Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1841-01-21
Ot TocQusWllt's DEMOCRACY IN AMERICA.


n,a.tcrly though somewha aHsi-democra,ic, cr,i-
cisna OF this great we,k. The writer, like every
other EngAshnan Who has written the subject.
seems to prefer daaag in distractions, TO drawing
his conclusions from the practical operations Of he
democratic system, as developed in this county.
He institutes a comparison between limited
archy and republican form OF government, and, OF
course, decides in favor OF the 20, Here,
pecialls, he deals III theory, and reasons assam.
ga principles, instead Of adopting The inducsive
method and taking facts the basis Of his general
conclusions. Nevertheless, tho review is an able
one, and we have no doubt the passages annexed,
which are rather descriptive than opinionaise or
critical, will prove interesting to our readers,
The manner in which he work received on
the othcr aide Of the Atlantic is thus dsserib,d
Its reputation was as sudden, and is as
extensive, in this country as in France,
and in that large parto Europe which re.
ceives its opinions from France. The
progress Of political dissatisfaction, and
the comparisons made between the fruits
ofa popular constitution on one side OF the
Atlantic, and OF mixed government with
preponderating aristocratic element on
the other, had made the working Of Amer
lean Institutions a party question. For
many years, every book OF travels in
America had been party pamphlet, OF
had nj least fallen among parlisans, and
been pressed into tho service Of one party
or OF the other. When, therefore, u new
book, of grave and imposing character,
on Democracy in America, made IFS mp.
peafance, even on the other side Of the
| British Channel, i, was not likely TO be
overlooked, or to escape an attempt 10 con-
vert II TO party purposes. fever pollti-
cal writer had reason TO believe that he
abored successfully 10 render his book in.
capable Of such use, Nj. de Tocquesilie
was entitled to think 81. But though his
theories are Of an impurtiaity without ex.
i ample, and his practical conclusions lean
towards Radicaism, some OF his phrases
are susceptible ola Tory application. One
of these is the tyranny OF the majority
This phrase was forthwith adopted into the
Conservative dialect, and trumpeted by
1 Sir Robert Peel in his Tamworth Grafton,
when, as booksellers advertisements have
since frequently reminded Us, he earnest
~ requested the petusaf oflhe book by oil
and each of his audience. And we be-
lieve it has since been the opinion OF the
country gentlemen that NJ. de Tocque.
vile is one of tho pillars Of Conservatism,
and his book deinitive demolition Of
/ America and of democracy. The error
perhaps have done since tho result is,
that the English public now know aud
read the first philosophical book ever
written on Democracy, as il manilests IL
self in moiefn society; a book, the essen
tial doctrines Of winch, 1t is not likely that
any future speculations will subven, 10
whatever degree they may modify them
while its spirit, and the general mode in
which it treats its subject, constitute Il the
beginning of new era in the scientific
study Of politics.
The second part Of the work lately repnblished
] IN this country. is referred 10 as foliowsi
"Thai part Of Democracy in Amcri.
ca which was first published, Processes
10 trent Of the political effects Of Demo.
cracy the second published only this
year, is devoted TO lis influence upon So
lions of private life, upon intellect, NOR.
ais, and the habits and modes Of feeling
which constitute national character. The
last is both newer und more difficult
subject ofnquiry than the first there are
fewer WHO are competent, or who VIII
even think themselves competent 20 Judge
M. dc TocquevIle's conclusions. But, we
believe, no one in the least entitled to an
opinion, will refuse to him the praise Of
having probed the subject to depth which
had never before been sounded Of having
carried forward the controversy into wild
or and lofier region ofihought, and point
cd out many questions essential 10 tho SUBJ
lect which had not been before attended
to. questions which he may or may not
have solved, but which, IN any case, he
has greatly facilitated the solution.
The comprehensyeness Of NJ. dc Tocque-
yills's views, and the impartiality of his
feelings, have not led him into the COM
| mon infirmily Of those who see too many
sides 10 question, that Of thinking them
all equally important. lie is able to M
rive at decided opinion. Nor has the
more extensive range of considerations
embraced in his Second Part, affected
practically the general conclusions which
resulted from his First. They may be
stated as follows THAT Democracy, in
the modern world, is inevitable, and that
il is ON the whole, desirable: but desira-
Bile only under certain conditions, and
those conditions capable, by human care
and foresight, of being realized, but capa.
BILE also Of being missed. The progress
and ultimate ascendancy Of the democrats
ic principle has, IN his eyes, the character
of law Of nature. He thinks it an inev.
table result OF the tendencies of progress
sive civilization /; by which expressions he
by no means intends to imply either praise
or censure. No human effort, no acci-
dent even, unless one which should throw