Page:Men of Mark in America vol 1.djvu/24

 xiv on the sidewalk in front of my house on Sunday, nor on the steps of a church, but this is because I thus interfere with other people. Any violation of such freedom is not American. When you see that the boys in an industrial school are not permitted by the Bricklayers' Trades Union to build a certain wall, you know that that prohibition does not come from people who have been educated as Americans.

Second, This means universal education. The feudal nations instruct people in the Three R's, reading, writing and arithmetic. The American states educate all the people, boys and girls, in the thought and language of the time. That is, they offer to do so, and if a boy or girl will accept the offer he or she is educated. If he is "diligent in his business, he will stand before kings," and the chances are good that he will know more of what they ought to be talking about than the kings do.

Third, True Americanism means a very close walk with God, nearer and nearer. This was what the American People began very early when they gave entire freedom of religion to every citizen.

Fourth, True Americanism means of necessity a certain universality, sometimes called Catholicity, as a man assumes duties or privileges. The planter George Washington or the blacksmith Nathanael Greene takes the command of armies. Abraham Lincoln becomes the President, the portrait painter Robert Fulton sends the Clermont up the North River.

Fifth, Because there is no favored class no one has greater rights because no one has less. The American School of manners, therefore, is a more perfect school of manners than can exist under feudal systems. Indeed, if one may take a fine definition from one of the older writers, a gentleman is one who on necessity abates something from his rights. In a true republic a gentleman is not afraid to do so. Some things follow which the feudal writers do not think of.

Sixth, The history of the country from Jamestown down, means mutual life or common life. As the Bible says, "The carpenter encourageth the goldsmith, and he that smootheth with the