The American's Creed
I believe in the United States of America as a government of the people, by the
people, for the people; whose just powers are derived from the consent of the
governed; a democracy in a republic; a sovereign nation of many sovereign
states; a perfect union, one and inseparable; established upon those principles of
freedom, equality, justice and humanity for which American patriots sacrificed
their lives and fortunes.
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.
Bruce L. Jones shows to be the author of the pdf. (Adobe) file that I discovered , but does not have any other reference as to it's origin. It is an amazing read. A couple of people were talking about it at last night's Republican Party meeting. Let's spread this around!!
The file I found includes this commentary. A very interesting and patriotism-inspiring document....
I believe in the United States of America as a (1) government of the people, by the
people, for the people; (2) whose just powers are derived from the consent of the
governed; (3) a democracy in a republic; (4) a sovereign nation of many sovereign
states; (5) a perfect union, one and inseparable; (6) established upon those principles of freedom, equality, justice and humanity for which American patriots sacrificed their lives and fortunes. (7)
I
therefore believe it is my duty to my country to love it; (8) to
support its constitution; (9) to obey its laws; (10) to respect its
flag; and (11) to defend it against allenemies. (12)
The
American's Creed was developed by William Tyler Page, clerk of the
United States House of Representatives in 1917, in answer to a national
contest for such a creed. He incorporated in a brief, clear statement
the basic American traditions and ideals, as expressed by the founders
of our country and by its leading statesmen and writers.
Key
to the The American's Creed:, 1. Closing words of Preamble to the
Constitution; 2. Lincoln's Gettysburg Address; 3. Declaration of
Independence; 4. James Madison in The Federalist, No. X; 5. Speech by
Daniel Webster, Jan. 26, 1830; 6. Preamble to the Constitution; 7.
Adapted from closing words of Declaration of Independence; 8. Speech by
John Hancock; 9. United States Oath of Allegiance; 10. George
Washington's Farewell Address; 11. War Department Circular, April 14,
1917; 12. Oath of Allegiance.
OUR DEMOCRACY
To
you and me, America is the finest country in the world. But it is not
just the land we love, it is also the kind of life for which America
stands – our democracy.
It
is your duty as an American to help keep that democracy alive. To do
this, you must know the true meaning of America, you must believe in her
form of government, you must be willing to do your part to keep America
great.
The
American's Creed sums up, in the words of great Americans, the things
for which America stands. It points out your rights and privileges and
your duties as an American citizen.
". . . I BELIEVE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA . . ."
The
United States of America -that's the name of our country, given it by
the men who founded it. United, the people of America have worked to
give it its present high standards of living. United, we can go on to
even greater prosperity and happiness.
". . . AS A GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE . . ."
Of,
by, and for the people - not just some of them, but all of them. Not
just the rich or the poor, not just people of one race or one creed, but
all the people - the people to which the Declaration of Independence
refers when it says: "All men are created equal ."-not equally gifted or
equally rich, but equal under law.
". . . WHOSE JUST POWERS ARE DERIVED FROM THE CONSENT OF THE GOVERNED. . ."
Every
year, on Election Day, adult Americans have the right and duty to go to
the polls and cast their vote about the way they want to be governed.
The will of the majority becomes the will of the people - but nothing
interferes with the right of the minority to think and say what they
like.
". . . A DEMOCRACY IN A REPUBLIC. . ."
The
word "democracy" itself tells of our form of government. It has come to
us from the Greek: demos, the people, and kratein, to rule. But imagine
more than 180,000,000 people getting together some place at one time to
rule a country! Such "absolute" democracy works all right in a small
body of people, but it wouldn't work in a whole country where the people
are spread out over millions of square miles. Our democracy is
therefore the "representative" kind of democracy in which the governing
is done by representatives who are elected by the people and are
responsible to them. A country ruled in this way is called a "republic."
". . . A SOVEREIGN NATION OF MANY SOVEREIGN STATES . . .”
The
government of our nation is located in Washington, District of
Columbia, the capital of our country. Here, the Congress enacts federal
laws, the Supreme Court interprets them, the executive branch of our
government carries them out. But in addition, fifty separate state
governments in fifty state capitals enact laws to suit the conditions of
their "sovereign" states.
". . . A PERFECT UNION, ONE AND INSEPARABLE . . .”
The
aim, of the Founding Fathers was to establish "a perfect union." But
they realized that no union could be "perfect" if it were based' solely
on human beings with all their faults. They therefore relied on Divine
Providence in setting up what they hoped would be a "perfect union."
