whether，afterhavingdischargedthecallsoftheState，thepoormanretainsthemeansofsubsistence，andtherichthemeansofenjoyment;andwhetherbothclassesarecontentedwiththeirposition，seeking，however，toameliorateitbyperpetualexertions，sothatindustryisneverinwantofcapital，norcapitalunemployedbyindustry。Theobserverwhodrawshisinferencesfromthesesignswill，undoubtedly，beledtotheconclusionthattheAmericanoftheUnitedStatescontributesamuchsmallerportionofhisincometotheStatethanthecitizenofFrance。Nor，indeed，cantheresultbeotherwise。
AportionoftheFrenchdebtistheconsequenceoftwosuccessiveinvasions;andtheUnionhasnosimilarcalamitytofear。AnationplaceduponthecontinentofEuropeisobligedtomaintainalargestandingarmy;theisolatedpositionoftheUnionenablesittohaveonly6，000soldiers。TheFrenchhaveafleetof300sail;theAmericanshave52vessels。*nHow，then，cantheinhabitantsoftheUnionbecalledupontocontributeaslargelyastheinhabitantsofFrance？Noparallelcanbedrawnbetweenthefinancesoftwocountriessodifferentlysituated。
[Footnoten:SeethedetailsintheBudgetoftheFrenchMinisterofMarine;andforAmerica，theNationalCalendarof1833，p。
228。[ButthepublicdebtoftheUnitedStatesin1870，causedbytheCivilWar，amountedto$2，480，672，427;thatofFrancewasmorethandoubledbytheextravaganceoftheSecondEmpireandbythewarof1870。]]
ItisbyexaminingwhatactuallytakesplaceintheUnion，andnotbycomparingtheUnionwithFrance，thatwemaydiscoverwhethertheAmericanGovernmentisreallyeconomical。Oncastingmyeyesoverthedifferentrepublicswhichformtheconfederation，IperceivethattheirGovernmentslackperseveranceintheirundertakings，andthattheyexercisenosteadycontroloverthemenwhomtheyemploy。WhenceInaturallyinferthattheymustoftenspendthemoneyofthepeopletonopurpose，orconsumemoreofitthanisreallynecessarytotheirundertakings。Greateffortsaremade，inaccordancewiththedemocraticoriginofsociety，tosatisfytheexigenciesofthelowerorders，toopenthecareerofpowertotheirendeavors，andtodiffuseknowledgeandcomfortamongstthem。Thepooraremaintained，immensesumsareannuallydevotedtopublicinstruction，allserviceswhatsoeverareremunerated，andthemostsubordinateagentsareliberallypaid。Ifthiskindofgovernmentappearstometobeusefulandrational，Iamneverthelessconstrainedtoadmitthatitisexpensive。
Whereverthepoordirectpublicaffairsanddisposeofthenationalresources，itappearscertainthat，astheyprofitbytheexpenditureoftheState，theyareapttoaugmentthatexpenditure。
Iconclude，therefore，withouthavingrecoursetoinaccuratecomputations，andwithouthazardingacomparisonwhichmightproveincorrect，thatthedemocraticgovernmentoftheAmericansisnotacheapgovernment，asissometimesasserted;andIhavenohesitationinpredictingthat，ifthepeopleoftheUnitedStatesiseverinvolvedinseriousdifficulties，itstaxationwillspeedilybeincreasedtotherateofthatwhichprevailsinthegreaterpartofthearistocraciesandthemonarchiesofEurope。*o[Footnoteo:[Thatispreciselywhathassinceoccurred。]]
ChapterXIII:GovernmentOfTheDemocracyInAmerica—PartIII
CorruptionAndVicesOfTheRulersInADemocracy，AndConsequentEffectsUponPublicMoralityInaristocraciesrulerssometimesendeavortocorruptthepeople—Indemocraciesrulersfrequentlyshowthemselvestobecorrupt—Intheformertheirvicesaredirectlyprejudicialtothemoralityofthepeople—Inthelattertheirindirectinfluenceisstillmorepernicious。
