按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ds and legitimate pleasures of home； is to contract a taste for excesses； a restlessness of heart； and the evil of fluctuating desires。 Agitated by the tumultuous passions which frequently disturb his dwelling； the European is galled by the obedience which the legislative powers of the State exact。 But when the American retires from the turmoil of public life to the bosom of his family； he finds in it the image of order and of peace。 There his pleasures are simple and natural； his joys are innocent and calm； and as he finds that an orderly life is the surest path to happiness； he accustoms himself without difficulty to moderate his opinions as well as his tastes。 Whilst the European endeavors to forget his domestic troubles by agitating society； the American derives from his own home that love of order which he afterwards carries with him into public affairs。
In the United States the influence of religion is not confined to the manners； but it extends to the intelligence of the people。 Amongst the Anglo…Americans； there are some who profess the doctrines of Christianity from a sincere belief in them； and others who do the same because they are afraid to be suspected of unbelief。 Christianity； therefore； reigns without any obstacle； by universal consent； the consequence is； as I have before observed； that every principle of the moral world is fixed and determinate； although the political world is abandoned to the debates and the experiments of men。 Thus the human mind is never left to wander across a boundless field； and； whatever may be its pretensions； it is checked from time to time by barriers which it cannot surmount。 Before it can perpetrate innovation； certain primal and immutable principles are laid down； and the boldest conceptions of human device are subjected to certain forms which retard and stop their completion。
The imagination of the Americans； even in its greatest flights； is circumspect and undecided； its impulses are checked； and its works unfinished。 These habits of restraint recur in political society； and are singularly favorable both to the tranquillity of the people and to the durability of the institutions it has established。 Nature and circumstances concurred to make the inhabitants of the United States bold men； as is sufficiently attested by the enterprising spirit with which they seek for fortune。 If the mind of the Americans were free from all trammels； they would very shortly become the most daring innovators and the most implacable disputants in the world。 But the revolutionists of America are obliged to profess an ostensible respect for Christian morality and equity； which does not easily permit them to violate the laws that oppose their designs； nor would they find it easy to surmount the scruples of their partisans； even if they were able to get over their own。 Hitherto no one in the United States has dared to advance the maxim； that everything is permissible with a view to the interests of society； an impious adage which seems to have been invented in an age of freedom to shelter all the tyrants of future ages。 Thus whilst the law permits the Americans to do what they please； religion prevents them from conceiving； and forbids them to commit； what is rash or unjust。
Religion in America takes no direct part in the government of society； but it must nevertheless be regarded as the foremost of the political institutions of that country； for if it does not impart a taste for freedom； it facilitates the use of free institutions。 Indeed； it is in this same point of view that the inhabitants of the United States themselves look upon religious belief。 I do not know whether all the Americans have a sincere faith in their religion； for who can search the human heart？ but I am certain that they hold it to be indispensable to the maintenance of republican institutions。 This opinion is not peculiar to a class of citizens or to a party； but it belongs to the whole nation； and to every rank of society。
In the United States； if a political character attacks a sect； this may not prevent even the partisans of that very sect from supporting him； but if he attacks all the sects together； everyone abandons him； and he remains alone。
Whilst I was in America； a witness； who happened to be called at the assizes of the county of Chester （State of New York）； declared that he did not believe in the existence of God； or in the immortality of the soul。 The judge refused to admit his evidence； on the ground that the witness had destroyed beforehand all the confidence of the Court in what he was about to say。 *e The newspapers related the fact without any further comment。
＇Footnote e： The New York 〃Spectator〃 of August 23； 1831； relates the fact in the following terms： … 〃The Court of Common Pleas of Chester county （New York） a few days since rejected a witness who declared his disbelief in the existence of God。 The presiding judge remarked that he had not before been aware that there was a man living who did not believe in the existence of God； that this belief constituted the sanction of all testimony in a court of justice； and that he knew of no cause in a Christian country where a witness had been permitted to testify without such belief。〃＇
The Americans combine the notions of Christianity and of liberty so intimately in their minds； that it is impossible to make them conceive the one without the other； and with them this conviction does not spring from that barren traditionary faith which seems to vegetate in the soul rather than to live。
I have known of societies formed by the Americans to send out ministers of the Gospel into the new Western States to found schools and churches there； lest religion should be suffered to die away in those remote settlements； and the rising States be less fitted to enjoy free institutions than the people from which they emanated。 I met with wealthy New Englanders who abandoned the country in which they were born in order to lay the foundations of Christianity and of freedom on the banks of the Missouri； or in the prairies of Illinois。 Thus religious zeal is perpetually stimulated in the United States by the duties of patriotism。 These men do not act from an exclusive consideration of the promises of a future life； eternity is only one motive of their devotion to the cause； and if you converse with these missionaries of Christian civilization； you will be surprised to find how much value they set upon the goods of this world； and that you meet with a politician where you expected to find a priest。 They will tell you that 〃all the American republics are collectively involved with each other； if the republics of the West were to fall into anarchy； or to be mastered by a despot； the republican institutions which now flourish upon the shores of the Atlantic Ocean would be in great peril。 It is； therefore； our interest that the new States should be religious； in order to maintain our liberties。〃
Such are the opinions of the Americans； and if any hold that the religious spirit which I admire is the very thing most amiss in America； and that the only element wanting to the freedom and happiness of the human race is to believe in some blind cosmogony