TOCQUEVILLE ON STATE INTERFERENCE. [To THE Eprros or MS "SpEcTrros."]-
Sia,—As the principle of State interference appears to have been accepted as the policy of both political parties, the following extract from Alexis de Tocqueville's account of the decadence of the ancien regime in France may interest them. I quote from the third edition published in 18.57:—. "Le gouvernement ayant pris ainsi la place de In Providence, il eat nature' que chnoun rinvoque dans sea necessites partieulleres. Aussi rencontre-t-tn un nambre immense de requetes qui se fondant tonjours sin finteret public, leant trait neannicies qu'a de petits jute:ribs prices. Les cartons qui lea renfermoot sent pent-etre lea seals endnoits oà touted lea classes qui canposaient In societe de riincien regime se trouvent melees. La lecture en est melancolique : des paysans demandent Tien les indemnise de la perte do leurs bestir= on de leur maisen; des proprietaires alga qu'on lea aide it faire valoir plus avantagensement leurs tones; des induatriels sollieitent de 'Intendant des privileges qui les garantissent 'rune concurrence incommode. 11 eat trits frequent de voir lea manufacturiers qui een5Putit l'intendant le mauvais &at de leurs affaires, et le prient d'obtenir du controleur general un secours on ma pret Un fonds etait ouvert, it Co marble pour cot objet."
The total absence of self-reliance which pervaded society under the Government of the aneien rigime evidently dis- tressed de Tocqueville, and in his judgment aceounted for its ultimate moral and financial bankruptcy. He contrasted the conditions he described with those prevailing in England, greatly to the advantage of England. Would the contrast apply if be weile alive to-day, and if he had to rewrite his
Greenwood, Fareham.
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