New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-07-29

which he could follow IN the task he had set
for himself
Alexis Charles Henri Clerel Comte de
TocqueviIle was born in Paris the youngest son
of ancient and noble family Of Normandy.
His mother the granddaughter of Males
herbes, while his father, a peer Of France and
himself a literary man Of some pretensions, was.
under the Restoration, successfully project of
Metz, Amiens and Versailles Tocqueville's early
years were passed at home, and his education,
in consequence, was somewhat irregular one,
although he contrived at the end of his first
year at the college Of Metz TO carry off the
prize for French composition. During 1926 and
1927 he travelled with of his brothers in
ITALY and Sicily on his return to France he
embraced q Judicial career, and his fathers in
fuence secured for him appointment as
3udge auditeur, or assessor to the Court of Jus
lice at Versailles post which he held for three
PEARS and then resigned in consequence of the
Gfmissal Of Gustave de Beaumont. his intimate
friend and future biographer
The years of Tocqueville's early manhood were
memorable ones for France 1T is difficult
writes Beaumont, FOR those who did not witness
the state of affairs in 1s27'2S to understand the
srdor Of feeling then existing The Empire had
fallen twelve years before and for the first time
France had known liberty and loved il Liberty
a consolation 10 some and TO others "A sovereign
good, had created for all \ new country-insti-
tutipns I'm place OF single man, manners
and, in the midst Of profound peace. the develop
rnent Of instincts. sentiments and wants
: All contributed to spread fresh life and 10 re-
generate the nation. France was then sincerely
liberal. and the great problem Of constitutional
liberty was seriously considered for the first
time" This problem Tocqueville studied with
the ardor Of youth and the penetrating insight Of
superior mind, and as result he soon reached
the settled conviction that n people. If worthy
80 be so called, had right to share i'm the gov
eminent OF its affairs, and that neither true
greatness nor true dignity could exist in a nation
without free institutions"
Opposed alike TO revolution aud arbitrary
power. q constitutional monarchy was what he
desired for France. and he supported the govern
ment OF the elder branch n the Bourbons be-
cause he believed that i'm that direction Law the
surest means OF attaining H. The same motives
made him a regretful witness Of the revolution
OF 1890 and. though he gave his adherence
10 the new order, il was with misgiving as 10
tho effect sudden and violent change Of
dynasty would have upon the recently estab-
lished constitutional institutions which he re-
garded as the safeguard Of liberty. A year later
he set out upon the journey 10 America which
was 10 bear such noteworthy fruits. An Official
mission 20 examine American penal methods
which az that time were exciting attention in
France. was the ostensible reason for this jour
ney but the real motive behind II was Tocque-
ViIies growing desire 10 study al FIRST hand the
institutions Of the United States Convinced
fhet the principle OF democratic equality WAS to
rule the future. he vas eager to scrs.inize it's
influence and effect in the country where it had
had freest scope and 20 learn. # possible. how
the experience 81 the United States could be in
voked 20 solve the political and social problems
which lay behind the sudden and violent changes
Of government in France
TocouevIe and his friend Beaumont sailed
from Hsvre in the spring of 1881. and early i'm
May landed Al Newport. Thence the two young
men made their way by Sound steamboat to
Ssew-York, where they found lodging In 4 board
ing house in Broadway. The Notes Of Travel"
which now form part Of Tocauevflle's complete
works and the journal Of Beaumont bear inter
esting witness TO the impression made upon them
by the sights and customs If new and strange
lsnd. we thought knew English in Paris"
writes Beaumont, as boys think they know
everything when they leave college. but we have
quickly discovered error. Nobody speaks
French. so we are forced 10 use English II is
pity 70 hear US. but make ourselves under
STOOD. and we understand everything Many So
etsl usaees seemed queer to them. ana great
vas their surprise when they found that IL was
Dse1er 70 make a social call as early as q