Inageswhichanswertothisdescription，mendeserttheirreligiousopinionsfromlukewarmnessratherthanfromdislike;
　　theydonotrejectthem，butthesentimentsbywhichtheywereoncefostereddisappear。Butiftheunbelieverdoesnotadmitreligiontobetrue，hestillconsidersituseful。Regardingreligiousinstitutionsinahumanpointofview，heacknowledgestheirinfluenceuponmannersandlegislation。Headmitsthattheymayservetomakemenliveinpeacewithoneanother，andtopreparethemgentlyforthehourofdeath。Heregretsthefaithwhichhehaslost;andasheisdeprivedofatreasurewhichhehaslearnedtoestimateatitsfullvalue，hescruplestotakeitfromthosewhostillpossessit。
　　Ontheotherhand，thosewhocontinuetobelievearenotafraidopenlytoavowtheirfaith。Theylookuponthosewhodonotsharetheirpersuasionasmoreworthyofpitythanofopposition;andtheyareawarethattoacquiretheesteemoftheunbelieving，theyarenotobligedtofollowtheirexample。Theyarehostiletonooneintheworld;andastheydonotconsiderthesocietyinwhichtheyliveasanarenainwhichreligionisboundtofaceitsthousanddeadlyfoes，theylovetheircontemporaries，whilsttheycondemntheirweaknessesandlamenttheirerrors。
　　Asthosewhodonotbelieve，concealtheirincredulity;andasthosewhobelieve，displaytheirfaith，publicopinionpronouncesitselfinfavorofreligion:love，support，andhonorarebestoweduponit，anditisonlybysearchingthehumansoulthatwecandetectthewoundswhichithasreceived。Themassofmankind，whoareneverwithoutthefeelingofreligion，donotperceiveanythingatvariancewiththeestablishedfaith。Theinstinctivedesireofafuturelifebringsthecrowdaboutthealtar，andopenstheheartsofmentothepreceptsandconsolationsofreligion。
　　Butthispictureisnotapplicabletous:fortherearemenamongstuswhohaveceasedtobelieveinChristianity，withoutadoptinganyotherreligion;otherswhoareintheperplexitiesofdoubt，andwhoalreadyaffectnottobelieve;andothers，again，whoareafraidtoavowthatChristianfaithwhichtheystillcherishinsecret。
　　Amidsttheselukewarmpartisansandardentantagonistsasmallnumberofbelieversexist，whoarereadytobraveallobstaclesandtoscornalldangersindefenceoftheirfaith。
　　Theyhavedoneviolencetohumanweakness，inordertorisesuperiortopublicopinion。Excitedbytheefforttheyhavemade，theyscarcelyknewwheretostop;andastheyknowthatthefirstusewhichtheFrenchmadeofindependencewastoattackreligion，theylookupontheircontemporarieswithdread，andtheyrecoilinalarmfromthelibertywhichtheirfellow—citizensareseekingtoobtain。Asunbeliefappearstothemtobeanovelty，theycompriseallthatisnewinoneindiscriminateanimosity。Theyareatwarwiththeirageandcountry，andtheylookuponeveryopinionwhichisputforththereasthenecessaryenemyofthefaith。
　　Suchisnotthenaturalstateofmenwithregardtoreligionatthepresentday;andsomeextraordinaryorincidentalcausemustbeatworkinFrancetopreventthehumanmindfromfollowingitsoriginalpropensitiesandtodriveitbeyondthelimitsatwhichitoughtnaturallytostop。Iamintimatelyconvincedthatthisextraordinaryandincidentalcauseisthecloseconnectionofpoliticsandreligion。TheunbelieversofEuropeattacktheChristiansastheirpoliticalopponents，ratherthanastheirreligiousadversaries;theyhatetheChristianreligionastheopinionofaparty，muchmorethanasanerrorofbelief;andtheyrejecttheclergylessbecausetheyaretherepresentativesoftheDivinitythanbecausetheyarethealliesofauthority。
　　InEurope，Christianityhasbeenintimatelyunitedtothepowersoftheearth。Thosepowersarenowindecay，anditis，asitwere，buriedundertheirruins。Thelivingbodyofreligionhasbeenbounddowntothedeadcorpseofsuperannuatedpolity:cutbutthebondswhichrestrainit，andthatwhichisalivewillriseoncemore。IknownotwhatcouldrestoretheChristianChurchofEuropetotheenergyofitsearlierdays;
