De Tocqueville’s Eyes

In 1831-32, over a period of about seven months, French sociologist and political scientist, Alexis de Tocqueville toured the United States as it then was. He was attuned to its political, economic, and religious character and wrote extensively of his observations. The first part of that appeared in print in 1835, the second in 1840. The modern English-language product is “Democracy in America,” Dover’s paperback edition (2017) being a daunting 559 page volume I, followed by 499 pages of volume II. I have worked through volume I; it is so relevant to the test of democracy in our times. But “Democracy in America” cannot be reduced to a single “The Magic Library Card!” essay. Sections through Chapter I, volume I, are enough for one essay, the present one. Here are some of de Tocquev…