“No protracted war can fail to endanger the freedom of a democratic country.”

uummmm, how to rate this; a democratic country (a democracy) has no freedom to endanger. A protracted war would only speed up the inevitable of a democratic country. A republican form of government with individual sovereigns' rights protected by law (even with a well established democratic process) will not endanger freedom.

Mike, while a true democracy is mob rule, I can give de Tocqueville some slack. Even Jefferson referred to the government as a democratic-republic. In a republican form of government, democratic processes are used to reach consensus. However, the objects that may be voted upon in America are to be limited by the inalienable rights of the People -- a majority cannot vote away the rights of a minority.

Archer, considering the source (I like Tocqueville's views) I agree with you. Another difference is, in a representative republic, the servants only attempt to define already existing law while, the democracy (mob rule) creates law out of nothing..

Very good distinction, Mike, between 'defining' law and 'creating' law. I doubt few in office or those voting for them have any concept of it. The same is true of natural rights and civil rights, or even a more fine line, the difference between responsibility and duty. It is back to the same old test of liberty: volition vs. coercion. (Civilization vs barbarism, freedom vs oppression, individualism vs collectivism, etc.)