atriotism, and toleration, allowing
every one to think and feel as he likes, are universal
characteristics. So that in the United States nothing is wanting
to the attainment of a true civil and social freedom, even though
the means thereto are not invariably correctly understood or
admitted (as is indeed the case by us), and though--since men are
every where subject to the same weaknesses--they measure happiness
rather by the standard of their own intelligence and virtues, than
by fortune and nature, which latter, impartially considered, is
the basis of the physical happiness of the American. That,
however, which constitutes his _moral_ happiness is this; that in
his country, domestic life enjoys the true supremacy, _and to
this, public life and the state are subordinate_. It is true that
the American statesmen have fallen into the same error as the
European--_id est_, to believe that without _them_ the people could
never prosper, and still live in the belief that home-happiness
hangs on them, their theories and arts of governing; but the most
superficial glance teaches that if wise laws are able to effect
more for the happiness of man than they can bring about, still no
one should _there_ attempt to draw happiness from such a source
when popular and private life have combined to bestow it. But
should the happiness of the Americans ever be derived from this
side, it will be more sensible to assume that the foundation
thereof will be the release from that which in the recent culture
has passed for the deepest political wisdom. The true secret of
all the good fortune of America lies in the favorable condition of
external things. 'It is not with them as in Europe, where the poor
can only better their condition or become rich by making the rich
poor, for therein lies the source of an infinite strife which hath
been combated for centuries, with the axioms of religion and
morals. But in America, men when striving to better their
condition, instead of becoming enemies and turning their arms
against each other, strive with _Nature_, and wring from her
boundless stores that wealth which she so bountifully affords!'"

We have made these quotations less on account of any merit which they
possess, than to give our readers an idea of the general opinion
prevailing in Germany in regard to our country;