Adistinctionmustbemade，whenthearistocraticandthedemocraticprinciplesmutuallyinveighagainsteachother，astendingtofacilitatecorruption。Inaristocraticgovernmentstheindividualswhoareplacedattheheadofaffairsarerichmen，whoaresolelydesirousofpower。Indemocraciesstatesmenarepoor，andtheyhavetheirfortunestomake。TheconsequenceisthatinaristocraticStatestherulersarerarelyaccessibletocorruption，andhaveverylittlecravingformoney;whilstthereverseisthecaseindemocraticnations。
Butinaristocracies，asthosewhoaredesirousofarrivingattheheadofaffairsarepossessedofconsiderablewealth，andasthenumberofpersonsbywhoseassistancetheymayriseiscomparativelysmall，thegovernmentis，ifImayusetheexpression，putuptoasortofauction。Indemocracies，onthecontrary，thosewhoarecovetousofpowerareveryseldomwealthy，andthenumberofcitizenswhoconferthatpowerisextremelygreat。Perhapsindemocraciesthenumberofmenwhomightbeboughtisbynomeanssmaller，butbuyersarerarelytobemetwith;and，besides，itwouldbenecessarytobuysomanypersonsatoncethattheattemptisrenderednugatory。
ManyofthemenwhohavebeenintheadministrationinFranceduringthelastfortyyearshavebeenaccusedofmakingtheirfortunesattheexpenseoftheStateorofitsallies;areproachwhichwasrarelyaddressedtothepubliccharactersoftheancientmonarchy。ButinFrancethepracticeofbribingelectorsisalmostunknown，whilstitisnotoriouslyandpubliclycarriedoninEngland。IntheUnitedStatesIneverheardamanaccusedofspendinghiswealthincorruptingthepopulace;butI
haveoftenheardtheprobityofpublicofficersquestioned;stillmorefrequentlyhaveIheardtheirsuccessattributedtolowintriguesandimmoralpractices。
If，then，themenwhoconductthegovernmentofanaristocracysometimesendeavortocorruptthepeople，theheadsofademocracyarethemselvescorrupt。Intheformercasethemoralityofthepeopleisdirectlyassailed;inthelatteranindirectinfluenceisexerciseduponthepeoplewhichisstillmoretobedreaded。
Astherulersofdemocraticnationsarealmostalwaysexposedtothesuspicionofdishonorableconduct，theyinsomemeasurelendtheauthorityoftheGovernmenttothebasepracticesofwhichtheyareaccused。Theythusaffordanexamplewhichmustprovediscouragingtothestrugglesofvirtuousindependence，andmustfosterthesecretcalculationsofaviciousambition。Ifitbeassertedthatevilpassionsaredisplayedinallranksofsociety，thattheyascendthethronebyhereditaryright，andthatdespicablecharactersaretobemetwithattheheadofaristocraticnationsaswellasinthesphereofademocracy，thisobjectionhasbutlittleweightinmyestimation。Thecorruptionofmenwhohavecasuallyrisentopowerhasacoarseandvulgarinfectioninitwhichrendersitcontagioustothemultitude。Onthecontrary，thereisakindofaristocraticrefinementandanairofgrandeurinthedepravityofthegreat，whichfrequentlypreventitfromspreadingabroad。
Thepeoplecanneverpenetrateintotheperplexinglabyrinthofcourtintrigue，anditwillalwayshavedifficultyindetectingtheturpitudewhichlurksunderelegantmanners，refinedtastes，andgracefullanguage。Buttopillagethepublicpurse，andtovendthefavorsoftheState，areartswhichthemeanestvillainmaycomprehend，andhopetopracticeinhisturn。
