About the only subject which vitally affects all, and yet to which few give serious thought, is the science of government. Our farms and our factories, our mills and our mines, together with current news, much of it frivolous, and little of it thought-inspiring, engage our attention, but statecraft, as distinguished from partisan politics, is accorded scant consideration. In the first place we are too busy, and, secondly, we do not improve even our available time. A young New Englander was asked how his people spent their long winter evenings. “Oh,” said he, “sometimes we sit by the fire and think, and sometimes we sit by the fire.” It is the hope of the author that the following pages will invite attention to some problems that in his humble judgment must be thought out at the fireside, and must be wisely solved, if we expect to keep our country on the map, and our flag in the sky until the Heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll.

Recent years have demonstrated the abiding patriotism of the American people and their faith in the ever-increasing greatness of America. Few there be who would not gladly die for their country. The only thing they are not willing to do is to think, and then hold their conduct in obedience to their judgment. The future of our blessed land rests with those who can think, who will think, who can and will grasp a major premise, a minor premise and drawing a conclusion therefrom, never desert it.

It has become painfully commonplace to say that the American people can be trusted. While their good intentions can be relied upon, no nation will long exist on good intentions. The nations that have gone from the map have perished in spite of good intentions. The future of America rests not in the purity of motives, nor upon the intelligence, but in the wisdom of its citizens. In the realm of statecraft some of the most dangerous characters in history have been intelligent, pious souls, and some of the safest and wisest have been unlearned.

Socrates taught by asking questions. So far as possible he who is interested enough to read this volume will be expected to draw his own conclusions. The facts stated are historically correct. What deductions I may have drawn therefrom is relatively immaterial. The question of primary importance to you will be, and is, what conclusions you draw. And even your conclusions will be worthless to you and to your country unless your conduct as a citizen is in some degree influenced and controlled thereby.

From the monument that a grateful people had erected to a worthy son I read this extract from a speech he had made in the United States Senate: “He who saves his country, saves himself, saves all things, and all things saved bless him; while he who lets his country perish, dies himself, lets all things die, and all things dying curse him!”

Leslie M. Shaw.

Washington, D.C., March, 1919.

CONTENTS

IRepublic Versus Democracy[13]
IIThe Constitutional Convention[19]
IIIStatesmen Must First be Born and Then Made[27]
IVExpectations Realized[31]
VIndependence of the Representative[36]
VITrend of the Times[43]
VIIConstitutional Liberty[48]
VIIIWhat is a Constitution[57]
IXPreliminary[70]
XNo Competition Between the Sexes[74]
XIPurposes and Policies of Government[79]
XIIThe Result of this Policy[86]
XIIIAll Dependent Upon the Payroll[93]
XIVAmerican Fortunes not Large, Considering[98]
XVPopular Dissatisfaction[103]
XVIGreed and its Punishment[110]
XVIIObstructive Legislation[115]
XVIIIThe Inevitable Result[121]
XIXUnearned Increment[131]
XXBusiness Philosophies[137]
XXIThe Government’s Handicap[145]
XXIIThe Post Office[158]
XXIIICivil Service[161]
XXIVCivil Service Retirement[179]
XXVProperty by Common Consent[184]
XXVIEquality of Income[193]
XXVIIAn Historical Warning[196]
XXVIIICapital and Labor[202]
XXIXCan the Crisis be Averted[209]
XXXIndustrial Republics[217]
Conclusion[224]
Appendix[232]