Asservantsdonotformaseparatepeople,theyhavenohabits,prejudices,ormannerspeculiartothemselves;theyarenotremarkableforanyparticularturnofmindormoodsoffeeling。
Theyknownovicesorvirtuesoftheircondition,buttheypartakeoftheeducation,theopinions,thefeelings,thevirtues,andthevicesoftheircontemporaries;andtheyarehonestmenorscoundrelsinthesamewayastheirmastersare。
Theconditionsofservantsarenotlessequalthanthoseofmasters。Asnomarkedranksorfixedsubordinationaretobefoundamongstthem,theywillnotdisplayeitherthemeannessorthegreatnesswhichcharacterizesthearistocracyofmenialsaswellasallotheraristocracies。IneversawamanintheUnitedStateswhoremindedmeofthatclassofconfidentialservantsofwhichwestillretainareminiscenceinEurope,neitherdidI
evermeetwithsuchathingasalackey:alltracesoftheoneandoftheotherhavedisappeared。
Indemocraciesservantsarenotonlyequalamongstthemselves,butitmaybesaidthattheyareinsomesorttheequalsoftheirmasters。Thisrequiresexplanationinordertoberightlyunderstood。Atanymomentaservantmaybecomeamaster,andheaspirestorisetothatcondition:theservantisthereforenotadifferentmanfromthemaster。Whythenhastheformerarighttocommand,andwhatcompelsthelattertoobey?—
thefreeandtemporaryconsentofboththeirwills。Neitherofthemisbynatureinferiortotheother;theyonlybecomesoforatimebycovenant。Withinthetermsofthiscovenant,theoneisaservant,theotheramaster;beyondittheyaretwocitizensofthecommonwealth—twomen。Ibegthereaderparticularlytoobservethatthisisnotonlythenotionwhichservantsthemselvesentertainoftheirowncondition;domesticserviceislookeduponbymastersinthesamelight;andthepreciselimitsofauthorityandobedienceareasclearlysettledinthemindoftheoneasinthatoftheother。
Whenthegreaterpartofthecommunityhavelongattainedaconditionnearlyalike,andwhenequalityisanoldandacknowledgedfact,thepublicmind,whichisneveraffectedbyexceptions,assignscertaingenerallimitstothevalueofman,aboveorbelowwhichnomancanlongremainplaced。Itisinvainthatwealthandpoverty,authorityandobedience,accidentallyinterposegreatdistancesbetweentwomen;publicopinion,foundedupontheusualorderofthings,drawsthemtoacommonlevel,andcreatesaspeciesofimaginaryequalitybetweenthem,inspiteoftherealinequalityoftheirconditions。Thisall—powerfulopinionpenetratesatlengthevenintotheheartsofthosewhoseinterestmightarmthemtoresistit;itaffectstheirjudgmentwhilstitsubduestheirwill。Intheirinmostconvictionsthemasterandtheservantnolongerperceiveanydeep—seateddifferencebetweenthem,andtheyneitherhopenorfeartomeetwithanysuchatanytime。Theyarethereforeneithersubjecttodisdainnortoanger,andtheydiscernineachotherneitherhumilitynorpride。Themasterholdsthecontractofservicetobetheonlysourceofhispower,andtheservantregardsitastheonlycauseofhisobedience。Theydonotquarrelabouttheirreciprocalsituations,buteachknowshisownandkeepsit。
IntheFrencharmythecommonsoldieristakenfromnearlythesameclassesastheofficer,andmayholdthesamecommissions;outoftheranksheconsidershimselfentirelyequaltohismilitarysuperiors,andinpointoffactheisso;butwhenunderarmshedoesnothesitatetoobey,andhisobedienceisnotthelessprompt,precise,andready,forbeingvoluntaryanddefined。Thisexamplemaygiveanotionofwhattakesplacebetweenmastersandservantsindemocraticcommunities。
Itwouldbepreposteroustosupposethatthosewarmanddeep—seatedaffections,whicharesometimeskindledinthedomesticserviceofaristocracy,willeverspringupbetweenthesetwomen,orthattheywillexhibitstronginstancesofself—sacrifice。Inaristocraciesmastersandservantsliveapart,andfrequentlytheironlyintercourseisthroughathirdperson;yettheycommonlystandfirmlybyoneanother。Indemocraticcountriesthemasterandtheservantareclosetogether;theyareindailypersonalcontact,buttheirmindsdonotintermingle;theyhavecommonoccupations,hardlyevercommoninterests。Amongstsuchapeopletheservantalwaysconsidershimselfasasojournerinthedwellingofhismasters。Heknewnothingoftheirforefathers—hewillseenothingoftheirdescendants—hehasnothinglastingtoexpectfromtheirhand。