Inrealityitisfarlessprejudicialtowitnesstheimmoralityofthegreatthantowitnessthatimmoralitywhichleadstogreatness。Inademocracyprivatecitizensseeamanoftheirownrankinlife，whorisesfromthatobscureposition，andwhobecomespossessedofrichesandofpowerinafewyears;thespectacleexcitestheirsurpriseandtheirenvy，andtheyareledtoinquirehowthepersonwhowasyesterdaytheirequalisto—daytheirruler。Toattributehisrisetohistalentsorhisvirtuesisunpleasant;foritistacitlytoacknowledgethattheyarethemselveslessvirtuousandlesstalentedthanhewas。Theyarethereforeled（andnotunfrequentlytheirconjectureisacorrectone）toimputehissuccessmainlytosomeoneofhisdefects;andanodiousmixtureisthusformedoftheideasofturpitudeandpower，unworthinessandsuccess，utilityanddishonor。
EffortsOfWhichADemocracyIsCapableTheUnionhasonlyhadonestrugglehithertoforitsexistence—
Enthusiasmatthecommencementofthewar—Indifferencetowardsitsclose—DifficultyofestablishingmilitaryconscriptionorimpressmentofseameninAmerica—Whyademocraticpeopleislesscapableofsustainedeffortthananother。
IherewarnthereaderthatIspeakofagovernmentwhichimplicitlyfollowstherealdesiresofapeople，andnotofagovernmentwhichsimplycommandsinitsname。Nothingissoirresistibleasatyrannicalpowercommandinginthenameofthepeople，because，whilstitexercisesthatmoralinfluencewhichbelongstothedecisionofthemajority，itactsatthesametimewiththepromptitudeandthetenacityofasingleman。
Itisdifficulttosaywhatdegreeofexertionademocraticgovernmentmaybecapableofmakingacrisisinthehistoryofthenation。Butnogreatdemocraticrepublichashithertoexistedintheworld。TostyletheoligarchywhichruledoverFrancein1793bythatnamewouldbetoofferaninsulttotherepublicanformofgovernment。TheUnitedStatesaffordthefirstexampleofthekind。
TheAmericanUnionhasnowsubsistedforhalfacentury，inthecourseofwhichtimeitsexistencehasonlyoncebeenattacked，namely，duringtheWarofIndependence。Atthecommencementofthatlongwar，variousoccurrencestookplacewhichbetokenedanextraordinaryzealfortheserviceofthecountry。*pButasthecontestwasprolonged，symptomsofprivateegotismbegantoshowthemselves。Nomoneywaspouredintothepublictreasury;fewrecruitscouldberaisedtojointhearmy;
thepeoplewishedtoacquireindependence，butwasveryill—disposedtoundergotheprivationsbywhichaloneitcouldbeobtained。\"Taxlaws，\"saysHamiltoninthe\"Federalist\"（No。
12），\"haveinvainbeenmultiplied;newmethodstoenforcethecollectionhaveinvainbeentried;thepublicexpectationhasbeenuniformlydisappointedandthetreasuriesoftheStateshaveremainedempty。Thepopularsystemofadministrationinherentinthenatureofpopulargovernment，coincidingwiththerealscarcityofmoneyincidenttoalanguidandmutilatedstateoftrade，hashithertodefeatedeveryexperimentforextensivecollections，andhasatlengthtaughtthedifferentlegislaturesthefollyofattemptingthem。\"
[Footnotep:OneofthemostsingularoftheseoccurrenceswastheresolutionwhichtheAmericanstookoftemporarilyabandoningtheuseoftea。Thosewhoknowthatmenusuallyclingmoretotheirhabitsthantotheirlifewilldoubtlessadmirethisgreatthoughobscuresacrificewhichwasmadebyawholepeople。]
TheUnitedStateshavenothadanyseriouswartocarryoneversincethatperiod。Inorder，therefore，toappreciatethesacrificeswhichdemocraticnationsmayimposeuponthemselves，wemustwaituntiltheAmericanpeopleisobligedtoputhalfitsentireincomeatthedisposaloftheGovernment，aswasdonebytheEnglish;oruntilitsendsforthatwentiethpartofitspopulationtothefieldofbattle，aswasdonebyFrance。*q[Footnoteq:[TheCivilWarshowedthatwhenthenecessityarosetheAmericanpeople，bothintheNorthandintheSouth，arecapableofmakingthemostenormoussacrifices，bothinmoneyandinmen。]]
