Daily Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1876-1884, 1881-02-10
Ehs Folly OF sssss Distinctions In
California;.

Ths Folly OF sssse Distinctions in
California.
The fortuitous segregation of our
territory into States was regarded
by our political fathers as an ex.
cellent thing. They thought that
this division of country, ranging
through several degrees of latitude,
and originally settled by men of
diverse political and religious sem
while 1t cemented togeth-
or the concordant Inhabitants of
each State, would not initiate
against . federative patriotism.
Under the controlling and feder-
alive Constitution, each State
could regulate it's domestic affairs
in accordance with the peculiar
views Of its Inhabitants, and occu.
pations adaptive to certain cli-
mates and soil. They dreaded
consolidation Of the power Of the
general government, and greedily
selzsd upon and hastily recognized
the State divisions as providing
against = realization Of such fear.
The division of States, once deemed
80 happy a political circumstance,
has been tortured by some parties
in times past into an argument of
State supremacy. What was the
result of mere accident has been
construed into q cunning fabrica-
tion. The thirteen colonies were
but one dependency Of Great Brit
ain, at and previous to the period
Of their revolt. They rsvolted as a
unit; and over them, as unit,
was spread the Federal Constitu.
tion, the supreme law of the land.
But we purpose not now to argue
against . doctrine that would con-
vert our government into the silli-
est Of farces- that would destroy
the very idea of government. Ours
ts either q permanent government
or = brittle partnership, with q
right of each one of its members
atliberty at any moment to COM
pei q settlement aud retire from
the ricketty concern.
This State division has been de.
leterious in provoking pride and
reverence Of locality. Baiie NicoI
JarviS Of the Lowland city OF
Glasgow, was accustomed to dis.
custom with his Highland relative,
Rob Roy, in regard to the compar-
alive merits of their two sections.
They would valiantIy argue about
the matter. They were both Scots;
but one happened to be born upon
the moor, and the other in the
Sautmarket. We laugh at these
portrayals Of foolish prejudice. A
future novelist will render our
quarrels on the same subject as RI
4iculous to pOsterity.' 1t does seem
very puerile that matured men and
women should assume pomp and
precedence because they first saw
the light and wore swaddling
clothes in soma particular corner OF
the country. We may forgive a
little exhibition of vanity 10 an in.
dividual who boasts birth aud nur-
ture in a land redolent OF great
deeds, and stirring intelligence,
and pcrvading prosperity and hap.
piness. Perhaps an English M a
would be somewhat justifiable in
assuming superiority in this re-
gard over q Laplander; but we
would certainly smile at London
er who affected eminence over q
Y0rkshireman on the ground that
he was born somewhere in the
neighborhood of Cheapside.
We fancy that SO long as ope is a
native American, 1t is equally
creditable 10 be ushered into the
world at Mobile as in Bangor. The
same flag floats over both sections.
The ancestry of both bodies pluck.
ed honor in grim encounter with q
foreign foe. Both spots have
rlpened into luxurious cities
through the fertilizing energies OF
the same free political institutions
The children of both will, in time
become active citizens of the same
great and powerful republic. W.
see nothing demoralizing in claim
Ing nativity on either side of a sec.
tionAl line. It Is no honor and M
Disgrace to peer out into existence
amid woolIy slaves or straight
haired artisans. We should oil
thank God that We hav,
been enabled to lisp Hi
name in u land of un
exampled privileges, irrespectlv,
Of the particular house Or State. 1
this thing of trailing up birth plac,
on American soil travels mucl
farther, we shall soon hear Califor
MIA striplings vaunt their nativity
In the Southern part Of California
lit be merit to be born 10 = par
ticular State, the merit should nov
from the superior excellence o
that State in all that constitute
prosperity and manhood. Their,
are States ut the northeast that or,
pierced with railroads as the war;
Of . garment-where busy ma