its name。
The tendencies which I have just alluded to are as yet very slightly perceptible in political society； but they already begin to exercise an unfavorable influence upon the national character of the Americans。 I am inclined to attribute the singular paucity of distinguished political characters to the ever…increasing activity of the despotism of the majority in the United States。 When the American Revolution broke out they arose in great numbers； for public opinion then served； not to tyrannize over； but to direct the exertions of individuals。 Those celebrated men took a full part in the general agitation of mind common at that period； and they attained a high degree of personal fame； which was reflected back upon the nation； but which was by no means borrowed from it。
In absolute governments the great nobles who are nearest to the throne flatter the passions of the sovereign； and voluntarily truckle to his caprices。 But the mass of the nation does not degrade itself by servitude： it often submits from weakness； from habit； or from ignorance； and sometimes from loyalty。 Some nations have been known to sacrifice their own desires to those of the sovereign with pleasure and with pride； thus exhibiting a sort of independence in the very act of submission。 These peoples are miserable； but they are not degraded。 There is a great difference between doing what one does not approve and feigning to approve what one does； the one is the necessary case of a weak person； the other befits the temper of a lackey。
In free countries； where everyone is more or less called upon to give his opinion in the affairs of state； in democratic republics； where public life is incessantly commingled with domestic affairs； where the sovereign authority is accessible on every side； and where its attention can almost always be attracted by vociferation； more persons are to be met with who speculate upon its foibles and live at the cost of its passions than in absolute monarchies。 Not because men are naturally worse in these States than elsewhere； but the temptation is stronger； and of easier access at the same time。 The result is a far more extensive debasement of the characters of citizens。
Democratic republics extend the practice of currying favor with the many； and they introduce it into a greater number of classes at once： this is one of the most serious reproaches that can be addressed to them。 In democratic States organized on the principles of the American republics； this is more especially the case； where the authority of the majority is so absolute and so irresistible that a man must give up his rights as a citizen； and almost abjure his quality as a human being； if te intends to stray from the track which it lays down。
In that immense crowd which throngs the avenues to power in the United States I found very few men who displayed any of that manly candor and that masculine independence of opinion which frequently distinguished the Americans in former times； and which constitutes the leading feature in distinguished characters； wheresoever they may be found。 It seems； at first sight； as if all the minds of the Americans were formed upon one model； so accurately do they correspond in their manner of judging。 A stranger does； indeed； sometimes meet with Americans who dissent from these rigorous formularies； with men who deplore the defects of the laws； the mutability and the ignorance of democracy； who even go so far as to observe the evil tendencies which impair the national character； and to point out such remedies as it might be possible to apply； but no one is there to hear these things besides yourself； and you； to whom these secret reflections are confided； are a stranger and a bird of passage。 They are very ready to communicate truths which are useless to you； but they continue to hold a different language in public。
If ever these lines are read in America； I am well assured of two things： in the first place； that all who peruse them will raise their voices to condemn me； and in the second place； that very many of them will acquit me at the bottom of their conscience。
I have heard of patriotism in the United States； and it is a virtue which may be found among the people； but never among the leaders of the people。 This may be explained by analogy； despotism debases the oppressed much more than the oppressor： in absolute monarchies the king has often great virtues； but the courtiers are invariably servile。 It is true that the American courtiers do not say 〃Sire；〃 or 〃Your Majesty〃 … a distinction without a difference。 They are forever talking of the natural intelligence of the populace they serve； they do not debate the question as to which of the virtues of their master is pre…eminently worthy of admiration； for they assure him that he possesses all the virtues under heaven without having acquired them； or without caring to acquire them； they do not give him their daughters and their wives to be raised at his pleasure to the rank of his concubines； but； by sacrificing their opinions； they prostitute themselves。 Moralists and philosophers in America are not obliged to conceal their opinions under the veil of allegory； but； before they venture upon a harsh truth； they say； 〃We are aware that the people which we are addressing is too superior to all the weaknesses of human nature to lose the command of its temper for an instant； and we should not hold this language if we were not speaking to men whom their virtues and their intelligence render more worthy of freedom than all the rest of the world。〃 It would have been impossible for the sycophants of Louis XIV to flatter more dexterously。 For my part； I am persuaded that in all governments； whatever their nature may be； servility will cower to force； and adulation will cling to power。 The only means of preventing men from degrading themselves is to invest no one with that unlimited authority which is the surest method of debasing them。
The Greatest Dangers Of The American Republics Proceed From The Unlimited Power Of The Majority
Democratic republics liable to perish from a misuse of their power； and not by impotence … The Governments of the American republics are more centralized and more energetic than those of the monarchies of Europe … Dangers resulting from this … Opinions of Hamilton and Jefferson upon this point。
Governments usually fall a sacrifice to impotence or to tyranny。 In the former case their power escapes from them； it is wrested from their grasp in the latter。 Many observers； who have witnessed the anarchy of democratic States； have imagined that the government of those States was naturally weak and impotent。 The truth is； that when once hostilities are begun between parties； the government loses its control over society。 But I do not think that a democratic power is naturally without force or without resources： say； rather； that it is almost always by the abuse of its force and the misemployment of its resources that a democratic government fails。 Anarchy is almost always produced by its tyranny or its mistakes； but not by its want of strength。
It is important not to confound stability with force； or the greatness of a thing with its duration。 In democratic republics； the power which directs *e society is not stable； for it often changes hands and assumes a new direction。 But whichever way it turns； its force is almost irresistible。 The Governments of the American republics appear to me to be as much centralized as those of the absolute monarchies of Europe； and more energetic than they are。 I do not； therefore； imagine that they will perish from weakness。 *f
＇Footnote e： This power may be centred in an assembly； in which case it will be strong without being stable； or it may be centred in an individual； in which case it will be less strong； but more stable。＇
＇Footnote f： I presume that it is scarcely necessary to remind the reader here； as well as throughout the remainder of this chapter； that I am speaking； not of the Federal Government； but of the several governments of each State； which the majority controls at its pleasure。＇
If ever the free institutions of America are destroyed； that event may be attributed to the unlimited authority of the majority； which may at some future time urge the minorities to desperation； and oblige them to have recourse to physical force。 Anarchy will then be the result； but it will have been brought about by despotism。
Mr。 Hamilton expresses the same opinion in the 〃Federalist；〃 No。 51。 〃It is of great importance in a republic not only to guard the society against the oppression of its rulers； but to guard one part of the society against the injustice of the other part。 Justice is the end of government。 It is the end of civil society。 It ever has been； and ever will be； pursued until it be obtained； or until liberty be lost in the pursuit。 In a society； under the forms of which the stronger faction can readily unite and oppress the weaker； anarchy may as truly be said to reign as in a state of nature； where the weaker individual is not secured against the violence of the stronger： and as in the latter state even the stronger individuals are prompted by the uncertainty of their condition to submit to a government which may protect the weak as well as themselves； so in the former state will the more powerful factions be gradually induced by a like motive to wish for a government which will protect all parties； the weaker as well as the more powerful。 It can be little doubted that； if the State of Rhode Island was separated from the Confederacy and left to itself； the insecurity of right under the popular form of government within such narrow limits would be displayed by such reiterated oppressions of the factious majorities； that some power altogether independent of the people would soon be called for by the voice of the very factions whose misrule had proved the necessity of it。〃
Jefferson has also thus expressed himself in a letter to Madison： *g 〃The executive power in our Government is not the only； perhaps not even the principal； object of my solicitude。 The tyranny of the Legislature is really the danger most to be feared； and will continue to be so for many years to