THE AMERICAN’S CREED
By Mrs. Thomas Stacy (Judy), 1986
This is truly an Americanism program, for this Creed was taken from some of the greatest documents in American history and from some of the greatest speeches ever made.
The author of the American’s Creed, William Tyler Page, was born in 1868 in Frederick, Maryland and died in 1942. The United States House of Representatives adopted his Creed in 1918. In 1882 at age 14 he became a page in the House of Representatives. This was the first of several positions he held in the House during the greater part of his life. He served as clerk of the House from 1919 to 1931. In 1917 he won a nationwide contest for the best summary of the political faith in America, which is our “American’s Creed”. It contains phrases from the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence and from famous American speeches.
The first part of the Creed “I believe in the United States of America as a government of the people, by the people, for the people” is from the last paragraph of Lincoln’s Gettysburg address, given Nov. 19, 1863 at the site of the Battle of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania to dedicate a portion of the battlefield as a National Cemetery for those who lost their lives there in battle, quoting “That we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain – that this Nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom and that ‘Government of the people, by the people, for the people’ shall not perish from the earth.”
The next phrase “Whose just powers are derived from the consent of the governed” came from one of the most cherished documents of American History, the Declaration of Independence, the unanimous declaration of the 13 United States of America in Congress July 4, 1776.This historic document, written largely by Thomas Jefferson, was drafted three times before finally on June 7, 1776 Richard Henry Lee of Virginia moved in the Continental Congress that “These United Colonies are, and of right, ought to be free and independent States.” A committee was appointed to draft the final Declaration of Independence and Thomas Jefferson gave 18 days to the task of writing and polishing the document. Benjamin Franklin and John Adams added their suggestions. The Continental Congress then took its turn cutting some lines, changing others and even adding a few. A final draft was formally adopted on July 4, 1776 but it was not until 3 or 4 days later that the Declaration of Independence was first read in public. Copies of the document were printed and broadcast over the land. Quote “We hold these truths to be self evident that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” That to secure these rights governments are instituted among men “Deriving their just rights from the consent of the governed” that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute a new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness.
“A Democracy in a Republic” – These five works could have been spoken or penned by
either Thomas Jefferson or Benjamin Franklin, but I was unable to find a direct quote. Thomas
Jefferson’s first draft of the Declaration of Independence set forth the basic philosophy of
Democracy. He believed that Republicanism was hardly worth trying if not fused with
Democracy. Jefferson’s buoyant faith and soaring idealism has meant much to the world.
Democracy is still given to the dream of a nation of freeholding farmers living under as little
Government control as possible. A Democratic nation means a people oriented nation. The
founders of this nation called it a Republic, and the United States is a Republic. The Declaration
of Independence was an effort to create a Republican Society, a society more egalitarian and
more democratic than that which it superseded. Benjamin Franklin always spoke of the new
Country as a Republic. He once said, “A Republic if we can keep it.” The framers saw in a
Republic a government in which continuity, responsibility and public opinion could be
successfully combined. Even in our Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag we say “And to the
Republic for which it stands.” So, we truly are “A Democracy in a Republic.”
“A Sovereign Nation of Many Sovereign States” – This part of the creed is probably taken from the tenth amendment to the Constitution, commonly known as the Bill of Rights. During the Constitutional Convention there was a struggle between the large Northern states and the smaller mostly Southern States over the apportionment of sovereignty between the nation and the states. The large states wanted representation in both houses of Congress to be determined by population. The small states wanted equal representation in both houses. A compromise was agreed upon, for equal representation in one house and proportional representation in the other. The Southern States wanted slaves counted in their population and the northern states were opposed to this. By a compromise 3/5 of the slaves were counted the population. Sovereign means supreme in power. The Southern states were concerned about the rights of individuals and the extent of governmental power over the individual. This, the 10th Amendment was put in the Bill of Rights, the first ten amendments of the Constitution, which reads “The Powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution nor prohibited by it to the states are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” This provision makes it clear that the Federal Government can do only what the Constitution says it can do, but the states and the people thereof can exercise any power not prohibited in the Constitution. The state Governments are forbidden to act only in cases where the power to act has been placed in the Federal Government. And so you see, it is a Sovereign Nation, of many sovereign States.
“A perfect union” – This phrase comes from the Preamble of the Constitution. “We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union” and that is what they were trying to do. A more capable body of men has probably never met in the United States than in the Constitutional Convention.
“One and Inseparable” – The 13 Colonies were one and inseparable under the Constitution. In the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag we say “One Nation, under God, indivisible” – which means inseparable, and our forefathers meant us to be One Nation and inseparable. Benjamin Franklin said, “We must all hang together, or surely we will all hang separately.”
“A Sovereign Nation of Many Sovereign States” – This part of the creed is probably taken from the tenth amendment to the Constitution, commonly known as the Bill of Rights. During the Constitutional Convention there was a struggle between the large Northern states and the smaller mostly Southern States over the apportionment of sovereignty between the nation and the states. The large states wanted representation in both houses of Congress to be determined by population. The small states wanted equal representation in both houses. A compromise was agreed upon, for equal representation in one house and proportional representation in the other. The Southern States wanted slaves counted in their population and the northern states were opposed to this. By a compromise 3/5 of the slaves were counted the population. Sovereign means supreme in power. The Southern states were concerned about the rights of individuals and the extent of governmental power over the individual. This, the 10th Amendment was put in the Bill of Rights, the first ten amendments of the Constitution, which reads “The Powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution nor prohibited by it to the states are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” This provision makes it clear that the Federal Government can do only what the Constitution says it can do, but the states and the people thereof can exercise any power not prohibited in the Constitution. The state Governments are forbidden to act only in cases where the power to act has been placed in the Federal Government. And so you see, it is a Sovereign Nation, of many sovereign States.
