But it seemed to them that a reprint in America of the views of an author so well entitled to regard and confidence, without any correction of the few errors or mistakes that might be found, would be in effect to give authenticity7 to the whole work, and that foreign readers, especially, would consider silence, under such circumstances, as strong evidence of the accuracy of its statements. The preface to the English edition, too, was not adapted to this country, having been written, as it would seem, in reference to the political questions which agitate8 Great Britain. The publishers, therefore, applied9 to the writer of this, to furnish them with a short preface, and such notes upon the text as might appear necessary to correct any erroneous impressions. Having had the honor of a personal acquaintance with M. DE TOCQUEVILLE while he was in this country; having discussed with him many of the topics treated of in this book; having entered deeply into the feelings and sentiments which guided and impelled10 him in his task, and having formed a high admiration11 of his character and of this production, the writer felt under some obligation to aid in procuring12 for one whom he ventures to call his friend, a hearing from those who were the subjects of his observations. These circumstances furnish to his own mind an apology for undertaking13 what no one seemed willing to attempt, notwithstanding his want of practice in literary composition, and notwithstanding the impediments of professional avocations14, constantly recurring15, and interrupting that strict and continued examination of the work, which became necessary, as well to detect any errors of the author, as any misunderstanding or misrepresentation of his meaning by his translator. If the same circumstances will atone16 in the least for the imperfections of what the editor has contributed to this edition, and will serve to mitigate17 the severity of judgment18 upon those contributions, it is all he can hope or ask.
The NOTES are confined, with very few exceptions, to the correction of what appeared to be misapprehensions of the author in regard to some matters of fact, or some principles of law, and to explaining his meaning where the translator had misconceived it. For the latter purpose the original was consulted; and it affords great pleasure to bear witness to the general fidelity19 with which Mr. REEVE has transferred the author's ideas from French into English. He has not been a literal translator, and this has been the cause of the very few errors which have been discovered: but he has been more and better: he has caught the spirit of M. DE TOCQUEVILLE, has understood the sentiment he meant to express, and has clothed it in the language which M. DE TOCQUEVILLE would have himself used, had he possessed20 equal facility in writing the English language.
Being confined to the objects before mentioned, the reader will not find any comments on the theoretical views of our author. He has discussed many subjects on which very different opinions are entertained in the United States; but with an ability, a candor21, and an evident devotion to the cause of truth, which will commend his views to those who most radically22 dissent23 from them. Indeed, readers of the most discordant24 opinions will find that he frequently agrees with both sides, and as frequently differs from them. As an instance, his remarks on slavery will not be found to coincide throughout with the opinions either of abolitionists or of slaveholders: but they will be found to present a masterly view of a most perplexing and interesting subject, which seems to cover the whole ground, and to lead to the melancholy25 conclusion of the utter impotency of human effort to eradicate26 this acknowledged evil. But on this, and on the various topics of the deepest interest which are discussed in this work, it was thought that the American readers would be fully27 competent to form their own opinions, and to detect any errors of the author, if such there are, without any attempt of the present editor to enlighten them. At all events, it is to be hoped that the citizens of the United States will patiently read, and candidly28 consider, the views of this accomplished29 foreigner, however hostile they may be to their own preconceived opinions or prejudices. He says: "There are certain truths which Americans can only learn from strangers, or from experience." Let us, then, at least listen to one who admires us and our institutions, and whose complaints, when he makes any, are, that we have not perfected our own glorious plans, and that there are some things yet to be amended30. We shall thus furnish a practical proof, that public opinion in this country is not so intolerant as the author may be understood to represent it. However mistaken he may be, his manly31 appeal to our understandings and to our consciences, should at least be heard. "If ever," he says, "these lines are read in America, I am well assured of two things: in the first place, that all who peruse32 them will raise their voice to condemn33 me; and, in the second place, that very many of them will acquit34 me at the bottom of their consciences." He is writing on that very sore subject, the tyranny of public opinion in the United States.
