238 SPECIALPiROVIDENCEJacksoniansbelievethatthegovernmentshoulddoeverythinginits
powertopromotethewell-being-political,moral,andeconomic-of
thefolkcommunity.Anymeansarepermissibleintheserviceofthisend
as longasthemeans themselvesdon'tviolatethe moralfeelings, or
infringeonthefreedoms,thatJacksoniansbelieveareessentialintheir
dailylives.
Jacksoniansareinstinctivelydemocraticandpopulist.Hamiltonians
mistrustdemocracy;Wilsoniansdon'tapproveofthepoliticalrough-
and-tumble;Jeffersonians supportdemocracyinprinciplebut remain
concernedthattyrannicalmajoritiescanoverruleminorityrights.Jack-
soniansbelievethatthepoliticalandmoralinstinctsoftheAmerican
peoplearesoundandcanbetrusted.Theydon'tneededucationand
guidancefromculturalelites.Theydon'tneedadministrativeorconsti-
tutionalsafeguardsonthewillofthemajority.IntheJacksonianview
thecivillibertiesandrestrictionsintheConstitutionexistprimarilyto
defendthemajorityfromtheschemesandmachinationsofeliteminori-
ties.Forminoritiesto useconstitutionalprovisions tocheckthewill
ofthemajorityisanunconscionableabuseofprocess,likea criminalget-
tinga convictionreversedona technicality.Ifthepeoplewantprayer
intheschools,emergencyeconomiclegislationduringa depression,the
deathpenalty,limitsonfreespeechbysubversives,orthequarantineofa
suspectethnicminorityinwartime,thenthejudiciaryhasnobusiness
overrulinglawsvotedinbypropermajorities.
Thesimplerandmoredirecttheprocessofgovernment,themore
confidentareJacksoniansthatitwillproducegoodresults.Referendums
workbetterthanlegislativeprocesses.Ingeneral,whilethethreeother
schoolswelcometherepresentativecharacterofourdemocracybecause
theybelievethatrepresentatives,withgreaterexperience,greaterlei-
sure,anda broaderviewoftheissuescanperformlegislativeandpolicy-
makingfunctionsbetterthantheaveragecitizens,Jacksonianstendto
seerepresentative,ratherthandirect,institutionsasnecessaryevils.
ThisgivesJacksoniansa somewhatdifferentapproachtogovernment
thanthoseoftheotherschools.Jacksonians,morethansuspiciousofgov-
ernmentsandelites,simplyassumethatgovernmentshave.corruption
andinefficiencythewaypicnicshaveants.Everyadministrationwillbe
corrupt;everyCongressandlegislature willbe,tosomeextent,theplay-
thingoflobbyists.Careerpoliticiansareinherentlyuntrustworthy;ifit
spendsitslifebuzzingaroundtheouthouse,it'sprobablyafly.
ThiscanmakeJacksonianpolitiesmuchmoretolerantofcorruption
inpracticethan,say,Wilsonians.Wilsoniansseecorruptionasthemor-