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1 



THE AMERICAN SPIRIT 



A BASIS FOR WORLD DEMOCRACY 



Edited by 



PAUL MONROE, PH.D., LL.D. an( j IRVING E. MILLER, Pn.D. 

 Columbia University Bellingham Normal School 



THE American Spirit, like the American people, is a 

 composite. The mingled qualities of discoverer, ex- 

 plorer, colonist, pioneer, frontiersman, and immigrant, 

 have left a heritage of independence, initiative, dissatis- 

 faction with existing attainments, a forward look, a con- 

 fidence in the powers of the common man, and an ideal- 

 istic faith in his worth and destiny. Self-government, 

 achieved through patriotic struggle and made secure 

 through hard experience, confirms the heritage. Democ- 

 racy in government, preserved from corruption only by 

 constant vigilance and continual practice, goes hand in 

 'hand with democracy in society; the two lead to ideals of 

 industrial democracy yet in the process of attainment. 



Through civil war, ideals of national unity were achieved 

 and the national destiny was made sure. An enlightened 

 diplomacy committed the nation to a policy of humanity 

 and generosity towards the weaker nations, and the war 

 of 1898 made it clear to the world that that policy would 

 be upheld at any cost. The crisis of the World War 

 afforded the supreme test of the American spirit, and in 

 that crisis it was not found wanting; the heroism of the, 

 sons was found worthy of the sacrifice of the fathers. 



How the varied traits of the forefathers have blended to 

 make the American spirit a basis for world democracy 

 is briefly told in this volume. 



Cloth, xv -f 336 pages. 



WORLD BOOK COMPANY 



YONKERS-ON-HUDSON, NEW YORK 

 2126 PRAIRIE AVENUE, CHICAGO 



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