It is a well-known fact that the aristocratic statesmen of Europe have no theory of human affairs except that man was born to struggle, with his intrinsic vices, into deeper misery, and to suffer more, and become more vicious as the world grows older. Is not this a fearful consummation of mortal destiny? Can it be true? Is it not necessarily false and monstrous? These pestilent sentiments are about to be extinguished for ever. Already we stand upon the verge of great political events. Already we are within the advancing sunshine of the great social revolution! XII. The following table represents the course of democracy in the fulfilment of its great mission:: I. THE FIRST GREAT SOCIAL CHANGE.-The Establishment of Popular Government.-Its direct results:-general education; cheap newspaper press; public libraries and lyceums; abolition of the church establishment, and introduction of able, zealous, and pious preachers, appointed by the people; abolition of all religious distinctions, and of all laws fettering the right of discussion and association; abolition of all laws tending to the accumulation of property in the hands of a few; enactment of laws to facilitate the transfer of land; popular election of judges, justices of the peace, and all office-holders; the establishment of a paid citizen force, the officers being chosen by the privates; cheap and speedy administration of justice; humane treatment of criminals; liberal support of the poor; assistance to emigrants, and the establishment of systematic colonisation; laws protecting women and children from improper and excessive labour; laws regulating factories, and securing the health and comfort of the workpeople; laws securing the health and comfort of towns, and providing places for exercise and recreation. Social Effects of this Legislation.-Vast improvement in the mental, moral, and physical condition of the people; abolition of aristocratic insclence and popular servility; general encouragement of talent and merit ; reform of national habits, manners, and customs; general introduction of social clubs, and the practice of living in boarding-houses and improved lodging-houses; establishment of public baths and wash-houses; and adoption of the co-operative principle in various other respects. II. THE SECOND GREAT SOCIAL CHANGE.-Various Provisions against the Evils of the Competitive System.-Complete instead of partial control of great public works and manufacturing establishments, so as to secure the comfort and well-being of the workpeople; provision against famine, by laying up public stores in times of plenty; laws having for their object the restriction of the increase of the population; assumption of the ownership of property by the state, when the owner dies without near relations; management of this property by social communities established by the state; ample provision for the poor; kind treatment of the aged, sick, and helpless; liberal education of pauper children, and measures to secure their advancement in life; reformation of criminals, and proper provision for them on their discharge; the establishment of many cooperative communities like those in the United States. Social Effects of these Measures.-General equality of conditions; absence of destitution, vagrancy, prostitution, and intemperance; great diminution of crime; general prevalence of humane and fraternal sentiments; and general willingness to establish a new system of society based upon those sentiments. III. THE FINAL SOCIAL REVOLUTION.-The general establishment of co-operative associations; the State being composed of a congeries of such associations, with a central government. Social Effects of this Measure.-Complete liberty, equality, and fraternity; the establishment of a system of society in which the precepts of Christianity can be practically followed, All countries will, in time, adopt the same system; wars and famines will cease, and mankind will live in brotherly love, and reach a state of existence of which we can now hardly form a conception. It is true that perfect happiness is not the lot of man on earth, and that even in an association there will be human ills to be endured. There must be sickness, the loss of relatives and friends; there will be rivalry in mental and physical accomplishments, with its consequent hopes, fears, joys, sorrows, heart-burnings, and jealousies. But all the evil passions will be minimised—all the good ones maximised. Mankind will no longer be engaged in a desperate struggle for life itself, and be kept in constant dread of being deprived of their accustomed comforts. War, pestilence, and famine will no longer be necessary to keep the population within proper limits. The relation of master and slave, in all its various forms, will be abolished; there will be no criminals, prostitutes, drunkards, beggars, or paupers ; no tyranny; no servility; the health of man will be greatly improved, and his term of life prolonged, his mind expanded, and his enjoyments increased. Perfectly happy he will not and cannot be; but the earth, in comparison with what it now is, will be a paradise, and men will live together in unity and concord, doing as they would be done by, and loving their neighbours as themselves. Liberty, equality, and fraternity will then be the inheritance of the whole human race. Behold the fulfilment of the mission of Democracy! Aristocracy, titled or privileged, not permitted in America ... ... 42, 81, 85 in England, privileges and powers (52, 53, 57, 58, 72, 73 supposed advantages of the aristocratic system 78, 113 to 120 96 Aristocratic government, its debasing effects {43, 80, 82 to 94, 96, 100 Arms, right to bear Army danger of its foreign policy ... 113 to 125, 170, 174 ... 156 to 158 13, 14, 38, 118, 126, 151 Englishmen prohibited from learning their use 132, 144, 148 ... ... ... on the liberty of the subject Blanc, M. Louis, his description of society in France Blasphemy 125, 127 205 128 Boarding-houses in America ... Caste, spirit of, in England Church, absence of, privileged in America : 83, 156 83, 122 167 167 99 69 122 17, 81, 84 Established Church of England and Ireland 118, 124, 161, 271 Christian religion, its precepts ... Christians, primitive, their social system Colonies, American, how governed before the Revolution emigration to Colonisation, systematic Communities, co-operative, in America why not generally adopted there, 179, 209, 246, 268 ... Condition of the People of America and England Co-operative system of society, its practicability 98 to 106 evils of the competitive system of society 179 to 191, 219 to 242 ... Confederation-The United States a confederation The German confederation Constitutions of the several States. See STATES. how made and amended recent amendments ... 43 to 50, 122 98, 100, 101, 172 100, 173 12, 13, 53 sentences Currency in America ... ... ... its future progress in England 12, 67, 8 13, 52, 53, 216 ... 108 what social changes will result from democracy See ARISTOCRACY, LIBERTY, EQUALITY, FRATERNITY, De Tocqueville on democracy |