Whythenshouldheconfoundhislifewiththeirs,andwhenceshouldsostrangeasurrenderofhimselfproceed?Thereciprocalpositionofthetwomenischanged—theirmutualrelationsmustbesotoo。
IwouldfainillustrateallthesereflectionsbytheexampleoftheAmericans;butforthispurposethedistinctionsofpersonsandplacesmustbeaccuratelytraced。IntheSouthoftheUnion,slaveryexists;allthatIhavejustsaidisconsequentlyinapplicablethere。IntheNorth,themajorityofservantsareeitherfreedmenorthechildrenoffreedmen;thesepersonsoccupyacontestedpositioninthepublicestimation;bythelawstheyarebroughtuptotheleveloftheirmasters—bythemannersofthecountrytheyareobstinatelydetrudedfromit。
Theydonotthemselvesclearlyknowtheirproperplace,andtheyarealmostalwayseitherinsolentorcraven。ButintheNorthernStates,especiallyinNewEngland,thereareacertainnumberofwhites,whoagree,forwages,toyieldatemporaryobediencetothewilloftheirfellow—citizens。Ihaveheardthattheseservantscommonlyperformthedutiesoftheirsituationwithpunctualityandintelligence;andthatwithoutthinkingthemselvesnaturallyinferiortothepersonwhoordersthem,theysubmitwithoutreluctancetoobeyhim。Theyappeartometocarryintoservicesomeofthosemanlyhabitswhichindependenceandequalityengender。Havingonceselectedahardwayoflife,theydonotseektoescapefromitbyindirectmeans;andtheyhavesufficientrespectforthemselves,nottorefusetotheirmasterthatobediencewhichtheyhavefreelypromised。Ontheirpart,mastersrequirenothingoftheirservantsbutthefaithfulandrigorousperformanceofthecovenant:theydonotaskformarksofrespect,theydonotclaimtheirloveordevotedattachment;itisenoughthat,asservants,theyareexactandhonest。Itwouldnotthenbetruetoassertthat,indemocraticsociety,therelationofservantsandmastersisdisorganized:itisorganizedonanotherfooting;theruleisdifferent,butthereisarule。
ItisnotmypurposetoinquirewhetherthenewstateofthingswhichIhavejustdescribedisinferiortothatwhichprecededit,orsimplydifferent。Enoughformethatitisfixedanddetermined:forwhatismostimportanttomeetwithamongmenisnotanygivenordering,butorder。ButwhatshallIsayofthosesadandtroubledtimesatwhichequalityisestablishedinthemidstofthetumultofrevolution—whendemocracy,afterhavingbeenintroducedintothestateofsociety,stillstruggleswithdifficultyagainsttheprejudicesandmannersofthecountry?Thelaws,andpartiallypublicopinion,alreadydeclarethatnonaturalorpermanentinferiorityexistsbetweentheservantandthemaster。Butthisnewbeliefhasnotyetreachedtheinnermostconvictionsofthelatter,orratherhisheartrejectsit;inthesecretpersuasionofhismindthemasterthinksthathebelongstoapeculiarandsuperiorrace;hedaresnotsayso,butheshudderswhilstheallowshimselftobedraggedtothesamelevel。Hisauthorityoverhisservantsbecomestimidandatthesametimeharsh:hehasalreadyceasedtoentertainforthemthefeelingsofpatronizingkindnesswhichlonguncontestedpoweralwaysengenders,andheissurprisedthat,beingchangedhimself,hisservantchangesalso。Hewantshisattendantstoformregularandpermanenthabits,inaconditionofdomesticservicewhichisonlytemporary:herequiresthattheyshouldappearcontentedwithandproudofaservilecondition,whichtheywillonedayshakeoff—thattheyshouldsacrificethemselvestoamanwhocanneitherprotectnorruinthem—andinshortthattheyshouldcontractanindissolubleengagementtoabeinglikethemselves,andonewhowilllastnolongerthantheywill。
