BE OUR GUEST: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLICAN NEITHER LEFT NOR RIGHT

Among the several judgments of the prevailing climate at the recent election, anger rates the highest. In order to constructively utilize the power and energy of such anger, it behooves us to engage in sober reflection in order to determine a useful temperament to drive us in the coming time. It is timely, then, to review who we are and what we are and what we may want to be. With the multiplicity of postures on every issue in our society and among leaders in the major political parties, it is becoming increasingly difficult to establish a knowledgeable, working consensus.

The attempt is made to designate varying political postures as liberal, conservative or moderate. These have become relative and have been rendered inadequate, for each has been used to exalt and to vilify. Each has a different meaning for different people. It may be useful to posit an area of American political thinking as democratic republicanism, to set forth its tenets and to pose the question, "Is it for us?"

America's form of government is without precedent or duplicate in human history. True, it is one of the numerous republics in the world today, yet her difference lies in the fact that she is a democratic republic.

It is in this attitude of democratic republicanism that America was born and has grown and prospered. It is in this same climate that she will prevail and prosper. Democratic republicanism does not subject itself to comparisons with either left or right. It is a doctrine that stands of itself, relates specifically to and is as unique as the nation for which and from which it is fashioned.

A democratic republican believes that the sovereign power of the United States resides in the people and its elected representatives (who shall always be responsible to them). He contends that, for the present, his nation embodies the greatest fulfillment of this principle possible in a human system.

He remembers that America was conceived in untried theory and is ever aware with Abraham Lincoln that we are perpetually testing whether we shall endure. Therefore, he cannot resign himself to pre-conceived notions, nor surrender to foregone conclusions.

He recognizes that as a citizen of America, he is a citizen of the world as well, and so does not confound himself with stigmatized words and phrases, but purposes with courage to use any reasonable means to achieve what is good for his nation and the world.

He is convinced that every person, young or old, every economic and social group, industry, labor, business and agriculture have the inviolable right to share in the fruits or our combined efforts, and must unselfishly share the responsibility of addressing the problems of our society from whatever source. He struggles tenaciously to meet this challenge.

He is not dismayed by big government, but strives instead to preserve individual prerogative and initiative in that government, be it big or little. In so doing, he attempts always to find the ways for new leadership to spring from all segments of society, for he realizes that our American system was built by men, not men by the system. To him, this process is the lifeline of freedom. He thinks in terms of people rather than things.

He concedes the stark reality of the animal law of "survival of the fittest," yet rejects its propriety. Men rise through encouragement as well as adversity, and it is fitting that he should use his government to lend encouragement to those less fortunate than he.

He is willing to accept the responsibility that comes with material blessings, not construing these responsibilities as suppression or infringement of his liberties.

It is evident to him that deceit, duplicity and personal expediency are basic threats to humankind and that these are effectively combated by pursuing a positive program of moral standards.

He trusts that in our society there will always be found those elected representatives who, under God, have that decisive flexibility which rises above the expediency of the moment to meet the challenge of guaranteeing a balance among the forces which affect the prosperity and perpetuity of our nation.

He concludes that America is a continually changing process and that this change must be fought for and over. It is this relentless struggle to achieve current solutions which will, with the help of God, produce the men and the means for America to achieve what she must in her place and in her time. He invites all to share it.

Gilbert Degenhardt is a Cape Girardeau resident and an occasional contributor to the Southeast Missouri editorial pages.