InAmericatheuseofconscriptionisunknown，andmenareinducedtoenlistbybounties。ThenotionsandhabitsofthepeopleoftheUnitedStatesaresoopposedtocompulsoryenlistmentthatIdonotimagineitcaneverbesanctionedbythelaws。WhatistermedtheconscriptioninFranceisassuredlytheheaviesttaxuponthepopulationofthatcountry;yethowcouldagreatcontinentalwarbecarriedonwithoutit？TheAmericanshavenotadoptedtheBritishimpressmentofseamen，andtheyhavenothingwhichcorrespondstotheFrenchsystemofmaritimeconscription;thenavy，aswellasthemerchantservice，issuppliedbyvoluntaryservice。Butitisnoteasytoconceivehowapeoplecansustainagreatmaritimewarwithouthavingrecoursetooneortheotherofthesetwosystems。Indeed，theUnion，whichhasfoughtwithsomehonorupontheseas，hasneverpossessedaverynumerousfleet，andtheequipmentofthesmallnumberofAmericanvesselshasalwaysbeenexcessivelyexpensive。
IhaveheardAmericanstatesmenconfessthattheUnionwillhavegreatdifficultyinmaintainingitsrankontheseaswithoutadoptingthesystemofimpressmentorofmaritimeconscription;
butthedifficultyistoinducethepeople，whichexercisesthesupremeauthority，tosubmittoimpressmentoranycompulsorysystem。
Itisincontestablethatintimesofdangerafreepeopledisplaysfarmoreenergythanonewhichisnotso。ButIinclinetobelievethatthisismoreespeciallythecaseinthosefreenationsinwhichthedemocraticelementpreponderates。Democracyappearstometobemuchbetteradaptedforthepeacefulconductofsociety，orforanoccasionaleffortofremarkablevigor，thanforthehardyandprolongedenduranceofthestormswhichbesetthepoliticalexistenceofnations。Thereasonisveryevident;
itisenthusiasmwhichpromptsmentoexposethemselvestodangersandprivations，buttheywillnotsupportthemlongwithoutreflection。Thereismorecalculation，evenintheimpulsesofbravery，thanisgenerallyattributedtothem;andalthoughthefirsteffortsaresuggestedbypassion，perseveranceismaintainedbyadistinctregardofthepurposeinview。A
portionofwhatwevalueisexposed，inordertosavetheremainder。
Butitisthisdistinctperceptionofthefuture，foundeduponasoundjudgmentandanenlightenedexperience，whichismostfrequentlywantingindemocracies。Thepopulaceismoreapttofeelthantoreason;andifitspresentsufferingsaregreat，itistobefearedthatthestillgreatersufferingsattendantupondefeatwillbeforgotten。
Anothercausetendstorendertheeffortsofademocraticgovernmentlessperseveringthanthoseofanaristocracy。Notonlyarethelowerclasseslessawakenedthanthehigherorderstothegoodorevilchancesofthefuture，buttheyareliabletosufferfarmoreacutelyfrompresentprivations。Thenobleexposeshislife，indeed，butthechanceofgloryisequaltothechanceofharm。IfhesacrificesalargeportionofhisincometotheState，hedepriveshimselfforatimeofthepleasuresofaffluence;buttothepoormandeathisembellishedbynopomporrenown，andtheimpostswhichareirksometothericharefataltohim。
Thisrelativeimpotenceofdemocraticrepublicsis，perhaps，thegreatestobstacletothefoundationofarepublicofthiskindinEurope。InorderthatsuchaStateshouldsubsistinonecountryoftheOldWorld，itwouldbenecessarythatsimilarinstitutionsshouldbeintroducedintoalltheothernations。
