Los Angeles herald., 1908-10-11
AMERIcANIsM

eEHTHAT is Americapism?" asks an
w esteemed contemporary, add
Ing, "I have been highly edi-
fed by reading The Herald's editorials
on the subject, but CONFESS that I am
not able to arrive at an understand
ing of just what the writer means by
the term. The nearest can get to 1t
is that Americanism anc Bryanism are
in the eye of this moider of public
opinion Identical" They are not lit
orally Identical, because the source Is
not identical with the river. At the
same time, the Democratic doctrine
sometimes called "Bryanism," is a
modern practical expression Of Ameri-
canism.
If our friend cannot understand our
plainly worded remarks on the subject,
ties: 1.-THE Declaration of Indepen-
dence," Constitution OF the United
States" Amendments to Constitu
tion." They are all interesting read
ing, and we might even believe that
to an open minded, receptive contem-
porary who reads ther for the first
time, they will be fascinating. We
may add that the documents are sim
gularly clear. unequivocally lucid and
models of good style.
The Declaration starts with this bold
assertion: 1--WE hold these truths to be
self evident, that all men are created
equal, that they are endowed by their
Creator with certain inaEenable rights,
that among these are life, liberty and
the pursuit of happiness"
Therefore, John D. Rockefeller is
created the equal of the corner gro
ceryman, and when he interferes with
the rights of his fellow men, whether
they are corner grocerymen or whole
| sale merchants. he is not good
American" A government which helps
any American to accentuate the social
inequalities which seem inseparable
from human life by aiding and abet-
ting him in obtaining more than his
fair share of the money power is not
itself American" When the Declara-
ton was signed, America was suffer-
ing from an absolutely political tyran-
ny. Now it is suffering from an eco
nomical and political tyranny. The
last state of the country is as bad
as the first.
Americanism guarantees "every state
in this Union a republican form of
government" This constitutional guar
antee is being interfered with by cor
porationism, which is still another
form of tyranny, and as the extinction
of all forms of tyranny is the aim of
all the contracts, undertakings, VOWS,
pledges declarations, promises and
laws of Americanism, there is no form
of tyranny, small or great, that is not
un-Ameriean, foreign tc the spirit and
purpose of this nation, and in effect
disloyal.
After all, we are not astonished that
our friend should ask, What is Amer
icanism?" It is as true as it is amaz-
ing that many Republicans are as ig-
norant of the subject as our friend
frankly confesses he is. We have
explained, we hope clearly, the rela-
ton of Americanism to modern De-
mocracy, or Organism, represented by
Mr.. Bryan, whose study OF American
institutions and history gives him In
addition to the ordinary, some un-
usual qualifications for the great Of
flee to which he is about to be elected.
Let us add that Americanism abso-
lutely discountenances, is fatty op- |
posed to, some of the methods for |
which Judge Taft has shown marked |
partiality-for instance, government by
arbitrary injunction.