[Democracy In America Volume 1 (of 2) by Alexis de Toqueville]@TWC D-Link bookDemocracy In America Volume 1 (of 2) CHAPTER V: Necessity Of Examining The Condition Of The States--Part III 8/26
If such an administration succeeds in condensing at a given moment, on a given point, all the disposable resources of a people, it impairs at least the renewal of those resources.
It may ensure a victory in the hour of strife, but it gradually relaxes the sinews of strength.
It may contribute admirably to the transient greatness of a man, but it cannot ensure the durable prosperity of a nation. If we pay proper attention, we shall find that whenever it is said that a State cannot act because it has no central point, it is the centralization of the government in which it is deficient.
It is frequently asserted, and we are prepared to assent to the proposition, that the German empire was never able to bring all its powers into action.
But the reason was, that the State was never able to enforce obedience to its general laws, because the several members of that great body always claimed the right, or found the means, of refusing their co-operation to the representatives of the common authority, even in the affairs which concerned the mass of the people; in other words, because there was no centralization of government.
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