　　thatpowerbelongstoGodalone;butitmaybetheeffectofhumanpolicytoleavethefaithinthefullexerciseofthestrengthwhichitstillretains。
　　HowTheInstruction，TheHabits，AndThePracticalExperienceOfTheAmericansPromoteTheSuccessOfTheirDemocraticInstitutionsWhatistobeunderstoodbytheinstructionoftheAmericanpeople—ThehumanmindmoresuperficiallyinstructedintheUnitedStatesthaninEurope—Noonecompletelyuninstructed—
　　Reasonofthis—RapiditywithwhichopinionsarediffusedevenintheuncultivatedStatesoftheWest—PracticalexperiencemoreserviceabletotheAmericansthanbook—learning。
　　IhavebutlittletoaddtowhatIhavealreadysaidconcerningtheinfluencewhichtheinstructionandthehabitsoftheAmericansexerciseuponthemaintenanceoftheirpoliticalinstitutions。
　　Americahashithertoproducedveryfewwritersofdistinction;itpossessesnogreathistorians，andnotasingleeminentpoet。Theinhabitantsofthatcountrylookuponwhatareproperlystyledliterarypursuitswithakindofdisapprobation;
　　andtherearetownsofverysecond—rateimportanceinEuropeinwhichmoreliteraryworksareannuallypublishedthaninthetwenty—fourStatesoftheUnionputtogether。ThespiritoftheAmericansisaversetogeneralideas;anditdoesnotseektheoreticaldiscoveries。Neitherpoliticsnormanufacturesdirectthemtotheseoccupations;andalthoughnewlawsareperpetuallyenactedintheUnitedStates，nogreatwritershavehithertoinquiredintothegeneralprinciplesoftheirlegislation。TheAmericanshavelawyersandcommentators，butnojurists;*handtheyfurnishexamplesratherthanlessonstotheworld。Thesameobservationappliestothemechanicalarts。InAmerica，theinventionsofEuropeareadoptedwithsagacity;theyareperfected，andadaptedwithadmirableskilltothewantsofthecountry。Manufacturesexist，butthescienceofmanufactureisnotcultivated;andtheyhavegoodworkmen，butveryfewinventors。Fultonwasobligedtoprofferhisservicestoforeignnationsforalongtimebeforehewasabletodevotethemtohisowncountry。
　　[Footnoteh:[ThiscannotbesaidwithtruthofthecountryofKent，Story，andWheaton。]]
　　TheobserverwhoisdesirousofforminganopiniononthestateofinstructionamongsttheAnglo—Americansmustconsiderthesameobjectfromtwodifferentpointsofview。Ifheonlysinglesoutthelearned，hewillbeastonishedtofindhowraretheyare;butifhecountstheignorant，theAmericanpeoplewillappeartobethemostenlightenedcommunityintheworld。Thewholepopulation，asIobservedinanotherplace，issituatedbetweenthesetwoextremes。InNewEngland，everycitizenreceivestheelementarynotionsofhumanknowledge;heismoreovertaughtthedoctrinesandtheevidencesofhisreligion，thehistoryofhiscountry，andtheleadingfeaturesofitsConstitution。IntheStatesofConnecticutandMassachusetts，itisextremelyraretofindamanimperfectlyacquaintedwithallthesethings，andapersonwhollyignorantofthemisasortofphenomenon。
　　WhenIcomparetheGreekandRomanrepublicswiththeseAmericanStates;themanuscriptlibrariesoftheformer，andtheirrudepopulation，withtheinnumerablejournalsandtheenlightenedpeopleofthelatter;whenIrememberalltheattemptswhicharemadetojudgethemodernrepublicsbytheassistanceofthoseofantiquity，andtoinferwhatwillhappeninourtimefromwhattookplacetwothousandyearsago，Iamtemptedtoburnmybooks，inordertoapplynonebutnovelideastosonovelaconditionofsociety。
　　WhatIhavesaidofNewEnglandmustnot，however，beappliedindistinctlytothewholeUnion;asweadvancetowardstheWestortheSouth，theinstructionofthepeoplediminishes。
