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The Peril of the Republic of the United States of America - Percy T. Magan

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time or people. No nation prior to this one had ever<br />

declared it as a principle good for all mankind that<br />

all men are created equal, or that governments<br />

derive <strong>the</strong>ir just powers from <strong>the</strong> consent <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

governed. None <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> great nations <strong>of</strong> Europe ever<br />

taught or ever believed <strong>the</strong>se precepts. <strong>The</strong>y were<br />

born simultaneously with <strong>the</strong> <strong>America</strong>n <strong>Republic</strong>.<br />

<strong>The</strong>y constituted her christening robe and her<br />

birthright, peculiarly her own, and <strong>the</strong> first infant<br />

cry <strong>of</strong> her national life. That nation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> old world<br />

which has ever been <strong>the</strong> foremost in promulgating<br />

doctrines <strong>of</strong> freedom and liberty did not believe<br />

<strong>the</strong>se things, for she it was who fought <strong>the</strong>m. She<br />

did not even believe <strong>the</strong>m in <strong>the</strong>ir most limited<br />

sense for her most limited self,--<strong>the</strong> isle <strong>of</strong><br />

England, as distinguished from colony and<br />

dependency. Much less, <strong>the</strong>refore, did she consider<br />

<strong>the</strong>m as divine and immortal truths, applicable to<br />

all times and places, and worthy <strong>of</strong> being <strong>the</strong> basis<br />

<strong>of</strong> government among men in every kindred and<br />

nation and tongue and tribe and people.<br />

Well has Charles Sumner said:--<br />

10

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