Be a part of our institutions. And understand clearly what our
institutions are. They are not a set of written laws. _American
institutions are citizens in action._ American institutions are the
American people in the tangible and physical process of governing
themselves.
A book ought to be written describing how our government actually
works. I do not mean the formal machinery of administration and
law-making at Washington or at our state capitals. These multitudes of
officers and groups of departments, these governors and presidents,
these legislatures and congresses, are not the government; they are
the instruments of government.
_The people are the government._ What said Lincoln in his greatest
utterance? "A government of the people, for the people, _and by the
people_," are the great American's words. And Lincoln knew.
The real thing is found at the American fireside. This is the forum of
both primary and final discussion. These firesides are the hives
whence the voters swarm to the polls. The family is the American
political unit. Men and measures, candidates and policies, are there
discussed, and their fate and that of the Republic determined.
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