　　IntheStateswhichareadjacenttotheGulfofMexico，acertainnumberofindividualsmaybefound，asinourowncountries，whoaredevoidoftherudimentsofinstruction。ButthereisnotasingledistrictintheUnitedStatessunkincompleteignorance;
　　andforaverysimplereason:thepeoplesofEuropestartedfromthedarknessofabarbarouscondition，toadvancetowardthelightofcivilization;theirprogresshasbeenunequal;someofthemhaveimprovedapace，whilstothershaveloiteredintheircourse，andsomehavestopped，andarestillsleepingupontheway。*i[Footnotei:[IntheNorthernStatesthenumberofpersonsdestituteofinstructionisinconsiderable，thelargestnumberbeing241，152intheStateofNewYork（accordingtoSpaulding’s"HandbookofAmericanStatistics"for1874）;butintheSouthnolessthan1，516，339whitesand2，671，396coloredpersonsarereturnedas"illiterate。"]]
　　SuchhasnotbeenthecaseintheUnitedStates。TheAnglo—
　　Americanssettledinastateofcivilization，uponthatterritorywhichtheirdescendantsoccupy;theyhadnottobegintolearn，anditwassufficientforthemnottoforget。NowthechildrenofthesesameAmericansarethepersonswho，yearbyyear，transporttheirdwellingsintothewilds;andwiththeirdwellingstheiracquiredinformationandtheiresteemforknowledge。Educationhastaughtthemtheutilityofinstruction，andhasenabledthemtotransmitthatinstructiontotheirposterity。IntheUnitedStatessocietyhasnoinfancy，butitisborninman’sestate。
　　TheAmericansneverusetheword"peasant，"becausetheyhavenoideaofthepeculiarclasswhichthattermdenotes;theignoranceofmoreremoteages，thesimplicityofrurallife，andtherusticityofthevillagerhavenotbeenpreservedamongstthem;andtheyarealikeunacquaintedwiththevirtues，thevices，thecoarsehabits，andthesimplegracesofanearlystageofcivilization。AttheextremebordersoftheConfederateStates，upontheconfinesofsocietyandofthewilderness，apopulationofboldadventurershavetakenuptheirabode，whopiercethesolitudesoftheAmericanwoods，andseekacountrythere，inordertoescapethatpovertywhichawaitedthemintheirnativeprovinces。Assoonasthepioneerarrivesuponthespotwhichistoservehimforaretreat，hefellsafewtreesandbuildsaloghouse。Nothingcanofferamoremiserableaspectthantheseisolateddwellings。Thetravellerwhoapproachesoneofthemtowardsnightfall，seestheflickerofthehearth—flamethroughthechinksinthewalls;andatnight，ifthewindrises，hehearstheroofofboughsshaketoandfrointhemidstofthegreatforesttrees。Whowouldnotsupposethatthispoorhutistheasylumofrudenessandignorance？Yetnosortofcomparisoncanbedrawnbetweenthepioneerandthedwellingwhichsheltershim。Everythingabouthimisprimitiveandunformed，butheishimselftheresultofthelaborandtheexperienceofeighteencenturies。Hewearsthedress，andhespeaksthelanguageofcities;heisacquaintedwiththepast，curiousofthefuture，andreadyforargumentuponthepresent;heis，inshort，ahighlycivilizedbeing，whoconsents，foratime，toinhabitthebackwoods，andwhopenetratesintothewildsoftheNewWorldwiththeBible，anaxe，andafileofnewspapers。
　　Itisdifficulttoimaginetheincrediblerapiditywithwhichpublicopinioncirculatesinthemidstofthesedeserts。*jIdonotthinkthatsomuchintellectualintercoursetakesplaceinthemostenlightenedandpopulousdistrictsofFrance。*kItcannotbedoubtedthat，intheUnitedStates，theinstructionofthepeoplepowerfullycontributestothesupportofademocraticrepublic;andsuchmustalwaysbethecase，Ibelieve，whereinstructionwhichawakenstheunderstandingisnotseparatedfrommoraleducationwhichamendstheheart。ButIbynomeansexaggeratethisbenefit，andIamstillfurtherfromthinking，assomanypeopledothinkinEurope，thatmencanbeinstantaneouslymadecitizensbyteachingthemtoreadandwrite。
