ABSTRACT
The political philosophy of the "Fathers" might have been summed up in the phrase "the less government, the better". Since "all governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed", the Americans retained the right to sever their bonds with England. A still higher obstacle was to be thrust between the individualistic, sovereign American and his "servant", the political party. So the Americans starved their state, and made of it the weak, sprawling, free-handed thing it became. The American individualist wanted power vested in the people and not in legislators, who soon came to be regarded as intrinsically dishonest servants. In America a man of leisure would rather have become Director of a local Charitable Society – which brought social prestige – than be Supervisor of Highways or School Commissioner. When after 1828 the old-time aristocrats went out, the position of politician – of caretaker of American liberties – was offered to whomsoever would accept.
