The Happy Republic

The National Broadcasting Company in conjunction with the Fund for Adult Education presents Democracy in America by Alexis de Tocqueville. A glance is enough to detect the faults of democracy, but the good qualities can be seen only by long observation.

The laws of American democracy are frequently defective. How comes it then that the American republics prosper and continue? The Happy Republic. A Study in American Values Item 13 in the series Democracy in America Prepared by the Division of General Education of New York University Under the direction of George Prost, American historian A series designed to bring to life the America of the 1830s

As recorded by Alexis de Tocqueville And so to illuminate the image of democracy itself A Study in American Values The Happy Republic I might have a little silence. Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, two of our guests this evening, Mr. Tockville and Mr. Beaumont, are sailing tomorrow for France.

Fancy picking the middle of February to cross the Atlantic. Fancy picking any day to leave the United States in favor of yours. And ask me to our patreons. I know you are Mr. Tockville and the sentiment does you credit.

Ladies and gentlemen, our proposal to toast to our guests and to the United States, the only one who is in the United States. United States, the home of liberty and to France, the home of Lafayette.

United States and France. Come on gentlemen, reply, reply. No, no, no, no, no, don't reply to the toast. Instead, just tell us what you think of America. Ms. Fulton, that was the first question we heard when we arrived ten months ago.

Then let it also be the last as you leave. Surely you've learned something, Mr. Beaumont. I have learned the Miss Fulton to admire and to respect the American womanhood. And to leave the ladies the last word.