　　Trueinformationismainlyderivedfromexperience;andiftheAmericanshadnotbeengraduallyaccustomedtogovernthemselves，theirbook—learningwouldnotassistthemmuchatthepresentday。
　　[Footnotej:ItravelledalongaportionofthefrontieroftheUnitedStatesinasortofcartwhichwastermedthemail。Wepassed，dayandnight，withgreatrapidityalongtheroadswhichwerescarcelymarkedout，throughimmenseforests;whenthegloomofthewoodsbecameimpenetrablethecoachmanlightedbranchesoffir，andwejourneyedalongbythelighttheycast。Fromtimetotimewecametoahutinthemidstoftheforest，whichwasapost—office。Themaildroppedanenormousbundleoflettersatthedoorofthisisolateddwelling，andwepursuedourwayatfullgallop，leavingtheinhabitantsoftheneighboringloghousestosendfortheirshareofthetreasure。
　　[WhentheauthorvisitedAmericathelocomotiveandtherailroadwerescarcelyinvented，andnotyetintroducedintheUnitedStates。Itissuperfluoustopointouttheimmenseeffectofthoseinventionsinextendingcivilizationanddevelopingtheresourcesofthatvastcontinent。In1831therewere51milesofrailwayintheUnitedStates;in1872therewere60，000milesofrailway。]]
　　[Footnotek:In1832eachinhabitantofMichiganpaidasumequivalentto1fr。22cent。（Frenchmoney）tothepost—officerevenue，andeachinhabitantoftheFloridaspaid1fr。5cent。
　　（See"NationalCalendar，"1833，p。244。）InthesameyeareachinhabitantoftheDepartementduNordpaid1fr。4cent。totherevenueoftheFrenchpost—office。（Seethe"Compterendudel’administrationdesFinances，"1833，p。623。）NowtheStateofMichiganonlycontainedatthattime7inhabitantspersquareleagueandFloridaonly5:thepublicinstructionandthecommercialactivityofthesedistrictsisinferiortothatofmostoftheStatesintheUnion，whilsttheDepartementduNord，whichcontains3，400inhabitantspersquareleague，isoneofthemostenlightenedandmanufacturingpartsofFrance。]
　　IhavelivedagreatdealwiththepeopleintheUnitedStates，andIcannotexpresshowmuchIadmiretheirexperienceandtheirgoodsense。AnAmericanshouldneverbeallowedtospeakofEurope;forhewillthenprobablydisplayavastdealofpresumptionandveryfoolishpride。Hewilltakeupwiththosecrudeandvaguenotionswhicharesousefultotheignorantallovertheworld。Butifyouquestionhimrespectinghisowncountry，thecloudwhichdimmedhisintelligencewillimmediatelydisperse;hislanguagewillbecomeasclearandaspreciseashisthoughts。Hewillinformyouwhathisrightsare，andbywhatmeansheexercisesthem;hewillbeabletopointoutthecustomswhichobtaininthepoliticalworld。Youwillfindthatheiswellacquaintedwiththerulesoftheadministration，andthatheisfamiliarwiththemechanismofthelaws。ThecitizenoftheUnitedStatesdoesnotacquirehispracticalscienceandhispositivenotionsfrombooks;theinstructionhehasacquiredmayhavepreparedhimforreceivingthoseideas，butitdidnotfurnishthem。TheAmericanlearnstoknowthelawsbyparticipatingintheactoflegislation;andhetakesalessonintheformsofgovernmentfromgoverning。Thegreatworkofsocietyisevergoingonbeneathhiseyes，and，asitwere，underhishands。
　　IntheUnitedStatespoliticsaretheendandaimofeducation;inEuropeitsprincipalobjectistofitmenforprivatelife。Theinterferenceofthecitizensinpublicaffairsistoorareanoccurrenceforittobeanticipatedbeforehand。
　　Uponcastingaglanceoversocietyinthetwohemispheres，thesedifferencesareindicatedevenbyitsexternalaspect。
　　InEuropewefrequentlyintroducetheideasandthehabitsofprivatelifeintopublicaffairs;andaswepassatoncefromthedomesticcircletothegovernmentoftheState，wemayfrequentlybeheardtodiscussthegreatinterestsofsocietyinthesamemannerinwhichweconversewithourfriends。TheAmericans，ontheotherhand，transfusethehabitsofpubliclifeintotheirmannersinprivate;andintheircountrythejuryisintroducedintothegamesofschoolboys，andparliamentaryformsareobservedintheorderofafeast。
