How can it be translated into terms of contemporary American conditions?
Well, in the first place, Americans are tied together by certain political, social, and economic habits, institutions, and traditions.

From the political point of view these forms of association are at once constitutional, Federal, and democratic.

They are accustomed to some measure of political centralization, to a larger measure of local governmental responsibility, to a still larger measure of individual economic freedom.

This group of political institutions and habits has been gradually pieced together under the influence of varying political ideas and conditions.

It contains many contradictory ingredients, and not a few that are positively dangerous to the public health.