“A perfect union” – This phrase comes from the Preamble of the Constitution. “We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union” and that is what they were trying to do. A more capable body of men has probably never met in the United States than in the Constitutional Convention.
“One and Inseparable” – The 13 Colonies were one and inseparable under the Constitution. In the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag we say “One Nation, under God, indivisible” – which means inseparable, and our forefathers meant us to be One Nation and inseparable. Benjamin Franklin said, “We must all hang together, or surely we will all hang separately.”
“Established upon the principles of freedom, equality, justice and humanity” – The
immortal document, the Declaration of Independence guarantees a birthright of life, liberty and
the pursuit of happiness to every citizen of the United States. Its stirring words proclaiming
freedom, equality, justice and humanity are an inspiration to every patriotic American. Even the
inscription on the Liberty Bell reads “Proclaim Liberty throughout the land”.
“Freedom” – The very reason for the Declaration of Independence, which states “By the authority of the good people of these colonies we solemnly publish and declare that these United Colonies are, and of right, ought to be free and independent states”. The later Constitution and Bill of Rights guaranteed all freedoms.
“Equality” – The Declaration of Independence also states “We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal.” Lincoln also repeated these works in his Gettysburg Address. “Our Forefathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.”
“Justice and Humanity” – The Preamble to the Constitution establishes these, quoting “We the people of the United States in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare (humanity and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” Rev. Ebenezer Belwin, a Connecticut clergyman, prophesied a year before the Declaration of Independence that “The American Colonies would be a great and mighty empire, the largest the world ever saw, to be founded on such principles of liberty and freedom, both evil and religious, as never before took place in the world.”
“For which American Patriots sacrificed their lives and fortunes” – In the last paragraph of the third and final draft of the Declaration of Independence, when it was finally finished read “And for the support of this Declaration; with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, mutually pledge to each other out lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.” Those patriots, who added their signatures under this paragraph, truly did pledge their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor.
The final paragraph of this Creed “I therefore believe it is my duty to my country to love it; to support its Constitution; to obey its laws; to respect its flag and to defend it against all enemies” could possibly have been the sentiments of the author. However, it also could have been taken from various oaths with which we are all familiar. In the oath required of all aliens seeking American citizenship are the words “I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to same.” If aliens pledge this, can we do less? When men and women join any branch of the service they must also make a pledge. “I do solemnly swear that I will bear
“Freedom” – The very reason for the Declaration of Independence, which states “By the authority of the good people of these colonies we solemnly publish and declare that these United Colonies are, and of right, ought to be free and independent states”. The later Constitution and Bill of Rights guaranteed all freedoms.
“Equality” – The Declaration of Independence also states “We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal.” Lincoln also repeated these works in his Gettysburg Address. “Our Forefathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.”
“Justice and Humanity” – The Preamble to the Constitution establishes these, quoting “We the people of the United States in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare (humanity and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” Rev. Ebenezer Belwin, a Connecticut clergyman, prophesied a year before the Declaration of Independence that “The American Colonies would be a great and mighty empire, the largest the world ever saw, to be founded on such principles of liberty and freedom, both evil and religious, as never before took place in the world.”
“For which American Patriots sacrificed their lives and fortunes” – In the last paragraph of the third and final draft of the Declaration of Independence, when it was finally finished read “And for the support of this Declaration; with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, mutually pledge to each other out lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.” Those patriots, who added their signatures under this paragraph, truly did pledge their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor.
The final paragraph of this Creed “I therefore believe it is my duty to my country to love it; to support its Constitution; to obey its laws; to respect its flag and to defend it against all enemies” could possibly have been the sentiments of the author. However, it also could have been taken from various oaths with which we are all familiar. In the oath required of all aliens seeking American citizenship are the words “I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to same.” If aliens pledge this, can we do less? When men and women join any branch of the service they must also make a pledge. “I do solemnly swear that I will bear
true faith and allegiance to the United States of America; that I will serve them honestly and
faithfully against all their enemies whomsoever and that I will obey the orders of the President of
the United States.” Even the President of the United States must take the following oath. “I do
solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of the President of the United States, and
will to the best of my ability preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
Every time we pledge allegiance to the flag we are respecting it, and we should not need an oath
to love our country.
Let us be reminded that among our fifty six signers of the Declaration of Independence, there were men of great courage, faith and integrity. Mental giants conceived and wrote the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. They created a government flexible enough to withstand the stress of great growth and change, periods of regression, and times of war and self denial. It is not only our duty but our privilege to rededicate ourselves to the protection and preservation of “Democracy in a Republic, a Sovereign Nation of many Sovereign States” as an example to the free world.
Let us be reminded that among our fifty six signers of the Declaration of Independence, there were men of great courage, faith and integrity. Mental giants conceived and wrote the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. They created a government flexible enough to withstand the stress of great growth and change, periods of regression, and times of war and self denial. It is not only our duty but our privilege to rededicate ourselves to the protection and preservation of “Democracy in a Republic, a Sovereign Nation of many Sovereign States” as an example to the free world.
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