　　ChapterXVII:PrincipalCausesMaintainingTheDemocraticRepublic—PartIV
　　TheLawsContributeMoreToTheMaintenanceOfTheDemocraticRepublicInTheUnitedStatesThanThePhysicalCircumstancesOfTheCountry，AndTheMannersMoreThanTheLawsAllthenationsofAmericahaveademocraticstateofsociety—
　　YetdemocraticinstitutionsonlysubsistamongsttheAnglo—Americans—TheSpaniardsofSouthAmerica，equallyfavoredbyphysicalcausesastheAnglo—Americans，unabletomaintainademocraticrepublic—Mexico，whichhasadoptedtheConstitutionoftheUnitedStates，inthesamepredicament—TheAnglo—AmericansoftheWestlessabletomaintainitthanthoseoftheEast—Reasonofthesedifferentresults。
　　IhaveremarkedthatthemaintenanceofdemocraticinstitutionsintheUnitedStatesisattributabletothecircumstances，thelaws，andthemannersofthatcountry。*lMostEuropeansareonlyacquaintedwiththefirstofthesethreecauses，andtheyareapttogiveitapreponderatingimportancewhichitdoesnotreallypossess。
　　[Footnotel:IremindthereaderofthegeneralsignificationwhichIgivetotheword"manners，"namely，themoralandintellectualcharacteristicsofsocialmantakencollectively。]
　　ItistruethattheAnglo—SaxonssettledintheNewWorldinastateofsocialequality;thelow—bornandthenoblewerenottobefoundamongstthem;andprofessionalprejudiceswerealwaysasentirelyunknownastheprejudicesofbirth。Thus，astheconditionofsocietywasdemocratic，theempireofdemocracywasestablishedwithoutdifficulty。ButthiscircumstanceisbynomeanspeculiartotheUnitedStates;almostallthetrans—Atlanticcolonieswerefoundedbymenequalamongstthemselves，orwhobecamesobyinhabitingthem。InnoonepartoftheNewWorldhaveEuropeansbeenabletocreateanaristocracy。Nevertheless，democraticinstitutionsprospernowherebutintheUnitedStates。
　　TheAmericanUnionhasnoenemiestocontendwith;itstandsinthewildslikeanislandintheocean。ButtheSpaniardsofSouthAmericawerenolessisolatedbynature;yettheirpositionhasnotrelievedthemfromthechargeofstandingarmies。Theymakewaruponeachotherwhentheyhavenoforeignenemiestooppose;andtheAnglo—Americandemocracyistheonlyonewhichhashithertobeenabletomaintainitselfinpeace。*m[Footnotem:[Aremarkwhich，sincethegreatCivilWarof1861—65，ceasestobeapplicable。]]
　　TheterritoryoftheUnionpresentsaboundlessfieldtohumanactivity，andinexhaustiblematerialsforindustryandlabor。Thepassionofwealthtakestheplaceofambition，andthewarmthoffactionismitigatedbyasenseofprosperity。Butinwhatportionoftheglobeshallwemeetwithmorefertileplains，withmightierrivers，orwithmoreunexploredandinexhaustiblerichesthaninSouthAmerica？
　　Nevertheless，SouthAmericahasbeenunabletomaintaindemocraticinstitutions。Ifthewelfareofnationsdependedontheirbeingplacedinaremoteposition，withanunboundedspaceofhabitableterritorybeforethem，theSpaniardsofSouthAmericawouldhavenoreasontocomplainoftheirfate。AndalthoughtheymightenjoylessprosperitythantheinhabitantsoftheUnitedStates，theirlotmightstillbesuchastoexcitetheenvyofsomenationsinEurope。Thereare，however，nonationsuponthefaceoftheearthmoremiserablethanthoseofSouthAmerica。
　　Thus，notonlyarephysicalcausesinadequatetoproduceresultsanalogoustothosewhichoccurinNorthAmerica，buttheyareunabletoraisethepopulationofSouthAmericaabovethelevelofEuropeanStates，wheretheyactinacontrarydirection。
　　Physicalcausesdonot，therefore，affectthedestinyofnationssomuchashasbeensupposed。
