The Indian knew how to live without wants, to suffer without complaint, and to die singing. - Alexis de Tocqueville

One has to understand that equality ends up by infiltrating the world of politics as it does everywhere else. It would be impossible to imagine men forever unequal in one respect, yet equal in others; they must, in the end, come to be equal in all.
Now, I am aware of only two means of establishing equality in the world of politics: rights have to be granted to every citizen or to none.

In examining the division of powers, as established by the Federal Constitution, remarking on the one hand the portion of sovereignty which has been reserved to the several States, and on the other, the share of power which has been given to the Union, it is evident that the Federal legislators entertained very clear and accurate notions respecting the centralization of government. The United States form not only a republic, but a confederation; yet the national authority is more centralized there than it was in several of the absolute monarchies of Europe....

The surface of American society is covered with a layer of democratic paint, but from time to time one can see the old aristocratic colours breaking through.