The times., 1899-08-13
rhe Mnking of a NntIon.

AlDuE nave Rttu tNOiAtQ lS A0t clDM BiO-
cess Of centuries OF assimilation and grow
ing civilization, from conquering tribes
which gradually discarded tribal and tradi-
tional customs for intelligent government.
But only in this land have men of many
nationalities and social traditions met in
a wilderness, tanned it. made it valuable,
and then deliberately determined the prin-
ciples on which a new factor in interna-
tional affairs should be based. They con-
Quered no territory in which another form
OF government existed; they early cast off
allegiance TO a government with which
their own ideas were not in harmony.
There is no land left on earth for anothN-
experiment so gigantic and so momentous.
The government Of this country is not
only unlike all others in the history OF its
conception. but Il was the first in which
the principle OF human equality ever
formed the foundation stone. The history
Of the first serentyfve years of the Ameri-
can Republic is the record of successive
attempts TO make the general working of
the social and political systems conform TO
this great First Principle. Democracy is
the practical administration OF the Golden
Rule and this rule is at the bottom OF all
successful government, whether democratic
in form or not, because IL is altruism in q
nutshell, and only through altruism can
the greatest good OF al the people be Sc
cured. Owing, however. 70 the survival Of
the old animal instincts. predatory, domi-
neering. and greedy, there must be many
partial or complete failures before this rule
can be brought 10 successful working. The
history of such failures. followed by a
measure OF success, is the history of our
nation, and that is why ii is intensely in
teresting to the ethnologist the sociologist,
the theologian, and the philosopher.
In "A Constitutional History OF the
American People" by Francis Newton
Thorpe. We have the record of this great
experiment. given in concise, scholarly and
able fashion, and though the title may not
sound attractive 10 the average reader,
the work itself is as fascinating as great
novel There IS absolutely no waste OF
words IN the book. II contains a vast
amount Of material packed as a bee packs
honey. and, without being IN the form of q
philosophical treatise, il yet contains much
OF the philosophy of history. A quotation
from Emerson which is 10 be found on
fyleaf expresses well enough the central
idea OF the author:
The history Of the state sketches In coarse out
line the progress Of thought, and follows at z
distance the delicacy Of culture and aspiration.
THIS describes exactly the progress of
the American people since the signing OF
0tN-dEdllCu "a 4IUSpSQueuCe. helOIm-
ers have despaired of IL, cynics have
eheered ST. Il, bat both have fail
ed TO see what the subtle insight OF
Emerson discerned a generation since
that the history Of the state sketches, ''in
coarse outline" the progress OF thought, and
follows only ''et distance sometimes al
considerable distance-the progress of
culture. The translation of great thought
into the language of action must be slow
process even in the life of an individual;
how much more when the medium OF trans
fssi2n is q multitudel
The great aim of Mr.. Thorpe In writing
bis Constitutional History" seems to be to
bring out this idea. end for that reason, il
Tor no other, in these days OF doubt and
more or less chaotic conception OF the
manifest destiny Of the people his book
should be widely read.
In the opening paragraph of the first
volume we find these significant sentences:
In the evolution OF democracy in America two
large processes were 10 be worked out-the utili-
Eation Of the forces Of nature and the organiza-
ticn Of civil affairs by means Of e government
adapted 70 such country ours The indus
trial process has been co-ordinated with the civil,
and democracy in America is the result. :.
lt is The function of the political philosopher In
the social economy, 10 anticipate results Thought
oufr1ns performance So &ontesquieu anticipates
the democracy Of today. Hume anticipates the
of administration in government.
The first important point which the
author makes Is that our government
though new in practical workings, is but
composite Of principles latent in Euro
pean life since the age OF the Reformation.
He says:
Rome gave the world order without liberty.
The Cet administers government with occasional
sacrifice Of order TO license. The Teuton con
serves liberty and order.
Democracy IN America is the resultant OF Ro-
man, Celtic and Teutonic ideaE. II is a civil
composite.
The second point made In this introduc
tory chapter is one already hinted at-the
close connection between our Industrial and
political systems. There are several SEN
tences, brief, incisiye, and significant which
bear on this point:
il was the necessity for labor that dethroned
the King and enthroned the people in America
virtue N democracy lies close to in
oustry- The state cannot get away from the
mine. from the factory, from the soil The crisis
In the history Of democracy turns on industrial
adjustments The American Revolution was
val ior Tree labor; lis political purposes and
effects were secondary. America was moi
q democracy until slavery was abolished II II
exists today IN any form in the United States
then democracy Goes not obtain among US
Perhaps IL IS unfortunate for the fate of dernoc-
tempted 70 interpret II politically II
has become almost automatic with US to seek
the solution Of problems IN the state by DO
htieal agreement, rather than by q better indus
trial organization. Politics and labor are the
Democratic team: but politics leads
Whatever the form the idea Of the state
man cannot get rid Of himself His philosophy,
his Fagaries, his stomach are always with him.
Democracy IS not an insurance against the con-
sequences Of having been born into the world.
lhe state is no better than the men and
women N Il portion Of our discon-
tent arises from our limited notions OF denoc-
racy IL consists Of more than meat and drink,
ard a ballot. The whole man Is involved In
IT. lie Is somewhat more than an economic in
teger. Material results viii never satisfy him.
The range Of his activities Is beyond the merely
industrial treadmill. Tie conyulsion OF
1sol proved that American democracy
could not be longer administered with its growth
Retarded by obedience without liberty" Ex-
per3eDce alone can correct the evils In the
state. Time Il the best friend Of dernoc.
racy.
II follows, then, that democratic govern
nent will be imperfect so long as the peo-
pie themselves are imperfect: that any-
thing which retards the Industrial mental
or moral development of any class of the
population must sooner or later interfere
with government 1t is not necessary that
every man In the country should person.
ally study q profession, learn a trade or
r. INTO politics; but II is necessary that
ne should have the fullest opportunity TO
90 any Of these things which he is quaii-
BED 70 DO With every man IA the place
tor which he is fitted, from an industrial
point OF view, democratic government
would take care OF itself; il is only when
men are elevated 20 positions OF power for
which they are unfit. or crushed down into
spheres OF merely mechanical labor when
they are capable of higher things, that
democracy means disorder and tribulation
These are the principles laid down in
the first chapter Of Mr. Thorpe's book. as