Transcriber’s Note:
The cover image was created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.
THE
AMERICANS
PREFACE
In the Preface to my “American Traits,” in which I defendedGerman ideals and criticised some American tendencies, I said,some years ago: “It has been often questioned whether I amright in fighting merely against American shortcomings from a Germanpoint of view, and in trying to destroy prejudices on this sideof the water; whether it is not, in a still higher degree, my duty toattempt the same for the other side;—for German prejudices concerningthe United States are certainly not less severe, and thepoints in which Germany might learn from American culture notless numerous. The question is fair, and I shall soon put beforethe German public a book on American life—a book which dealsin a detailed way with the political, economic, intellectual, andsocial aspects of American culture. Its purpose is to interpretsystematically the democratic ideals of America.”
Here is the book; it fulfils the promise, and it might appear thatno further explanation is needed. And yet, in sending a book intothe world, I have never felt more strongly the need of prefatoryexcuses—excuses not for writing the book, but for agreeing to itstranslation into English.
To outline American life for readers beyond the sea is onething; to appear before an American audience and to tell themsolemnly that there is a Republican and a Democratic party, andthat there are troubles between capital and labour, is quite anotherthing. To inform my German countrymen about America maybe to fill a long-felt want; but, as a German, to inform the Americanson matters which they knew before they were born seems,indeed, worse than superfluous.
viiiWhen I was urged, on so many sides, to bring my “Americans”before the Americans, it was, therefore, clear to me from the outsetthat I ought not to do it myself under any circumstances. If I hadtranslated the book myself, it would have become simply an Englishbook, written in English by the author; and yet its only possibleright to existence must lie in its reflected character, in its havingbeen written for others, in its coming back to the New Worldfrom the Old. My friend, Dr. Holt, who has been for years myassistant in the Harvard Psychological Laboratory, has assisted,therefore, in this social psychological experiment, and translatedthe book from the German edi