Fully to comprehend the scope of the present work, the author's motive35 and object in preparing it should be distinctly kept in view. He has written, not for America, but for France. "It was not, then, merely to satisfy a legitimate36 curiosity," he says, "that I have examined America: my wish has been to find instruction, by which we might ourselves profit."—"I sought the image of democracy itself, with its inclinations38, its character, its prejudices, and its passions, in order to learn what we have to hope or fear from its progress." He thinks that the principle of democracy has sprung into new life throughout Europe, and particularly in France, and that it is advancing: with a firm and steady march to the control of all civilized39 governments. In his own country, he had seen a recent attempt to repress its energies within due bounds, and to prevent the consequences of its excesses. And it seems to be a main object with him, to ascertain40 whether these bounds can be relied upon; whether the dikes and embankments of human contrivance can keep within any appointed channel this mighty41 and majestic42 stream. Giving the fullest confidence to his declaration, that his book "is written to favor no particular views and with no design of serving or attacking any party," it is yet evident that his mind has been very open to receive impressions unfavorable to the admission into France of the unbounded and unlimited43 democracy which reigns44 in these United States. A knowledge of this inclination37 of his mind will necessarily induce some caution in his readers, while perusing45 those parts of the work which treat of the effects of our democracy upon the stability of our government and its administration. While the views of the author, respecting the application of the democratic principle, in the extent that it exists with us, to the institutions of France, or to any of the European nations, are of the utmost importance to the people and statesmen of those countries, they are scarcely less entitled to the attention of Americans. He has exhibited, with admirable skill, the causes and circumstances which prepared our forefathers46, gradually, for the enjoyment47 of free institutions, and which enable them to sustain, without abusing, the utmost liberty that was ever enjoyed by any people. In tracing these causes, in examining how far they continue to influence our conduct, manners, and opinions, and in searching for the means of preventing their decay or destruction, the intelligent American reader will find no better guide than M. DE TOCQUEVILLE.
Fresh from the scenes of the "three days" revolution in France, the author came among us to observe, carefully and critically, the operation of the new principle on which the happiness of his country, and, as he seems to believe, the destinies of the civilized world, depend. Filled with the love of liberty, but remembering the atrocities48 which, in its name, had been committed under former dynasties at home, he sought to discover the means by which it was regulated in America, and reconciled with social order. By his laborious49 investigations50, and minute observations of the history of the settlement of the country, and of its progress through the colonial state to independence, he found the object of his inquiry51 in the manners, habits, and opinions, of a people who had been gradually prepared, by a long course of peculiar52 circumstances, and by their local position, for self-government; and he has explained, with a pencil of light, the mystery that has baffled Europeans and perplexed53 Americans. He exhibits us, in our present condition, a new, and to Europeans, a strange people. His views of our political institutions are more general, comprehensive, and philosophic1 than have been presented by any writer, domestic or foreign. He has traced them from their source, democracy—the power of the people—and has steadily54 pursued this foundation-principle in all its forms and modifications55: in the frame of our governments, in their administration by the different executives, in our legislation, in the arrangement of our judiciary, in our manners, in religion, in the freedom and licentiousness56 of the press, in the influence of public opinion, and in various subtle recesses57, where its existence was scarcely suspected. In all these, he analyzes58 and dissects59 the tendencies of democracy; heartily60 applauds where he can, and faithfully and independently gives warning of dangers that he foresees. No one can read the result of his observations without better and clearer perceptions of the structure of out governments, of the great pillars on which they rest, and of the dangers to which they are exposed: nor without a more profound and more intelligent admiration of the harmony and beauty of their formation, and of the safeguards provided for preserving and transmitting them to a distant posterity61. The more that general and indefinite notions of our own liberty, greatness, happiness, &c., are made to give place to precise and accurate knowledge of the true merits of our institutions, the peculiar objects they are calculated to attain62 or promote, and the means provided for that purpose, the better will every citizen be enabled to discharge his great political duty of guarding those means against the approach of corruption63, and of sustaining them against the violence of party commotions64. No foreigner has ever exhibited such a deep, clear, and correct insight of the machinery65 of our complicated systems of federal and state governments. The most intelligent Europeans are confounded with our imperium in imperio; and their constant wonder is, that these systems are not continually jostling each other. M. DE TOCQUEVILLE has clearly perceived, and traced correctly and distinctly, the orbits in which they move, and has described, or rather defined, our federal government, with an accurate precision, unsurpassed even by an American pen. There is no citizen of this country who will not derive66 instruction from our author's account of our national government, or, at least, who will not find his own ideas systematised, and rendered more fixed67 and precise, by the perusal68 of that account.
Among other subjects discussed by the author, that of the political influence of the institution of trial by jury, is one of the most curious and interesting. He has certainly presented it in a light entirely69 new, and as important as it is new. It may be that he has exaggerated its influence as "a gratuitous70 public school;" but if he has, the error will be readily forgiven.
His views of religion, as connected with patriotism71, in other words, with the democratic principle, which he steadily keeps in view, are conceived in the noblest spirit of philanthropy, and cannot fail to confirm the principles already so thoroughly72 and universally entertained by the American people. And no one can read his observations on the union of "church and state," without a feeling of deep gratitude73 to the founders74 of our government, for saving us from such a prolific75 source of evil.
These allusions76 to topics that have interested the writer, are not intended as an enumeration77 of the various subjects which will arrest the attention of the American reader. They have been mentioned rather with a view of exciting an appetite for the whole feast, than as exhibiting the choice dainties which cover the board.