Amongstaristocraticnationsitoftenhappensthattheconditionofdomesticservicedoesnotdegradethecharacterofthosewhoenteruponit,becausetheyneitherknownorimagineanyother;andtheamazinginequalitywhichismanifestbetweenthemandtheirmasterappearstobethenecessaryandunavoidableconsequenceofsomehiddenlawofProvidence。Indemocraciestheconditionofdomesticservicedoesnotdegradethecharacterofthosewhoenteruponit,becauseitisfreelychosen,andadoptedforatimeonly;becauseitisnotstigmatizedbypublicopinion,andcreatesnopermanentinequalitybetweentheservantandthemaster。Butwhilstthetransitionfromonesocialconditiontoanotherisgoingon,thereisalmostalwaysatimewhenmen’smindsfluctuatebetweenthearistocraticnotionofsubjectionandthedemocraticnotionofobedience。Obediencethenlosesitsmoralimportanceintheeyesofhimwhoobeys;henolongerconsidersitasaspeciesofdivineobligation,andhedoesnotyetviewitunderitspurelyhumanaspect;ithastohimnocharacterofsanctityorofjustice,andhesubmitstoitastoadegradingbutprofitablecondition。Atthatmomentaconfusedandimperfectphantomofequalityhauntsthemindsofservants;
theydonotatonceperceivewhethertheequalitytowhichtheyareentitledistobefoundwithinorwithoutthepaleofdomesticservice;andtheyrebelintheirheartsagainstasubordinationtowhichtheyhavesubjectedthemselves,andfromwhichtheyderiveactualprofit。Theyconsenttoserve,andtheyblushtoobey;theyliketheadvantagesofservice,butnotthemaster;orrather,theyarenotsurethattheyoughtnotthemselvestobemasters,andtheyareinclinedtoconsiderhimwhoordersthemasanunjustusurperoftheirownrights。Thenitisthatthedwellingofeverycitizenoffersaspectaclesomewhatanalogoustothegloomyaspectofpoliticalsociety。A
secretandintestinewarfareisgoingontherebetweenpowers,everrivalsandsuspiciousofoneanother:themasterisill—naturedandweak,theservantill—naturedandintractable;
theoneconstantlyattemptstoevadebyunfairrestrictionshisobligationtoprotectandtoremunerate—theotherhisobligationtoobey。Thereinsofdomesticgovernmentdanglebetweenthem,tobesnatchedatbyoneortheother。Thelineswhichdivideauthorityfromoppression,libertyfromlicense,andrightfrommight,aretotheireyessojumbledtogetherandconfused,thatnooneknowsexactlywhatheis,orwhathemaybe,orwhatheoughttobe。Suchaconditionisnotdemocracy,butrevolution。
ChapterVI:ThatDemocraticInstitutionsAndMannersTendToRaiseRentsAndShortenTheTermsOfLeasesWhathasbeensaidofservantsandmastersisapplicable,toacertainextent,tolandownersandfarmingtenants;butthissubjectdeservestobeconsideredbyitself。InAmericathereare,properlyspeaking,notenantfarmers;everymanownsthegroundhetills。Itmustbeadmittedthatdemocraticlawstendgreatlytoincreasethenumberoflandowners,andtodiminishthatoffarmingtenants。YetwhattakesplaceintheUnitedStatesismuchlessattributabletotheinstitutionsofthecountrythantothecountryitself。InAmericalandischeap,andanyonemayeasilybecomealandowner;itsreturnsaresmall,anditsproducecannotwellbedividedbetweenalandownerandafarmer。Americathereforestandsaloneinthisaswellasinmanyotherrespects,anditwouldbeamistaketotakeitasanexample。
Ibelievethatindemocraticaswellasinaristocraticcountriestherewillbelandownersandtenants,buttheconnectionexistingbetweenthemwillbeofadifferentkind。Inaristocraciesthehireofafarmispaidtothelandlord,notonlyinrent,butinrespect,regard,andduty;indemocraciesthewholeispaidincash。Whenestatesaredividedandpassedfromhandtohand,andthepermanentconnectionwhichexistedbetweenfamiliesandthesoilisdissolved,thelandownerandthetenantareonlycasuallybroughtintocontact。Theymeetforamomenttosettletheconditionsoftheagreement,andthenlosesightofeachother;theyaretwostrangersbroughttogetherbyacommoninterest,andwhokeenlytalkoveramatterofbusiness,thesoleobjectofwhichistomakemoney。