Iamofopinionthatademocraticgovernmenttendsintheendtoincreasetherealstrengthofsociety;butitcannevercombine，uponasinglepointandatagiventime，somuchpowerasanaristocracyoramonarchy。Ifademocraticcountryremainedduringawholecenturysubjecttoarepublicangovernment，itwouldprobablyattheendofthatperiodbemorepopulousandmoreprosperousthantheneighboringdespoticStates。Butitwouldhaveincurredtheriskofbeingconqueredmuchoftenerthantheywouldinthatlapseofyears。
Self—ControlOfTheAmericanDemocracyTheAmericanpeopleacquiescesslowly，orfrequentlydoesnotacquiesce，inwhatisbeneficialtoitsinterests—ThefaultsoftheAmericandemocracyareforthemostpartreparable。
Thedifficultywhichademocracyhasinconqueringthepassionsandinsubduingtheexigenciesofthemoment，withaviewtothefuture，isconspicuousinthemosttrivialoccurrencesoftheUnitedStates。Thepeople，whichissurroundedbyflatterers，hasgreatdifficultyinsurmountingitsinclinations，andwheneveritissolicitedtoundergoaprivationoranykindofinconvenience，eventoattainanendwhichissanctionedbyitsownrationalconviction，italmostalwaysrefusestocomplyatfirst。ThedeferenceoftheAmericanstothelawshasbeenveryjustlyapplauded;butitmustbeaddedthatinAmericathelegislationismadebythepeopleandforthepeople。Consequently，intheUnitedStatesthelawfavorsthoseclasseswhicharemostinterestedinevadingitelsewhere。Itmaythereforebesupposedthatanoffensivelaw，whichshouldnotbeacknowledgedtobeoneofimmediateutility，wouldeithernotbeenactedorwouldnotbeobeyed。
InAmericathereisnolawagainstfraudulentbankruptcies;
notbecausetheyarefew，butbecausethereareagreatnumberofbankruptcies。Thedreadofbeingprosecutedasabankruptactswithmoreintensityuponthemindofthemajorityofthepeoplethanthefearofbeinginvolvedinlossesorruinbythefailureofotherparties，andasortofguiltytoleranceisextendedbythepublicconsciencetoanoffencewhicheveryonecondemnsinhisindividualcapacity。InthenewStatesoftheSouthwestthecitizensgenerallytakejusticeintotheirownhands，andmurdersareofveryfrequentoccurrence。Thisarisesfromtherudemannersandtheignoranceoftheinhabitantsofthosedeserts，whodonotperceivetheutilityofinvestingthelawwithadequateforce，andwhopreferduelstoprosecutions。
Someoneobservedtomeoneday，inPhiladelphia，thatalmostallcrimesinAmericaarecausedbytheabuseofintoxicatingliquors，whichthelowerclassescanprocureingreatabundance，fromtheirexcessivecheapness。\"Howcomesit，\"saidI，\"thatyoudonotputadutyuponbrandy？\"\"Ourlegislators，\"rejoinedmyinformant，\"havefrequentlythoughtofthisexpedient;butthetaskofputtingitinoperationisadifficultone;arevoltmightbeapprehended，andthememberswhoshouldvoteforalawofthiskindwouldbesureoflosingtheirseats。\"\"WhenceIamtoinfer，\"repliedI，\"thatthedrinkingpopulationconstitutesthemajorityinyourcountry，andthattemperanceissomewhatunpopular。\"
WhenthesethingsarepointedouttotheAmericanstatesmen，theycontentthemselveswithassuringyouthattimewilloperatethenecessarychange，andthattheexperienceofevilwillteachthepeopleitstrueinterests。Thisisfrequentlytrue，althoughademocracyismoreliabletoerrorthanamonarchorabodyofnobles;thechancesofitsregainingtherightpathwhenonceithasacknowledgeditsmistake，aregreateralso;becauseitisrarelyembarrassedbyinternalinterests，whichconflictwiththoseofthemajority，andresisttheauthorityofreason。Butademocracycanonlyobtaintruthastheresultofexperience，andmanynationsmayforfeittheirexistencewhilsttheyareawaitingtheconsequencesoftheirerrors。