It remains78 only to observe, that in this edition the constitutions of the United States and of the state of New York, which had been published at large in the original and in the English edition, have been omitted, as they are documents to which every American reader has access. The map which the author annexed79 to his work, and which has been hitherto omitted, is now for the first time inserted in the American edition, to which has been added the census80 of 1840.
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1
philosophic
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| adj.哲学的，贤明的 | |
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philosophical
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| adj.哲学家的，哲学上的，达观的 | |
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impartial
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| adj.(in,to)公正的，无偏见的 | |
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remarkably
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| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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appreciation
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| n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨 | |
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authenticity
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| n.真实性 | |
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agitate
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| vi.(for,against)煽动，鼓动；vt.搅动 | |
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applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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impelled
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| v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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procuring
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的现在分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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undertaking
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| n.保证，许诺，事业 | |
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avocations
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| n.业余爱好，嗜好( avocation的名词复数 )；职业 | |
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recurring
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| adj.往复的，再次发生的 | |
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atone
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| v.赎罪，补偿 | |
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mitigate
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| vt.（使）减轻，（使）缓和 | |
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judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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fidelity
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| n.忠诚，忠实；精确 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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candor
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| n.坦白，率真 | |
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radically
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| ad.根本地，本质地 | |
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dissent
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| n./v.不同意，持异议 | |
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discordant
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| adj.不调和的 | |
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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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eradicate
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| v.根除，消灭，杜绝 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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candidly
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| adv.坦率地，直率而诚恳地 | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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Amended
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| adj. 修正的 动词amend的过去式和过去分词 | |
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manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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peruse
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| v.细读，精读 | |
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condemn
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| vt.谴责，指责；宣判(罪犯)，判刑 | |
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acquit
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| vt.宣判无罪；(oneself)使(自己)表现出 | |
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motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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legitimate
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| adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法 | |
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inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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inclinations
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| 倾向( inclination的名词复数 )； 倾斜； 爱好； 斜坡 | |
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civilized
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| a.有教养的，文雅的 | |
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ascertain
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| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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majestic
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| adj.雄伟的，壮丽的，庄严的，威严的，崇高的 | |
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unlimited
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| adj.无限的，不受控制的，无条件的 | |
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reigns
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| n.君主的统治( reign的名词复数 )；君主统治时期；任期；当政期 | |
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perusing
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| v.读（某篇文字）( peruse的现在分词 )；（尤指）细阅；审阅；匆匆读或心不在焉地浏览（某篇文字） | |
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forefathers
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| n.祖先，先人；祖先，祖宗( forefather的名词复数 )；列祖列宗；前人 | |
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enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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atrocities
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| n.邪恶，暴行( atrocity的名词复数 )；滔天大罪 | |
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laborious
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| adj.吃力的，努力的，不流畅 | |
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50
investigations
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| （正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究 | |
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inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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perplexed
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| adj.不知所措的 | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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modifications
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| n.缓和( modification的名词复数 )；限制；更改；改变 | |
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licentiousness
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| n.放肆，无法无天 | |
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recesses
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| n.壁凹( recess的名词复数 )；（工作或业务活动的）中止或暂停期间；学校的课间休息；某物内部的凹形空间v.把某物放在墙壁的凹处( recess的第三人称单数 )；将（墙）做成凹形，在（墙）上做壁龛；休息，休会，休庭 | |
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analyzes
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| v.分析( analyze的第三人称单数 )；分解；解释；对…进行心理分析 | |
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dissects
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| v.解剖（动物等）( dissect的第三人称单数 )；仔细分析或研究 | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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posterity
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| n.后裔，子孙，后代 | |
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attain
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| vt.达到，获得，完成 | |
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corruption
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| n.腐败，堕落，贪污 | |
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commotions
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| n.混乱，喧闹，骚动( commotion的名词复数 ) | |
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machinery
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| n.(总称)机械，机器；机构 | |
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derive
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| v.取得；导出；引申；来自；源自；出自 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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perusal
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| n.细读，熟读；目测 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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gratuitous
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| adj.无偿的，免费的；无缘无故的，不必要的 | |
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patriotism
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| n.爱国精神，爱国心，爱国主义 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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founders
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| n.创始人( founder的名词复数 ) | |
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prolific
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| adj.丰富的，大量的；多产的，富有创造力的 | |
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allusions
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| 暗指，间接提到( allusion的名词复数 ) | |
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enumeration
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| n.计数，列举；细目；详表；点查 | |
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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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annexed
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| [法] 附加的，附属的 | |
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census
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| n.(官方的)人口调查，人口普查 | |
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