Mt. Pleasant Pyramid | 1927-11-18 | Page 3 | Democracy Born of Old Nordic Customs

Democracy Born of Old Nordic Customs? American democracy is derived from the social and governmental institutions in-stitutions of the ancient Scandinavians, Scandinavi-ans, the original Nordics, declares Charles J. McGuirk in an article in Liberty. "American institutions are Nordic," the writer asserts. "Congress "Con-gress is an echo of the Scandinavian 'Thing,' an assembly of the people about the mounds of their dead at. which tbey listened to the advice of the Old Man of the tribe. Our state legislatures follow the 'Heraldthing,' a local assembly. "Democracy was not born in America," Amer-ica," the writer continues. "It had its birth '.n Norway when Haiald Fair-hair Fair-hair destroyed the power of the 'her-Birs' 'her-Birs' (kings) and placed the leadership leader-ship of the people among the 'jarls,' high-born local chiefs who had won to leadership of the host and certain districts by their warlike qualities."