Inproportionaspropertyissubdividedandwealthdistributedoverthecountry,thecommunityisfilledwithpeoplewhoseformeropulenceisdeclining,andwithotherswhosefortunesareofrecentgrowthandwhosewantsincreasemorerapidlythantheirresources。Forallsuchpersonsthesmallestpecuniaryprofitisamatterofimportance,andnoneofthemfeeldisposedtowaiveanyoftheirclaims,ortoloseanyportionoftheirincome。Asranksareintermingled,andasverylargeaswellasveryscantyfortunesbecomemorerare,everydaybringsthesocialconditionofthelandownernearertothatofthefarmer;theonehasnotnaturallyanyuncontestedsuperiorityovertheother;betweentwomenwhoareequal,andnotateaseintheircircumstances,thecontractofhireisexclusivelyanaffairofmoney。Amanwhoseestateextendsoverawholedistrict,andwhoownsahundredfarms,iswellawareoftheimportanceofgainingatthesametimetheaffectionsofsomethousandsofmen;thisobjectappearstocallforhisexertions,andtoattainithewillreadilymakeconsiderablesacrifices。
Buthewhoownsahundredacresisinsensibletosimilarconsiderations,andhecaresbutlittletowintheprivateregardofhistenant。
Anaristocracydoesnotexpirelikeamaninasingleday;
thearistocraticprincipleisslowlyunderminedinmen’sopinion,beforeitisattackedintheirlaws。Longbeforeopenwarisdeclaredagainstit,thetiewhichhadhithertounitedthehigherclassestothelowermaybeseentobegraduallyrelaxed。
Indifferenceandcontemptarebetrayedbyoneclass,jealousyandhatredbytheothers;theintercoursebetweenrichandpoorbecomeslessfrequentandlesskind,andrentsareraised。Thisisnottheconsequenceofademocraticrevolution,butitscertainharbinger;foranaristocracywhichhaslosttheaffectionsofthepeople,onceandforever,islikeatreedeadattheroot,whichisthemoreeasilytornupbythewindsthehigheritsbrancheshavespread。
Inthecourseofthelastfiftyyearstherentsoffarmshaveamazinglyincreased,notonlyinFrancebutthroughoutthegreaterpartofEurope。Theremarkableimprovementswhichhavetakenplaceinagricultureandmanufactureswithinthesameperioddonotsufficeinmyopiniontoexplainthisfact;
recoursemustbehadtoanothercausemorepowerfulandmoreconcealed。IbelievethatcauseistobefoundinthedemocraticinstitutionswhichseveralEuropeannationshaveadopted,andinthedemocraticpassionswhichmoreorlessagitatealltherest。
IhavefrequentlyheardgreatEnglishlandownerscongratulatethemselvesthat,atthepresentday,theyderiveamuchlargerincomefromtheirestatesthantheirfathersdid。Theyhaveperhapsgoodreasonstobeglad;butmostassuredlytheyknownotwhattheyaregladof。Theythinktheyaremakingacleargain,whenitisinrealityonlyanexchange;theirinfluenceiswhattheyarepartingwithforcash;andwhattheygaininmoneywillerelongbelostinpower。
Thereisyetanothersignbywhichitiseasytoknowthatagreatdemocraticrevolutionisgoingonorapproaching。IntheMiddleAgesalmostalllandswereleasedforlives,orforverylongterms;thedomesticeconomyofthatperiodshowsthatleasesforninety—nineyearsweremorefrequentthenthanleasesfortwelveyearsarenow。Menthenbelievedthatfamilieswereimmortal;men’sconditionsseemedsettledforever,andthewholeofsocietyappearedtobesofixed,thatitwasnotsupposedthatanythingwouldeverbestirredorshakeninitsstructure。Inagesofequality,thehumanmindtakesadifferentbent;theprevailingnotionisthatnothingabides,andmanishauntedbythethoughtofmutability。Underthisimpressionthelandownerandthetenanthimselfareinstinctivelyaversetoprotractedtermsofobligation;theyareafraidofbeingtiedupto—morrowbythecontractwhichbenefitsthemtoday。Theyhavevagueanticipationsofsomesuddenandunforeseenchangeintheirconditions;theymistrustthemselves;theyfearlesttheirtasteshouldchange,andlesttheyshouldlamentthattheycannotridthemselvesofwhattheycoveted;noraresuchfearsunfounded,forindemocraticagesthatwhichismostfluctuatingamidstthefluctuationofallaroundistheheartofman。
