2. 外语
  3. Whenever the political laws of the United States are to be discussed, it is with the doctrine of the sovereignty of the people t

Whenever the political laws of the United States are to be discussed, it is with the doctrine of the sovereignty of the people t

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问题     Whenever the political laws of the United States are to be discussed, it is with the doctrine of the sovereignty of the people that we must begin. The principle of the sovereignty of the people, which is always to be found, more or less, at the bottom of almost all human institutions, generally remains there concealed from view. It is obeyed without being recognized, or if for a moment it is brought to light, it is hastily cast back into the gloom of the sanctuary.
    "The will of the nation" is one of those phrases, that have been most largely abused by the wily and the despotic of every age. Some have seen the expression of it in the purchased suffrages of a few of the satellites of power; others, in the votes of a timid or an interested minority; and some have even discovered it in the silence of a people, on the supposition that the fact of submission established the right to command.
    In America the principle of the sovereignty of the people is neither barren nor concealed, as it is with some other nations; it is recognized by the customs and proclaimed by the laws; it spreads freely, and arrives without impediment at its most remote consequences. If there is a country in the world where the doctrine of the sovereignty of the people can be fairly appreciated, where it can be studied in its application to the affairs of society, and where its dangers and its advantages may be judged, that country is assuredly America.
    It has been observed that, from their origin, the sovereignty of the people was the fundamental principle of most of the British colonies in America. It was far, however, from then exercising as much influence on the government of society as it now does. Two obstacles, the one external, the other internal, checked its invasive progress.
    It could not ostensibly disclose itself in the laws of colonies which were still forced to obey the mother country, it was therefore obliged to rule secretly in the provincial assemblies, and especially in the townships. American society at that time was not yet prepared to adopt it with all its consequences. Intelligence in New England and wealth tended to keep the exercise of social power in the hands of a few. Not all the public functionaries were chosen by popular vote, nor were all the citizens voters. The electoral franchise was everywhere somewhat restricted and made dependent on a certain qualification. Which was very low in the North and more considerable in the South.
    The American Revolution broke out, and the doctrine of the sovereignty of the people came out of the townships and took possession of the state. Every class was enlisted in its cause; battles were fought and victories obtained for it; it became the law of the laws.
The author analyzed the phrase "The will of the nation" as______.
选项 A、a critical measure of rights
B、a means of strength and unification
C、a political tool with broad application
D、a manifestation of the pursuit of expression
答案C
解析 根据第二段内容可知，“the will of the nation”已被某些人利用，有些用于购买投票，由此可推知，“the will of the nation”是一种政治工具，用于达到某种政治目的。所有正确答案是C选项。
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