Book

The American democrat / James Fenimore Cooper ; with an introd. by H.L. Mencken.

Cooper, James Fenimore, 1789-1851 (Author).

Summary:

When The American Democrat was first published in 1838, Cooper's position as America's first major novelist obscured his serious contribution to the discussion of American principles and politics. Yet Cooper," says H. L. Mencken, "was probably the first American to write about Americans in the really frank spirit . . . a simple, sound and sensible tract, moderate in tone and extraordinarily astute in its conclusions." Cooper provides a concise statement of the principles of American democracy and of its social ramifications. He was concerned that these principles and our institutions would be perverted--especially by the confusion of an equality of rights with equality of condition.

Record details

ISBN: 0913966916
ISBN: 9780913966914
ISBN: 0913966924
ISBN: 9780913966921
Physical Description: xxvi, 251 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm
Publisher: Indianapolis, IN : Liberty Classics, [1981]

Content descriptions

General Note:

Reprint of the 1931 ed. published by A. Knopf, New York.

Includes index.

Formatted Contents Note:

On government -- On republicks -- On the Republick of the United States of America -- On distinctive American principles -- On the powers of the executive -- On equality -- On American equality -- On liberty -- On the advantages of an aristocracy -- Advantages of a democracy -- On the disadvantages of a monarchy -- On the disadvantages of aristocracy -- On the disadvantages of democracy -- On prejudice -- On station -- On the duties of station -- On the duties of publick or political station -- On the private duties of station -- An aristocrat and a democrat -- On demagogues -- On representation -- On candor -- On language -- On the press -- On the liberty of the press -- On the American press -- On property -- On universal suffrage -- On the publick -- On deportment -- On American deportment -- On publick opinion -- On civilization -- On the right of petition -- On commerce -- On the circulating medium -- On slavery -- On American slavery -- On slavery in the District of Columbia -- On party -- On individuality -- "They say" -- Rumour -- On religion -- Conclusion.