ChapterVII:InfluenceOfDemocracyOnWagesMostoftheremarkswhichIhavealreadymadeinspeakingofservantsandmasters,maybeappliedtomastersandworkmen。Asthegradationsofthesocialscalecometobelessobserved,whilstthegreatsinkthehumblerise,andaspovertyaswellasopulenceceasestobehereditary,thedistancebothinrealityandinopinion,whichheretoforeseparatedtheworkmanfromthemaster,islessenedeveryday。Theworkmanconceivesamoreloftyopinionofhisrights,ofhisfuture,ofhimself;heisfilledwithnewambitionandwithnewdesires,heisharassedbynewwants。Everyinstantheviewswithlongingeyestheprofitsofhisemployer;andinordertosharethem,hestrivestodisposeofhislaboratahigherrate,andhegenerallysucceedsatlengthintheattempt。Indemocraticcountries,aswellaselsewhere,mostofthebranchesofproductiveindustryarecarriedonatasmallcost,bymenlittleremovedbytheirwealthoreducationabovethelevelofthosewhomtheyemploy。Thesemanufacturingspeculatorsareextremelynumerous;theirinterestsdiffer;theycannotthereforeeasilyconcertorcombinetheirexertions。Ontheotherhandtheworkmenhavealmostalwayssomesureresources,whichenablethemtorefusetoworkwhentheycannotgetwhattheyconceivetobethefairpriceoftheirlabor。Intheconstantstruggleforwageswhichisgoingonbetweenthesetwoclasses,theirstrengthisdivided,andsuccessalternatesfromonetotheother。Itisevenprobablethatintheendtheinterestoftheworkingclassmustprevail;forthehighwageswhichtheyhavealreadyobtainedmakethemeverydaylessdependentontheirmasters;andastheygrowmoreindependent,theyhavegreaterfacilitiesforobtainingafurtherincreaseofwages。
IshalltakeforexamplethatbranchofproductiveindustrywhichisstillatthepresentdaythemostgenerallyfollowedinFrance,andinalmostallthecountriesoftheworld—Imeanthecultivationofthesoil。InFrancemostofthosewholaborforhireinagriculture,arethemselvesownersofcertainplotsofground,whichjustenablethemtosubsistwithoutworkingforanyoneelse。Whentheselaborerscometooffertheirservicestoaneighboringlandownerorfarmer,ifherefusesthemacertainrateofwages,theyretiretotheirownsmallpropertyandawaitanotheropportunity。
Ithinkthat,uponthewhole,itmaybeassertedthataslowandgradualriseofwagesisoneofthegenerallawsofdemocraticcommunities。Inproportionassocialconditionsbecomemoreequal,wagesrise;andaswagesarehigher,socialconditionsbecomemoreequal。Butagreatandgloomyexceptionoccursinourowntime。Ihaveshowninaprecedingchapterthataristocracy,expelledfrompoliticalsociety,hastakenrefugeincertaindepartmentsofproductiveindustry,andhasestablisheditsswaythereunderanotherform;thispowerfullyaffectstherateofwages。AsalargecapitalisrequiredtoembarkinthegreatmanufacturingspeculationstowhichIallude,thenumberofpersonswhoenteruponthemisexceedinglylimited:astheirnumberissmall,theycaneasilyconcerttogether,andfixtherateofwagesastheyplease。Theirworkmenonthecontraryareexceedinglynumerous,andthenumberofthemisalwaysincreasing;for,fromtimetotime,anextraordinaryrunofbusinesstakesplace,duringwhichwagesareinordinatelyhigh,andtheyattractthesurroundingpopulationtothefactories。
But,whenoncemenhaveembracedthatlineoflife,wehavealreadyseenthattheycannotquititagain,becausetheysooncontracthabitsofbodyandmindwhichunfitthemforanyothersortoftoil。Thesemenhavegenerallybutlittleeducationandindustry,withbutfewresources;theystandthereforealmostatthemercyofthemaster。Whencompetition,orotherfortuitouscircumstances,lessenhisprofits,hecanreducethewagesofhisworkmenalmostatpleasure,andmakefromthemwhathelosesbythechancesofbusiness。Shouldtheworkmenstrike,themaster,whoisarichman,canverywellwaitwithoutbeingruineduntilnecessitybringsthembacktohim;buttheymustworkdaybydayortheydie,fortheironlypropertyisintheirhands。Theyhavelongbeenimpoverishedbyoppression,andthepoorertheybecomethemoreeasilymaytheybeoppressed:theycanneverescapefromthisfatalcircleofcauseandconsequence。Itisnotthensurprisingthatwages,afterhavingsometimessuddenlyrisen,arepermanentlyloweredinthisbranchofindustry;
whereasinothercallingsthepriceoflabor,whichgenerallyincreasesbutlittle,isneverthelessconstantlyaugmented。
