the american republic-第3章
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on its own constitution； its own separate existence； individuality； tendencies； and end。 The defection of the slaveholding States； and the fearful struggle that has followed for national unity and integrity； have brought it at once to a distinct recognition of itself； and forced it to pass from thoughtless； careless； heedless； reckless adolescence to grave and reflecting manhood。 The nation has been suddenly compelled to study itself； and henceforth must act from reflection； understanding； science； statesmanship； not from instinct； impulse； passion； or caprice； knowing well what 3 it does； and wherefore it does it。 The change which four years of civil war have wrought in the nation is great； and is sure to give it the seriousness； the gravity； the dignity； the manliness it has heretofore lacked。
Though the nation has been brought to a consciousness of its own existence； it has not； even yet； attained to a full and clear understanding of its own national constitution。 Its vision is still obscured by the floating mists of its earlier morning； and its judgment rendered indistinct and indecisive by the wild theories and fancies of its childhood。 The national mind has been quickened； the national heart has been opened； the national disposition prepared； but there remains the important work of dissipating the mists that still linger； of brushing away these wild theories and fancies； and of enabling it to form a clear and intelligent judgment of itself； and a true and just appreciation of its own constitution tendencies；and destiny； or； in other words； of enabling the nation to understand its own idea； and the means of its actualization in space and time。
Every living nation has an idea given it by Providence to realize； and whose realization is its special work； mission； or destiny。 Every nation is； in some sense； a chosen people of 4 God。 The Jews were the chosen people of God； through whom the primitive traditions were to be preserved in their purity and integrity； and the Messiah was to come。 The Greeks were the chosen people of God； for the development and realization of the beautiful or the divine splendor in art； and of the true in science and philosophy； and the Romans； for the development of the state； law； and jurisprudence。 The great despotic nations of Asia were never properly nations； or if they were nations with a mission； they proved false to it； and count for nothing in the progressive development of the human race。 History has not recorded their mission； and as far as they are known they have contributed only to the abnormal development or corruption of religion and civilization。 Despotism is barbaric and abnormal。
The United States； or the American Republic； has a mission； and is chosen of God for the realization of a great idea。 It has been chosen not only to continue the work assigned to Greece and Rome； but to accomplish a greater work than was assigned to either。 In art； it will prove false to its mission if it do not rival Greece； and in science and philosophy； if it do not surpass it。 In the state； in law； in jurisprudence； it must continue and surpass Rome。 Its idea 5 is liberty； indeed； but liberty with law； and law with liberty。 Yet its mission is not so much the realization of liberty as the realization of the true idea of the state； which secures at once the authority of the public and the freedom of the individualthe sovereignty of the people without social despotism； and individual freedom without anarchy。 In other words； its mission is to bring out in its life the dialectic union of authority and liberty； of the natural rights of man and those of society。 The Greek and Roman republics asserted the state to the detriment of individual freedom； modern republics either do the same； or assert individual freedom to the detriment of the state。 The American republic has been instituted by Providence to realize the freedom of each with advantage to the other。
The real mission of the United States is to introduce and establish a political constitution； which； while it retains all the advantages of the constitutions of states thus far known； is unlike any of them； and secures advantages which none of them did or could possess。 The American constitution has no prototype in any prior constitution。 The American form of government can be classed throughout with none of the forms of government described by Aristotle； or 6 even by later authorities。 Aristotle knew only four forms of government： Monarchy； Aristocracy； Democracy； and Mixed Governments。 The American form is none of these； nor any combination of them。 It is original； a new contribution to political science； and seeks to attain the end of all wise and just government by means unknown or forbidden to the ancients； and which have been but imperfectly comprehended even by American political writers themselves。 The originality of the American constitution has been overlooked by the great majority even of our own statesmen； who seek to explain it by analogies borrowed from the constitutions of other states rather than by a profound study of its own principles。 They have taken too low a view of it； and have rarely； if ever； appreciated its distinctive and peculiar merits。
As the United States have vindicated their national unity and integrity； and are preparing to take a new start in history； nothing is more important than that they should take that new start with a clear and definite view of their national constitution； and with a distinct understanding of their political mission in the future of the world。 The citizen who can help his countrymen to do this will render them an im… 7 portant service and deserve well of his country； though he may have been unable to serve in her armies and defend her on the battle…field。 The work now to be done by American statesmen is even more difficult and more delicate than that which has been accomplished by our brave armies。 As yet the people are hardly better prepared for the political work to be done than they were at the outbreak of the civil war for the military work they have so nobly achieved。 But； with time； patience； and good…will； the difficulties may be overcome； the errors of the past corrected； and the Government placed on the right track for the future。
It will hardly be questioned that either the constitution of the United States is very defective or it has been very grossly misinterpreted by all parties。 If the slave States had not held that the States are severally sovereign； and the Constitution of the United States a simple agreement or compact； they would never have seceded； and if the Free States had not confounded the Union with the General government； and shown a tendency to make it the entire national government； no occasion or pretext for secession would have been given。 The great problem of our statesmen has been from the first； How to assert union without 8 consolidation； and State rights without disintegration？ Have they； as yet； solved that problem？ The war has silenced the State sovereignty doctrine； indeed； but has it done so without lesion to State rights？ Has it done it without asserting the General government as the supreme； central； or national government？ Has it done it without striking a dangerous blow at the federal element of the constitution？ In suppressing by armed force the doctrine that the States are severally sovereign； what barrier is left against consolidation？ Has not one danger been removed only to give place to another？
But perhaps the constitution itself； if rightly understood； solves the problem； and perhaps the problem itself is raised precisely through misunderstanding of the constitution。 Our statesmen have recognized no constitution of the American people themselves； they have confined their views to the written constitution； as if that co
