Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1851-11-06

RELIGION IN THE UNITED STATES -
De TocqucyilIc's work OH Democracy in
America has enjoyed a very great pop
ulariiy in France. The thirteenth Edi-
ton has just been published. In review
ing it, NJ. CuEvALIER, who is himself
well acquainted with this country, has
the following paragraph
SIT is easy TO show how much the
success of the Democratic Republic In
the United States IS dac IN the religious
teeiing ofhe people In Europe most Of
the disorder in society has Its origin in
the domestic circle, and not far from the
nuptial couch. Frequently the Euro
pean finds it difficult To submit to the
powers of the State only because tumul-
tuous passions agitate his own dwelling,
and that he is there prey to the unea-
siness of the heart or the instability of
desires. I'm the United States the r, ST.
dencc of the citiZca is the image Of Or
der and ofpence, North America, ac-
cordng to the unanimous opinion Of all
who have visited il, Is the country where
the conjugal tic is most respected, and
where conjugal happiness is the most
appreciated. This good state OF NOR
ais in America has,its origin in religious
faith. Religion would probably be pow
crIcss to restrain man in presence of the
temptations with which he is ussalod
by fortune but II reigns supreme over
the mind of woman, and it is woman
who forms public morals. AS long as
Americans shall preserve the severity of
their moral conduct. they will preserve
the Democratic Republic. /! their NOR
als become relaxed, if they become Vi
ciuus, it VIII be because religion has
been deprived of its authori y. Instead
ol' a free nation, there Will be IL dcgra-
dcd mass, governed by the corrupt rich
Republican Institutions may exist in
name, but the name will become Il de.
cepton. It will be like the Roman Re-
public, which existed in name uHder
the Cesars, but the reality OF which had
completely Disappeared. In The United
States religion also governs the mind,
rcstrdius il IA It's alterations, and thus
becomes IL guarantee Of the duration Of
the Republic Everybody in the Uni
tc States Processes religious dOgmas.--
The email nImber who are not sincere
Christians affect to be 50, lest they should
he suspected of having no reiIglon.-
Christianity, therefore, !as an external
adhesion which ia unanimous. The
result OF this is that, in the moral world,
everything is fixed, although the polti-
cal world may nppcnr to be entirely CIV
en- up 10 discussion and rash cXpcrI"
mrnts. The human nlud in The United
States has not before it un unlimited
space: however bolt it may be, it feels
that there are insurmOuutable blrriers
before which it must stop. Hence II
huppcn5 that, in all classes, there is a
certain restraint. either voluntary OF the
result of force. In this manner, men OF
Revolutionary tendencies are constantly
compelled TO profess, il they TO not feel,
IL respect for Christian morality, and
consequently ior equity which is the
substance oi Christianity. II they could
rise above their scrupIcS, or II they had
no scruples, they would sill he restrain
cd 10y those Of their parllzans, Thus,
in the United States, thcra is 10 person
who viii dare to pat forward The maxim
that everything may be permitted IN the
interest OF the state and oi society-a iy-
rannir,l maxim, which prevailed for our
misfortune in the first French Repub-
lie. and which the second has, hitherto,
Notwithstanding is Impcrlections and
lis faults, iupcratively rejected"