THE HISTORY OF POLITICAL THEORY AND PARTY Origin and Development of American Political Theory, PREFACE The history of the United States furnishes the best opportunit for the study of Political Theory and Party Organization. This country above all others recognizes freedom in its broadest sense as fundamental. This freedom is essential, not only to the growth of Theory, but especially to Party Organization. If either or both can be found in any history, this country will offer the best examples. In the preparation of this work I have endeavored to state the basis for our Political Theory, and to account for it on rational grounds. Extreme care has been taken to accurately detail the events which reveal the conflict of political theories, as expressed in party organization. This has been done in the hope that the casual relation between the leading facts, which gives the study of the subject a philosophic character, might be continually before the mind of the reader. Party platforms and issues have been noticed as evidence only of the constitutional differences between the parties. Party machinery is noticed for the purpose of showing the methods of political organization in a free country. To make the work of concrete value to both teacher and pupil, and to add to it the element of personality, I have devoted some attention to the recognized leaders or exponents of specific phases of American Political Theory. It was thought wise thus to discuss Thomas Jefferson as the exponent of the Federal theory, and Alexander Hamilton as the exponent of the Nationality theory. For like reason, I have contrasted Calhoun with Webster, and Douglas with Lincoln. This book is offered to the public in the hope that it will prove of value to that portion of our citizenship which regards politics as a legitimate field for thought and action, and to the army of teachers and pupils in our country, upon whose broad and liberal intelligence the welfare of the Republic rests. To my loving and faithful wife, Eva Candas, whose helpful service made possible this volume, I am greatly indebted, and desire thus publicly to acknowledge her part in the work. Antioch College S. D. FESS |