The Heavenly Prison

The National Broadcasting Company in conjunction with the Fund for Adult Education presents Democracy in America by Alexis de Tocqueville. In 1831, there are in America estimable men whose minds feed upon philosophical referees, and whose extreme sensibility feel is the warmth of some illusion.

These men, for whom philanthropy has become a matter of necessity, find in the penitentiary system an arrangement for this generous passion. Starting from abstractions which deviate more or less from reality, they consider man, however far advanced in crime, as still susceptible of being brought back to virtue.

And pursuing constantly this opinion, they hope for an epoch when all criminals may be de Radicler reformed, de prisons be entalle ente, and justice find no crimes to punish. The Heavenly Prism A study in American Reform, item 8 in the series Democracy in America, prepared by the Division of General Education of New York University under the direction of George Probst, American

historian. A series designed to bring to life the America of 1831, as recorded by Alexis de Tocqueville, and so to illuminate the image of democracy itself. A study in American reform, the heavenly prison. When Bumour and I arrived in America in 1831, we were impressed by the fact that everybody was a success. The whole world here, man turns and fashions to his pleasure.

not a man, but may reasonably hope to gain the comfort of life. Not one who does not know that with love of work is future is certain, but even in America, Bumor, there are persons who have come into conflict with society.

Persons therefore, whom their fellow Americans wish to reform. But this passion for reform is made more complicated by the American belief that their democracy peculiarly expresses the will of God. The attitude towards American democracy is permeated by religion.