democracy and a Republic must rest upon moral foundations. Our reborn State, our democratic Republic would have to be based upon an idea, it must have a reason for existence which the world at large would recognize.
Some special features of the American Constitution are noteworthy—the Presidency, in particular. To the President the Constitution entrusts great power. He himself selects the Government, not among Members of Parliament—the American President is, after the English fashion, de facto an elective constitutional King. The American example might serve in some degree to correct those shortcomings of Parliamentarism against which protests are now to be heard on all hands—the disunion entailed by the growth and the splitting up of parties. Significant, too, is the principle that the constitutional validity of laws is subject to the judgment of the Supreme Court. In the federal character of her Republic and her Democracy, America gives us, moveover, a political lesson—the very reverse of European centralism which has nowhere made good. Even the small Swiss Republic points to autonomy and federalism. American federalism and autonomy must, however, defend themselves against the centralization which is developing strongly at the cost of autonomy. No inner harmony has yet been attained between the self-government of the various States and the Central Government, nor have the technical consequences of this lack of harmony, such as redundancies and lack of uniformity in legislation, yet been overcome.[1]
In Europe, particularly in Germany and Austria, “Americanism” is often condemned as a one-sidedly mechanical and materialistic outlook on life, pointed reference being made to the almighty dollar, to the lack of political sense among Americans and to the inadequacy of their science and culture.
- ↑ Here I may cite the “American Creed” which won a public competition in 1916–1917. President Wilson and a number of prominent politicians and writers supported the competition of which the winner was Mr. William Tyler Page, a descendant of President Tyler. Its text is made up of various apt phrases taken from the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence and speeches of prominent statesmen. It runs:—
I believe in the United States of America as a government of the people by the people for the people; whose real power derives from the assent of the governed; in democracy within the Republic; in the nation sovereign among many sovereign States; in a unity complete, single and indivisible; founded on the principles of freedom, equality, justice and humanity for which American patriots have sacrificed their lives and their possessions.Therefore I believe it my duty to love my country; to uphold its Constitution; to obey its laws; to honour its flag; and to defend it against all foes.
“American Credo.”