Today,
in the motto of our country, we express that same conviction that our
union can be perfect only by God's help: "In God We Trust."
". . . ESTABLISHED UPON THOSE PRINCIPLES OF FREEDOM, EQUALITY, JUSTICE, AND HUMANITY FOR WHICH AMERICAN PATRIOTS SACRIFICED THEIR LIVES AND FORTUNES . . ."
Thousands
of Americans gave their blood to create our democracy. Millions of
loyal men and women have fought to keep it. In the struggle, more than
half a million died on the battlefields.
The willingness of these many Americans to die for our country should make all of us even more determined to live for it.
“. . . I THEREFORE BELIEVE IT IS MY DUTY TO MY COUNTRY TO LOVE IT . . .”
America
is your country - her soil feeds you, her laws protect you and give you
"the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." America
deserves your love. America has a right to expect you to express that
love in your deeds, in the way in which you train yourself for American
citizenship.
“. . . TO SUPPORT ITS CONSTITUTION . . .”
The
Constitution of the United States explains your rights as a citizen of
our country - your right to religious liberty, to freedom of speech and
of the press, to assemble peaceably, "to petition the government for a
redress of grievances," to be secure in your person and property, to
justice under law. By supporting the Constitution you keep all these
rights. But remember that the rights that are yours are the rights of
others as well. You have the right to worship God in your own way - see
to it that others retain their right to worship God in their way. You
have the right to speak your mind without fear of prison or punishment -
ensure that right for others, even when you do not agree with them.
“. . . TO OBEY ITS LAWS . . ."
The
laws of our country, the laws of your state, are written by the
representatives of the American people for the good of all Americans.
These laws govern much of our behavior in our daily lives. They draw the
line between what is right and what is wrong and protect us against
those who may want to do us ill. By obeying them you strengthen them and
maintain - the protection they afford.
“. . . TO RESPECT ITS FLAG . . .”
The
flag is the symbol of our country. When we show it our respect we show
our respect and love for all that is America - our land, our people, our
way of life. As a young American you may have learned how to handle the
flag respectfully, how to display it, how to salute it. By following this teaching all through your life you will always know how to pay the nation the respect it deserves.
“. . . AND TO DEFEND IT AGAINST ALL ENEMIES."
It
is fervent prayer of all of us that never again shall American men die
on the battlefield. The way to ensure this is to help keep America
strong and prepared to stand up against any foreign power that might
desire to destroy us. But it is just as important to defend America
against the enemies within our own borders - enemies who sow the seeds
of distrust among our people, who try to stir up hatred, who attempt to
ruin others by lies and smears, who break our laws.
The
American's Creed is your creed as an American. By studying the creed
you will know what is expected of you. By following it you will prove
yourself a true American.
The Historical Notes:
The American's Creed was a result of a nationwide contest for writing a
National Creed, which would be a brief summary of the American
political faith founded upon things fundamental in American history and
tradition.
The
contest was the idea of Henry Sterling Chapin, Commissioner of
Education of New York State. Over three thousand entries were received,
and William Tyler Page was declared to be the winner. James H. Preston,
the mayor of Baltimore, presented an award to Page in the House of
Representatives Office Building on April 3, 1918. The Speaker of the
House of Representatives and the commissioner of education of the state
of New York accepted the Creed for the United States, and the
proceedings relating to the award were printed in the Congressional
Record of April 13, 1918. It was a time when patriotic sentiments were
very much in vogue.
The United States had been a participant in World War I only a little over a year at the time the Creed was adopted.
The
author of the American's Creed, William Tyler Page, was a descendant of
John Page, who had come to America in1650 and had settled in
Williamsburg, Virginia. Another ancestor, Carter Braxton, had signed the
Declaration of Independence. Still another ancestor, John Tyler, was
the tenth president of the United States.
William
Tyler Page had come to Washington at the age of thirteen to serve as a
Capitol Page. Later he became an employee of the Capitol building and
served in that capacity for almost sixty-one years. In 1919 he was
elected clerk of the House.
Thirteen
years later, when the Democrats again became a majority party, they
created for Page the office of minority clerk of the House of
Representatives. He held this position for the remainder of his life.
Referring
to the Creed, Page said: "It is the summary of the fundamental
principles of the American political faith as set forth in its greatest
documents, its worthiest traditions, and its greatest leaders." His
wording of the Creed used passages and phrases from the Declaration of
Independence, the Preamble to the Constitution, Lincoln's Gettysburg
Address, and Daniel Webster's reply to Robert Y. Hayne in the Senate in
1830.
