DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.52538#0086
76
5-—DEMOCRACY THE BEST FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
The best form of Government is, therefore, that under
which the rights of the individual receive the most considera-
tion. Thoreau held the democratic to be the most desirable
constitution :
“ The progress from an absolute to a limited monarchy,
from a monarchy to a democracy is a progress towards a true
regard for the individual.''* * * §
It would be natural to conclude that Rousseau’s ideal
government would also be a democracy, but he considered it
an impossibility.
“ Il n’a jamais existe de veritable Democratie et il ne’x-
istera jamais. Un gouvernment si parfait ne convtent pas a des
homines, f
The main reason, according to Rousseau, why a true
democracy cannot exist is that a nation—especially a great
nation—cannot always remain in congress to decide questions
of government. Representation he held to be impossible.
The bond which holds a nation together is the will of all who
associate themselves to form it and will cannot be represented:
“ La volonte ne se represents point; les deputes du peuple
ne sont done ni peuvent dtre ses representants, ils ne sont que
ses commissaires.”!
When the so-called representative government can take
the liberty to act as it will without further consulting the
people, it is not democratic. Thus Rousseau criticized gov-
ernment by representation as it exists in England :
‘ ‘ Re peuple Anglais pense etre libre ; il se trompe fort;
il ne I’est que durant 1’election des membres du Parlement ;
sitot qu’ils sont elus, il est esclave, il n’est rien.”§
a. Danger of Perversion to Serve Individual Ends.
Thoreau experienced in America the evil consequence of
* Miscellanies, p. 169.
t Contrat Social, p. 90.
t Contrat Social, p. 128.
§ Contrat Social, p. 128.
5-—DEMOCRACY THE BEST FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
The best form of Government is, therefore, that under
which the rights of the individual receive the most considera-
tion. Thoreau held the democratic to be the most desirable
constitution :
“ The progress from an absolute to a limited monarchy,
from a monarchy to a democracy is a progress towards a true
regard for the individual.''* * * §
It would be natural to conclude that Rousseau’s ideal
government would also be a democracy, but he considered it
an impossibility.
“ Il n’a jamais existe de veritable Democratie et il ne’x-
istera jamais. Un gouvernment si parfait ne convtent pas a des
homines, f
The main reason, according to Rousseau, why a true
democracy cannot exist is that a nation—especially a great
nation—cannot always remain in congress to decide questions
of government. Representation he held to be impossible.
The bond which holds a nation together is the will of all who
associate themselves to form it and will cannot be represented:
“ La volonte ne se represents point; les deputes du peuple
ne sont done ni peuvent dtre ses representants, ils ne sont que
ses commissaires.”!
When the so-called representative government can take
the liberty to act as it will without further consulting the
people, it is not democratic. Thus Rousseau criticized gov-
ernment by representation as it exists in England :
‘ ‘ Re peuple Anglais pense etre libre ; il se trompe fort;
il ne I’est que durant 1’election des membres du Parlement ;
sitot qu’ils sont elus, il est esclave, il n’est rien.”§
a. Danger of Perversion to Serve Individual Ends.
Thoreau experienced in America the evil consequence of
* Miscellanies, p. 169.
t Contrat Social, p. 90.
t Contrat Social, p. 128.
§ Contrat Social, p. 128.