Thisstateofdependenceandwretchedness,inwhichapartofthemanufacturingpopulationofourtimelives,formsanexceptiontothegeneralrule,contrarytothestateofalltherestofthecommunity;but,forthisveryreason,nocircumstanceismoreimportantormoredeservingoftheespecialconsiderationofthelegislator;forwhenthewholeofsocietyisinmotion,itisdifficulttokeepanyoneclassstationary;andwhenthegreaternumberofmenareopeningnewpathstofortune,itisnolessdifficulttomakethefewsupportinpeacetheirwantsandtheirdesires。
BookThree—ChaptersVIII—X
ChapterVIII:InfluenceOfDemocracyOnKindredIhavejustexaminedthechangeswhichtheequalityofconditionsproducesinthemutualrelationsoftheseveralmembersofthecommunityamongstdemocraticnations,andamongsttheAmericansinparticular。Iwouldnowgodeeper,andinquireintotheclosertiesofkindred:myobjecthereisnottoseekfornewtruths,buttoshowinwhatmannerfactsalreadyknownareconnectedwithmysubject。
Ithasbeenuniversallyremarked,thatinourtimetheseveralmembersofafamilystanduponanentirelynewfootingtowardseachother;thatthedistancewhichformerlyseparatedafatherfromhissonshasbeenlessened;andthatpaternalauthority,ifnotdestroyed,isatleastimpaired。Somethinganalogoustothis,butevenmorestriking,maybeobservedintheUnitedStates。InAmericathefamily,intheRomanandaristocraticsignificationoftheword,doesnotexist。Allthatremainsofitareafewvestigesinthefirstyearsofchildhood,whenthefatherexercises,withoutopposition,thatabsolutedomesticauthority,whichthefeeblenessofhischildrenrendersnecessary,andwhichtheirinterest,aswellashisownincontestablesuperiority,warrants。ButassoonastheyoungAmericanapproachesmanhood,thetiesoffilialobediencearerelaxeddaybyday:masterofhisthoughts,heissoonmasterofhisconduct。InAmericathereis,strictlyspeaking,noadolescence:atthecloseofboyhoodthemanappears,andbeginstotraceouthisownpath。Itwouldbeanerrortosupposethatthisisprecededbyadomesticstruggle,inwhichthesonhasobtainedbyasortofmoralviolencethelibertythathisfatherrefusedhim。Thesamehabits,thesameprincipleswhichimpeltheonetoasserthisindependence,predisposetheothertoconsidertheuseofthatindependenceasanincontestableright。Theformerdoesnotexhibitanyofthoserancorousorirregularpassionswhichdisturbmenlongaftertheyhaveshakenoffanestablishedauthority;thelatterfeelsnoneofthatbitterandangryregretwhichisapttosurviveabygonepower。Thefatherforeseesthelimitsofhisauthoritylongbeforehand,andwhenthetimearriveshesurrendersitwithoutastruggle:thesonlooksforwardtotheexactperiodatwhichhewillbehisownmaster;andheentersuponhisfreedomwithoutprecipitationandwithouteffort,asapossessionwhichishisownandwhichnooneseekstowrestfromhim。*a[Footnotea:TheAmericans,however,havenotyetthoughtfittostriptheparent,ashasbeendoneinFrance,ofoneofthechiefelementsofparentalauthority,bydeprivinghimofthepowerofdisposingofhispropertyathisdeath。IntheUnitedStatestherearenorestrictionsonthepowersofatestator。Inthisrespect,asinalmostallothers,itiseasytoperceive,thatifthepoliticallegislationoftheAmericansismuchmoredemocraticthanthatoftheFrench,thecivillegislationofthelatterisinfinitelymoredemocraticthanthatoftheformer。
Thismayeasilybeaccountedfor。ThecivillegislationofFrancewastheworkofamanwhosawthatitwashisinteresttosatisfythedemocraticpassionsofhiscontemporariesinallthatwasnotdirectlyandimmediatelyhostiletohisownpower。Hewaswillingtoallowsomepopularprinciplestoregulatethedistributionofpropertyandthegovernmentoffamilies,providedtheywerenottobeintroducedintotheadministrationofpublicaffairs。Whilstthetorrentofdemocracyoverwhelmedthecivillawsofthecountry,hehopedtofindaneasyshelterbehinditspoliticalinstitutions。Thispolicywasatoncebothadroitandselfish;butacompromiseofthiskindcouldnotlast;forintheendpoliticalinstitutionsneverfailtobecometheimageandexpressionofcivilsociety;andinthissenseitmaybesaidthatnothingismorepoliticalinanationthanitscivillegislation。]