　　IhavemetwithmeninNewEnglandwhowereonthepointofleavingacountry，wheretheymighthaveremainedineasycircumstances，togotoseektheirfortuneinthewilds。NotfarfromthatdistrictIfoundaFrenchpopulationinCanada，whichwascloselycrowdedonanarrowterritory，althoughthesamewildswereathand;andwhilsttheemigrantfromtheUnitedStatespurchasedanextensiveestatewiththeearningsofashorttermoflabor，theCanadianpaidasmuchforlandashewouldhavedoneinFrance。NatureoffersthesolitudesoftheNewWorldtoEuropeans;buttheyarenotalwaysacquaintedwiththemeansofturninghergiftstoaccount。OtherpeoplesofAmericahavethesamephysicalconditionsofprosperityastheAnglo—Americans，butwithouttheirlawsandtheirmanners;andthesepeoplesarewretched。ThelawsandmannersoftheAnglo—Americansarethereforethatefficientcauseoftheirgreatnesswhichistheobjectofmyinquiry。
　　IamfarfromsupposingthattheAmericanlawsarepreeminentlygoodinthemselves;Idonotholdthemtobeapplicabletoalldemocraticpeoples;andseveralofthemseemtobedangerous，evenintheUnitedStates。Nevertheless，itcannotbedeniedthattheAmericanlegislation，takencollectively，isextremelywelladaptedtothegeniusofthepeopleandthenatureofthecountrywhichitisintendedtogovern。TheAmericanlawsarethereforegood，andtothemmustbeattributedalargeportionofthesuccesswhichattendsthegovernmentofdemocracyinAmerica:butIdonotbelievethemtobetheprincipalcauseofthatsuccess;andiftheyseemtometohavemoreinfluenceuponthesocialhappinessoftheAmericansthanthenatureofthecountry，ontheotherhandthereisreasontobelievethattheireffectisstillinferiortothatproducedbythemannersofthepeople。
　　TheFederallawsundoubtedlyconstitutethemostimportantpartofthelegislationoftheUnitedStates。Mexico，whichisnotlessfortunatelysituatedthantheAnglo—AmericanUnion，hasadoptedthesamelaws，butisunabletoaccustomitselftothegovernmentofdemocracy。Someothercauseisthereforeatwork，independentlyofthosephysicalcircumstancesandpeculiarlawswhichenablethedemocracytoruleintheUnitedStates。
　　Anotherstillmorestrikingproofmaybeadduced。AlmostalltheinhabitantsoftheterritoryoftheUnionarethedescendantsofacommonstock;theyspeakthesamelanguage，theyworshipGodinthesamemanner，theyareaffectedbythesamephysicalcauses，andtheyobeythesamelaws。Whence，then，dotheircharacteristicdifferencesarise？Why，intheEasternStatesoftheUnion，doestherepublicangovernmentdisplayvigorandregularity，andproceedwithmaturedeliberation？Whencedoesitderivethewisdomandthedurabilitywhichmarkitsacts，whilstintheWesternStates，onthecontrary，societyseemstoberuledbythepowersofchance？There，publicbusinessisconductedwithanirregularityandapassionateandfeverishexcitement，whichdoesnotannouncealongorsureduration。
　　IamnolongercomparingtheAnglo—AmericanStatestoforeignnations;butIamcontrastingthemwitheachother，andendeavoringtodiscoverwhytheyaresounlike。Theargumentswhicharederivedfromthenatureofthecountryandthedifferenceoflegislationarehereallsetaside。Recoursemustbehadtosomeothercause;andwhatothercausecantherebeexceptthemannersofthepeople？
　　ItisintheEasternStatesthattheAnglo—Americanshavebeenlongestaccustomedtothegovernmentofdemocracy，andthattheyhaveadoptedthehabitsandconceivedthenotionsmostfavorabletoitsmaintenance。Democracyhasgraduallypenetratedintotheircustoms，theiropinions，andtheformsofsocialintercourse;itistobefoundinallthedetailsofdailylifeequallyasinthelaws。IntheEasternStatestheinstructionandpracticaleducationofthepeoplehavebeenmostperfected，andreligionhasbeenmostthoroughlyamalgamatedwithliberty。
　　Nowthesehabits，opinions，customs，andconvictionsarepreciselytheconstituentelementsofthatwhichIhavedenominatedmanners。
