New-York tribune., 1898-10-23
A POLITICAL CLASSIC
DE TOCQUEvILLEs FAMOUS BOOK ~ 4
NEW EDITION.


Revised and Annotated from the Authors Last
Edition by Francis Bowen. with an lntroduc,
H'nso Sns Spkss n m 80 y az The n %E sEturS Go
pany.
Professor Gilman warns us that must take
account OF the vast changes which have passed
over this country since De lie visited 1t
In the early thirtes and wrote his famous book
The population has increased and spread. Rail
roads have made the United States more homo
geneous Slavery is gone The whole face Of
our civilization is marked by notifications and
innov atiCns which even the most penetrating
political observer of bis day could not anticl-
pate Yet Democracy in America is as vaiu-
able II was a half f-Century ago, In fact,
conditions at present make the appearance OK
new edIlicr OF this modern classic positive
boon Professor Gilman is justified OF his con-
teniiou that now, more than in previous tIm's,
the so-called producing classes are engaged ia
political discussion. They seek for informa-
ton They read they listen they talk" For
these classes De Tocqucville should be con-
stant source of inspiration. The changes just
mentioned do not affect the essential part Of his
argument the spirit OF ms investing" tioDs
into forms of government
Patriotism had little emotional signifoance
for ID. TocGuevillc, who was personally cold re-
served aDd incapable Of oratcrcal appeals 10 ne
passions of mankind IN the dry ligh, Of his IN
tellect democracy is not simulacrum to crown
with red cap peysonallzo as the incarnation Of
liberty. and salute with cheers. IT Is a phiio-
sophical phenomenon To be scientifically studied
This point OF view If De TocqueVI" had been
narrow thinker. would have yielded duiness
unspcaJablc. His thoughts, however are "yi6-
inal and strong. and his book IS cpuehed ID
styl. remarkably lucld and interesting. Its
value to-day should he IN just its keen abstTac-
tioyi ~ IT'S Jispasslonato and Illuminating treat
ment of themes when are TOO often cloud"d by
emotion. half-knoWcdg. and Intolerance. There
Is, for example tho question to which hc miro
dutee She reader oD The very threshold Of lis
work Nothing struck NOR" forcbIy, he
says referring "a his stay H. the United States,
'rhah iLt general equality of condition among
U,. pcoJIe" For the same equality Of condI-
ton h, would look to-day ~ vain Bat he
pIIncip!. j. living, and 1t IS De TocqueNIle les
great mcrit the merit of hs purely intellectual
inquiry mtC our society, that he always holds
fast 10 the fundamental principle. General
Francis ! Lpptt. IN IL letter included In Pro
fessor t;Imans introduction. relates that when
as young attach" Of pur Legation at Paris he
assisted De Tocqucvle IN sitting The material
for his book discussion Of town meetings one
day led the Frcut hmau to exclanl. with blD-
ding eye Mar ccst Ia Commune" The town
meeting vac obv IOusy to him OF Immense M
poranc' signify ing the freedom Of speech and
the true fraternity Synonymous with the genius
/ of the AnglO-Saxon race. le follows this point
out to lte furthee limits. noting the great heck
upon the Fedora Government which tbc Town
meeting n IT. es.a.n'e. keeps constantly alive.
He wss much impressed by the admlrabi, "pdi-
! IibriuIn established between Washington and
the State governments, Ger.clvms that this not
only insured tho health and permanence Of an
organism otherwise IN danger Of growing un-
wiedy and diseased. but nOurished al every
point the spirit Of Independence and initiative
which makes people robust The workings Of
that spirit were observed BY h,m with SYM
pathy and exactitUde winch make bis book
seem u AL Americ al reader, precisely the IN