ThegreatprivilegeoftheAmericansdoesnotsimplyconsistintheirbeingmoreenlightenedthanothernations，butintheirbeingabletorepairthefaultstheymaycommit。Towhichitmustbeadded，thatademocracycannotderivesubstantialbenefitfrompastexperience，unlessitbearrivedatacertainpitchofknowledgeandcivilization。Therearetribesandpeopleswhoseeducationhasbeensovicious，andwhosecharacterpresentssostrangeamixtureofpassion，ofignorance，andoferroneousnotionsuponallsubjects，thattheyareunabletodiscernthecausesoftheirownwretchedness，andtheyfallasacrificetoillswithwhichtheyareunacquainted。
IhavecrossedvasttractsofcountrythatwereformerlyinhabitedbypowerfulIndiannationswhicharenowextinct;I
havemyselfpassedsometimeinthemidstofmutilatedtribes，whichwitnessthedailydeclineoftheirnumericalstrengthandofthegloryoftheirindependence;andIhaveheardtheseIndiansthemselvesanticipatetheimpendingdoomoftheirrace。
EveryEuropeancanperceivemeanswhichwouldrescuetheseunfortunatebeingsfrominevitabledestruction。Theyaloneareinsensibletotheexpedient;theyfeelthewoewhichyearafteryearheapsupontheirheads，buttheywillperishtoamanwithoutacceptingtheremedy。Itwouldbenecessarytoemployforcetoinducethemtosubmittotheprotectionandtheconstraintofcivilization。
TheincessantrevolutionswhichhaveconvulsedtheSouthAmericanprovincesforthelastquarterofacenturyhavefrequentlybeenadvertedtowithastonishment，andexpectationshavebeenexpressedthatthosenationswouldspeedilyreturntotheirnaturalstate。ButcanitbeaffirmedthattheturmoilofrevolutionisnotactuallythemostnaturalstateoftheSouthAmericanSpaniardsatthepresenttime？Inthatcountrysocietyisplungedintodifficultiesfromwhichallitseffortsareinsufficienttorescueit。TheinhabitantsofthatfairportionoftheWesternHemisphereseemobstinatelybentonpursuingtheworkofinwardhavoc。Iftheyfallintoamomentaryreposefromtheeffectsofexhaustion，thatreposepreparesthemforafreshstateoffrenzy。WhenIconsidertheircondition，whichalternatesbetweenmiseryandcrime，Ishouldbeinclinedtobelievethatdespotismitselfwouldbeabenefittothem，ifitwerepossiblethatthewordsdespotismandbenefitcouldeverbeunitedinmymind。
ConductOfForeignAffairsByTheAmericanDemocracyDirectiongiventotheforeignpolicyoftheUnitedStatesbyWashingtonandJefferson—Almostallthedefectsinherentindemocraticinstitutionsarebroughttolightintheconductofforeignaffairs—Theiradvantagesarelessperceptible。
WehaveseenthattheFederalConstitutionentruststhepermanentdirectionoftheexternalinterestsofthenationtothePresidentandtheSenate，*rwhichtendsinsomedegreetodetachthegeneralforeignpolicyoftheUnionfromthecontrolofthepeople。ItcannotthereforebeassertedwithtruththattheexternalaffairsofStateareconductedbythedemocracy。
[Footnoter:\"ThePresident，\"saystheConstitution，Art。II，sect。2，Section2，\"shallhavepower，byandwiththeadviceandconsentoftheSenate，tomaketreaties，providedtwo—thirdsofthesenatorspresentconcur。\"Thereaderisremindedthatthesenatorsarereturnedforatermofsixyears，andthattheyarechosenbythelegislatureofeachState。]