Itmayperhapsnotbewithoututilitytoshowhowthesechangeswhichtakeplaceinfamilyrelations,arecloselyconnectedwiththesocialandpoliticalrevolutionwhichisapproachingitsconsummationunderourownobservation。Therearecertaingreatsocialprinciples,whichapeopleeitherintroduceseverywhere,ortoleratesnowhere。Incountrieswhicharearistocraticallyconstitutedwithallthegradationsofrank,thegovernmentnevermakesadirectappealtothemassofthegoverned:asmenareunitedtogether,itisenoughtoleadtheforemost,therestwillfollow。Thisisequallyapplicabletothefamily,astoallaristocracieswhichhaveahead。Amongstaristocraticnations,socialinstitutionsrecognize,intruth,nooneinthefamilybutthefather;childrenarereceivedbysocietyathishands;societygovernshim,hegovernsthem。Thustheparenthasnotonlyanaturalright,butheacquiresapoliticalright,tocommandthem:heistheauthorandthesupportofhisfamily;butheisalsoitsconstitutedruler。Indemocracies,wherethegovernmentpicksouteveryindividualsinglyfromthemass,tomakehimsubservienttothegenerallawsofthecommunity,nosuchintermediatepersonisrequired:afatheristhere,intheeyeofthelaw,onlyamemberofthecommunity,olderandricherthanhissons。
Whenmostoftheconditionsoflifeareextremelyunequal,andtheinequalityoftheseconditionsispermanent,thenotionofasuperiorgrowsupontheimaginationsofmen:ifthelawinvestedhimwithnoprivileges,customandpublicopinionwouldconcedethem。When,onthecontrary,mendifferbutlittlefromeachother,anddonotalwaysremainindissimilarconditionsoflife,thegeneralnotionofasuperiorbecomesweakerandlessdistinct:itisvainforlegislationtostrivetoplacehimwhoobeysverymuchbeneathhimwhocommands;themannersofthetimebringthetwomennearertooneanother,anddrawthemdailytowardsthesamelevel。Althoughthelegislationofanaristocraticpeopleshouldgrantnopeculiarprivilegestotheheadsoffamilies;Ishallnotbethelessconvincedthattheirpowerismorerespectedandmoreextensivethaninademocracy;
forIknowthat,whatsoeverthelawsmaybe,superiorsalwaysappearhigherandinferiorslowerinaristocraciesthanamongstdemocraticnations。
Whenmenlivemorefortheremembranceofwhathasbeenthanforthecareofwhatis,andwhentheyaremoregiventoattendtowhattheirancestorsthoughtthantothinkthemselves,thefatheristhenaturalandnecessarytiebetweenthepastandthepresent—thelinkbywhichtheendsofthesetwochainsareconnected。Inaristocracies,then,thefatherisnotonlythecivilheadofthefamily,buttheoracleofitstraditions,theexpounderofitscustoms,thearbiterofitsmanners。Heislistenedtowithdeference,heisaddressedwithrespect,andthelovewhichisfeltforhimisalwaystemperedwithfear。Whentheconditionofsocietybecomesdemocratic,andmenadoptastheirgeneralprinciplethatitisgoodandlawfultojudgeofallthingsforone’sself,usingformerpointsofbeliefnotasaruleoffaithbutsimplyasameansofinformation,thepowerwhichtheopinionsofafatherexerciseoverthoseofhissonsdiminishesaswellashislegalpower。
Perhapsthesubdivisionofestateswhichdemocracybringswithitcontributesmorethananythingelsetochangetherelationsexistingbetweenafatherandhischildren。Whenthepropertyofthefatherofafamilyisscanty,hissonandhimselfconstantlyliveinthesameplace,andsharethesameoccupations:habitandnecessitybringthemtogether,andforcethemtoholdconstantcommunication:theinevitableconsequenceisasortoffamiliarintimacy,whichrendersauthoritylessabsolute,andwhichcanillbereconciledwiththeexternalformsofrespect。Nowindemocraticcountriestheclassofthosewhoarepossessedofsmallfortunesispreciselythatwhichgivesstrengthtothenotions,andaparticulardirectiontothemanners,ofthecommunity。Thatclassmakesitsopinionspreponderateasuniversallyasitswill,andeventhosewhoaremostinclinedtoresistitscommandsarecarriedawayintheendbyitsexample。Ihaveknowneageropponentsofdemocracywhoallowedtheirchildrentoaddressthemwithperfectcolloquialequality。
