...democratic nations, for which the old words tyranny and despotism were no longer appropriate because "it would be more extensive and more mild; it would degrade men without tormenting them" (335). That was the core of the problem foreseen by the most prescient of the nineteenth-century thinkers...

...estahlished amongst the democratic nations of our days. it miglu assume a different character; it would he more extensive and more mild; it would degrade men...instruction and equality like our own. sovereigns miglu more easily succeed in collecting all political power into their own hands. and miglu interfere...

...himself not so much born to serve his own ends as the interest of his country. Plutarch, "Lycurgus"1 It would seem that, if despotism were to be established...days, it might assume a different character . . . [I]t is well content that the people should rejoice, provided they think of nothing but rejoicing. For their...

...the height of their power, the different nations of the empire still preserved manners and customs of great diversity; although they were subject to...instruction and equality like our own, sovereigns might more easily succeed in collecting all political power into their own hands, and might interfere...

...fate." It was a despotism of a different character never before seen among people, a despotism that "...would be more extensive and more mild; it would degrade men without tormenting them". This new power would take "...each member of the community in its powerful grasp, and [fashion] him...

...fairly pleasurable one. Tocqueville says, It would seem that if despotism were to be established among the democratic nations of our days, it might assume...mild; it would degrade men without tormenting them. . . . Above this race of men stands an immense and tutelary power, which takes upon itself alone to...

...Tocqueville, "that if despotism were to be established among the democratic nations of our days ... it would be more extensive and more mild; it would degrade men without tormenting them." This is the kind of mild but degrading erosion of freedom that our system of communication faces today,...