　　IntheWesternStates，onthecontrary，aportionofthesameadvantagesisstillwanting。ManyoftheAmericansoftheWestwereborninthewoods，andtheymixtheideasandthecustomsofsavagelifewiththecivilizationoftheirparents。
　　Theirpassionsaremoreintense;theirreligiousmoralitylessauthoritative;andtheirconvictionslesssecure。Theinhabitantsexercisenosortofcontrolovertheirfellow—citizens，fortheyarescarcelyacquaintedwitheachother。ThenationsoftheWestdisplay，toacertainextent，theinexperienceandtherudehabitsofapeopleinitsinfancy;foralthoughtheyarecomposedofoldelements，theirassemblageisofrecentdate。
　　ThemannersoftheAmericansoftheUnitedStatesare，then，therealcausewhichrendersthatpeopletheonlyoneoftheAmericannationsthatisabletosupportademocraticgovernment;
　　anditistheinfluenceofmannerswhichproducesthedifferentdegreesoforderandofprosperitythatmaybedistinguishedintheseveralAnglo—Americandemocracies。ThustheeffectwhichthegeographicalpositionofacountrymayhaveuponthedurationofdemocraticinstitutionsisexaggeratedinEurope。Toomuchimportanceisattributedtolegislation，toolittletomanners。
　　Thesethreegreatcausesserve，nodoubt，toregulateanddirecttheAmericandemocracy;butiftheyweretobeclassedintheirproperorder，Ishouldsaythatthephysicalcircumstancesarelessefficientthanthelaws，andthelawsverysubordinatetothemannersofthepeople。Iamconvincedthatthemostadvantageoussituationandthebestpossiblelawscannotmaintainaconstitutioninspiteofthemannersofacountry;whilstthelattermayturnthemostunfavorablepositionsandtheworstlawstosomeadvantage。Theimportanceofmannersisacommontruthtowhichstudyandexperienceincessantlydirectourattention。
　　Itmayberegardedasacentralpointintherangeofhumanobservation，andthecommonterminationofallinquiry。SoseriouslydoIinsistuponthishead，thatifIhavehithertofailedinmakingthereaderfeeltheimportantinfluencewhichI
　　attributetothepracticalexperience，thehabits，theopinions，inshort，tothemannersoftheAmericans，uponthemaintenanceoftheirinstitutions，Ihavefailedintheprincipalobjectofmywork。
　　WhetherLawsAndMannersAreSufficientToMaintainDemocraticInstitutionsInOtherCountriesBesidesAmericaTheAnglo—Americans，iftransportedintoEurope，wouldbeobligedtomodifytheirlaws—DistinctiontobemadebetweendemocraticinstitutionsandAmericaninstitutions—Democraticlawsmaybeconceivedbetterthan，oratleastdifferentfrom，thosewhichtheAmericandemocracyhasadopted—TheexampleofAmericaonlyprovesthatitispossibletoregulatedemocracybytheassistanceofmannersandlegislation。
　　IhaveassertedthatthesuccessofdemocraticinstitutionsintheUnitedStatesismoreintimatelyconnectedwiththelawsthemselves，andthemannersofthepeople，thanwiththenatureofthecountry。Butdoesitfollowthatthesamecauseswouldofthemselvesproducethesameresults，iftheywereputintooperationelsewhere;andifthecountryisnoadequatesubstituteforlawsandmanners，canlawsandmannersintheirturnproveasubstituteforthecountry？Itwillreadilybeunderstoodthatthenecessaryelementsofareplytothisquestionarewanting:
　　otherpeoplesaretobefoundintheNewWorldbesidestheAnglo—
　　Americans，andasthesepeopleareaffectedbythesamephysicalcircumstancesasthelatter，theymayfairlybecomparedtogether。ButtherearenonationsoutofAmericawhichhaveadoptedthesamelawsandmanners，beingdestituteofthephysicaladvantagespeculiartotheAnglo—Americans。Nostandardofcomparisonthereforeexists，andwecanonlyhazardanopinionuponthissubject。