Thus,atthesametimethatthepowerofaristocracyisdeclining,theaustere,theconventional,andthelegalpartofparentalauthorityvanishes,andaspeciesofequalityprevailsaroundthedomestichearth。Iknownot,uponthewhole,whethersocietylosesbythechange,butIaminclinedtobelievethatmanindividuallyisagainerbyit。Ithinkthat,inproportionasmannersandlawsbecomemoredemocratic,therelationoffatherandsonbecomesmoreintimateandmoreaffectionate;rulesandauthorityarelesstalkedof;confidenceandtendernessareoftentimesincreased,anditwouldseemthatthenaturalbondisdrawncloserinproportionasthesocialbondisloosened。Inademocraticfamilythefatherexercisesnootherpowerthanthatwithwhichmenlovetoinvesttheaffectionandtheexperienceofage;hisorderswouldperhapsbedisobeyed,buthisadviceisforthemostpartauthoritative。Thoughhebenothedgedinwithceremonialrespect,hissonsatleastaccosthimwithconfidence;
nosettledformofspeechisappropriatedtothemodeofaddressinghim,buttheyspeaktohimconstantly,andarereadytoconsulthimdaybyday;themasterandtheconstitutedrulerhavevanished—thefatherremains。Nothingmoreisneeded,inordertojudgeofthedifferencebetweenthetwostatesofsocietyinthisrespect,thantoperusethefamilycorrespondenceofaristocraticages。Thestyleisalwayscorrect,ceremonious,stiff,andsocoldthatthenaturalwarmthoftheheartcanhardlybefeltinthelanguage。Thelanguage,onthecontrary,addressedbyasontohisfatherindemocraticcountriesisalwaysmarkedbymingledfreedom,familiarityandaffection,whichatonceshowthatnewrelationshavesprungupinthebosomofthefamily。
Asimilarrevolutiontakesplaceinthemutualrelationsofchildren。Inaristocraticfamilies,aswellasinaristocraticsociety,everyplaceismarkedoutbeforehand。Notonlydoesthefatheroccupyaseparaterank,inwhichheenjoysextensiveprivileges,buteventhechildrenarenotequalamongstthemselves。Theageandsexofeachirrevocablydeterminehisrank,andsecuretohimcertainprivileges:mostofthesedistinctionsareabolishedordiminishedbydemocracy。Inaristocraticfamiliestheeldestson,inheritingthegreaterpartoftheproperty,andalmostalltherightsofthefamily,becomesthechief,and,toacertainextent,themaster,ofhisbrothers。
Greatnessandpowerareforhim—forthem,mediocrityanddependence。Neverthelessitwouldbewrongtosupposethat,amongstaristocraticnations,theprivilegesoftheeldestsonareadvantageoustohimselfalone,orthattheyexcitenothingbutenvyandhatredinthosearoundhim。Theeldestsoncommonlyendeavorstoprocurewealthandpowerforhisbrothers,becausethegeneralsplendorofthehouseisreflectedbackonhimwhorepresentsit;theyoungersonsseektobacktheelderbrotherinallhisundertakings,becausethegreatnessandpoweroftheheadofthefamilybetterenablehimtoprovideforallitsbranches。
Thedifferentmembersofanaristocraticfamilyarethereforeverycloselyboundtogether;theirinterestsareconnected,theirmindsagree,buttheirheartsareseldominharmony。
Democracyalsobindsbrotherstoeachother,butbyverydifferentmeans。Underdemocraticlawsallthechildrenareperfectlyequal,andconsequentlyindependent;nothingbringsthemforciblytogether,butnothingkeepsthemapart;andastheyhavethesameorigin,astheyaretrainedunderthesameroof,astheyaretreatedwiththesamecare,andasnopeculiarprivilegedistinguishesordividesthem,theaffectionateandyouthfulintimacyofearlyyearseasilyspringsupbetweenthem。Scarcelyanyopportunitiesoccurtobreakthetiethusformedattheoutsetoflife;fortheirbrotherhoodbringsthemdailytogether,withoutembarrassingthem。Itisnot,then,byinterest,butbycommonassociationsandbythefreesympathyofopinionandoftaste,thatdemocracyunitesbrotherstoeachother。Itdividestheirinheritance,butitallowstheirheartsandmindstomingletogether。Suchisthecharmofthesedemocraticmanners,thateventhepartisansofaristocracyarecaughtbyit;andafterhavingexperienceditforsometime,theyarebynomeanstemptedtoreverttotherespectfulandfrigidobservanceofaristocraticfamilies。Theywouldbegladtoretainthedomestichabitsofdemocracy,iftheymightthrowoffitssocialconditionsanditslaws;buttheseelementsareindissolublyunited,anditisimpossibletoenjoytheformerwithoutenduringthelatter。