NATIONAL GROWTH AND NATIONAL CHARACTER 193 



opnient ; it comprised an epoch-marking departure from a deca- 

 dent national theory, the boldest essay in territorial extension 

 recorded in the annals of nations, the partial subjugation of a 

 vast wilderness, the inception of road-building, the erection of a 

 public-school system on an unprecedented scale, and (directly 

 through the initial expansion) the binding of the colonies into 

 closer federation. 



Enlightenment dawned with the Declaration of Independence 

 in 1776; it broke into full day with the adoption of tbe Ameri- 

 can Constitution thirteen years later. It is needless now to re- 

 view the masterly analysis of events leading up to the Constitu- 

 tion presented in the initial address of this course ; the opinion 

 of Britain's brilliant statesman that the supreme originality and 

 beneficence of this document suggest divine inspiration, needs 

 no more than passing mention ; yet it is worth while to define 

 in some detail the era in world-history marked jointly by colo- 

 nial Declaration and federal Constitution. 



The scientific student of mankind notes certain races distin- 

 guished by physical features; he also notes, as of much greater 

 importance, certain phases of intellectual character which have 

 been found to represent stages in development. The phases may 

 be outlined in different ways, all agreeing in import; the most 

 convenient definition is made in terms of law or social organiza- 

 tion. The simplest phase and lowest developmental stage is 

 commonly called Savagery ; it is characterized by a social organ- 

 ization based on kinship traced in the maternal line. The second 

 stage, commonly called Barbarism, develops into patriarchy and 

 finally into allodialism, the forerunner of feudalism ; its law is 

 based on kinship reckoned in the paternal line. The third stage, 

 conveniently called Civilization, rises in feudalism and grows 

 into that monarchism whose last term is imperialism ; the source 

 of law and organization in this stage is traceable to recognition 

 of property right, especially in land. The fourth stage of devel- 

 opment may be called Enlightenment ; its fundamental laws are 

 based on recognition of intellectual right, especially freedom of 

 opinion, with its necessary concomitant, a voice in public affairs- 



The records of history and of observation among various peo- 

 plea show that these stages arise in a certain order which may 

 be traced to intellectual development. Savagery persists until 

 definite recognition of paternity arises, when the next stage is 

 spontaneously entered ; and once the transition is effected, 



