American Political Ideas Viewed from the Standpoint of Universal History | Page 3

not granted to strangers. Consequences of the
political difference between the Graeco-Roman city and the Teutonic
shire. The _folk-mote_, or primary assembly, and the witenagemote, or
assembly of notables. Origin of representative government in the
Teutonic shire. Representation unknown to the Greeks and Romans.

The ancient city as a school for political training. Intensity of the
jealousies and rivalries between adjacent self-governing groups of men.
Smallness of simple social aggregates and universality of warfare in
primitive times. For the formation of larger and more complex social
aggregates, only two methods are practicable,--conquest or federation.
Greek attempts at employing the higher method, that of federation. The
Athenian hegemony and its overthrow. The Achaian and Aetolian
leagues. In a low stage of political development the Roman method of
conquest with incorporation was the only one practicable. Peculiarities
of the Roman conquest of Italy. Causes of the universal dominion of
Rome. Advantages and disadvantages of this dominion:--on the one
hand the pax romana, and the breaking down of primitive local
superstitions and prejudices; on the other hand the partial extinction of
local self-government. Despotism inevitable in the absence of
representation. Causes of the political failure of the Roman system.
Partial reversion of Europe, between the fifth and eleventh centuries,
towards a more primitive type of social structure. Power of Rome still
wielded through the Church and the imperial jurisprudence.
Preservation of local self-government in England, and at the two ends
of the Rhine. The Dutch and Swiss federations. The lesson to be
learned from Switzerland. Federation on a great scale could only be
attempted successfully by men of English political training, when
working without let or hindrance in a vast country not preoccupied by
an old civilization. Without local self-government a great Federal
Union is impossible. Illustrations from American history. Difficulty of
the problem, and failure of the early attempts at federation in New
England. Effects of the war for independence. The "Articles of
Confederation" and the "Constitution." Pacific implications of
American federalism.

III.
"_MANIFEST DESTINY._"
The Americans boast of the bigness of their country. How to "bound"
the United States. "Manifest Destiny" of the "Anglo-Saxon Race." The

term "Anglo-Saxon" slovenly and misleading. Statements relating to
the "English Race" have a common interest for Americans and for
Englishmen. Work of the English race in the world. The prime feature
of civilization is the diminution of warfare, which becomes possible
only through the formation of great political aggregates in which the
parts retain their local and individual freedom. In the earlier stages of
civilization, the possibility of peace can be guaranteed only through
war, but the preponderant military strength is gradually concentrated in
the hands of the most pacific communities, and by the continuance of
this process the permanent peace of the world will ultimately be
secured. Illustrations from the early struggles of European civilization
with outer barbarism, and with aggressive civilizations of lower type.
Greece and Persia. Keltic and Teutonic enemies of Rome. The
defensible frontier of European civilization carried northward and
eastward to the Rhine by Caesar; to the Oder by Charles the Great; to
the Vistula by the Teutonic Knights; to the Volga and the Oxus by the
Russians. Danger in the Dark Ages from Huns and Mongols on the one
hand, from Mussulmans on the other. Immense increase of the area and
physical strength of European civilization, which can never again be in
danger from outer barbarism. Effect of all this secular turmoil upon the
political institutions of Europe. It hindered the formation of closely
coherent nations, and was at the same time an obstacle to the
preservation of popular liberties. Tendency towards the Asiaticization
of European life. Opposing influences of the Church, and of the
Germanic tribal organizations. Military type of society on the Continent.
Old Aryan self-government happily preserved in England. Strategic
position of England favourable to the early elimination of warfare from
her soil. Hence the exceptionally normal and plastic political
development of the English race. Significant coincidence of the
discovery of America with the beginnings of the Protestant revolt
against the asiaticizing tendency. Significance of the struggle between
Spain, France, and England for the possession of an enormous area of
virgin soil which should insure to the conqueror an unprecedented
opportunity for future development. The race which gained control of
North America must become the dominant race of the world, and its
political ideas must prevail in the struggle for life. Moral significance
of the rapid increase of the English race in America. Fallacy of the

notion that centralized governments are needed for very large nations.
It is only through federalism, combined with local self-government,
that the stability of so huge an aggregate as the United States can be
permanently maintained. What the American government really fought
for in the late Civil War. Magnitude of the results achieved.