　　Itappearstome，inthefirstplace，thatacarefuldistinctionmustbemadebetweentheinstitutionsoftheUnitedStatesanddemocraticinstitutionsingeneral。WhenIreflectuponthestateofEurope，itsmightynations，itspopulouscities，itsformidablearmies，andthecomplexnatureofitspolitics，IcannotsupposethateventheAnglo—Americans，iftheyweretransportedtoourhemisphere，withtheirideas，theirreligion，andtheirmanners，couldexistwithoutconsiderablyalteringtheirlaws。Butademocraticnationmaybeimagined，organizeddifferentlyfromtheAmericanpeople。Itisnotimpossibletoconceiveagovernmentreallyestablisheduponthewillofthemajority;butinwhichthemajority，repressingitsnaturalpropensitytoequality，shouldconsent，withaviewtotheorderandthestabilityoftheState，toinvestafamilyoranindividualwithalltheprerogativesoftheexecutive。A
　　democraticsocietymightexist，inwhichtheforcesofthenationwouldbemorecentralizedthantheyareintheUnitedStates;thepeoplewouldexercisealessdirectandlessirresistibleinfluenceuponpublicaffairs，andyeteverycitizeninvestedwithcertainrightswouldparticipate，withinhissphere，intheconductofthegovernment。TheobservationsImadeamongsttheAnglo—Americansinducemetobelievethatdemocraticinstitutionsofthiskind，prudentlyintroducedintosociety，soasgraduallytomixwiththehabitsandtobeinterfusedwiththeopinionsofthepeople，mightsubsistinothercountriesbesidesAmerica。IfthelawsoftheUnitedStatesweretheonlyimaginabledemocraticlaws，orthemostperfectwhichitispossibletoconceive，Ishouldadmitthatthesuccessofthoseinstitutionsaffordsnoproofofthesuccessofdemocraticinstitutionsingeneral，inacountrylessfavoredbynaturalcircumstances。ButasthelawsofAmericaappeartometobedefectiveinseveralrespects，andasIcanreadilyimagineothersofthesamegeneralnature，thepeculiaradvantagesofthatcountrydonotprovethatdemocraticinstitutionscannotsucceedinanationlessfavoredbycircumstances，ifruledbybetterlaws。
　　IfhumannatureweredifferentinAmericafromwhatitiselsewhere;orifthesocialconditionoftheAmericansengenderedhabitsandopinionsamongstthemdifferentfromthosewhichoriginateinthesamesocialconditionintheOldWorld，theAmericandemocracieswouldaffordnomeansofpredictingwhatmayoccurinotherdemocracies。IftheAmericansdisplayedthesamepropensitiesasallotherdemocraticnations，andiftheirlegislatorshadrelieduponthenatureofthecountryandthefavorofcircumstancestorestrainthosepropensitieswithinduelimits，theprosperityoftheUnitedStateswouldbeexclusivelyattributabletophysicalcauses，anditwouldaffordnoencouragementtoapeopleinclinedtoimitatetheirexample，withoutsharingtheirnaturaladvantages。Butneitherofthesesuppositionsisborneoutbyfacts。
　　InAmericathesamepassionsaretobemetwithasinEurope;someoriginatinginhumannature，othersinthedemocraticconditionofsociety。ThusintheUnitedStatesI
　　foundthatrestlessnessofheartwhichisnaturaltomen，whenallranksarenearlyequalandthechancesofelevationarethesametoall。Ifoundthedemocraticfeelingofenvyexpressedunderathousanddifferentforms。Iremarkedthatthepeoplefrequentlydisplayed，intheconductofaffairs，aconsummatemixtureofignoranceandpresumption;andIinferredthatinAmerica，menareliabletothesamefailingsandthesameabsurditiesasamongstourselves。Butuponexaminingthestateofsocietymoreattentively，IspeedilydiscoveredthattheAmericanshadmadegreatandsuccessfuleffortstocounteracttheseimperfectionsofhumannature，andtocorrectthenaturaldefectsofdemocracy。Theirdiversmunicipallawsappearedtometobeameansofrestrainingtheambitionofthecitizenswithinanarrowsphere，andofturningthosesamepassionswhichmighthaveworkedhavocintheState，tothegoodofthetownshiportheparish。TheAmericanlegislatorshavesucceededtoacertainextentinopposingthenotionofrightstothefeelingsofenvy;