Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-06-12
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action by the people there can be no
change.
STATE CONTROL AND INDIVIDUAL
RIGHTS.
Arson D. Morse, Of Amherst, gives in
the current number of the Citizen Il lucid
and concise statement from the historians
view, OF present times. In brief, this in-
cisive monograph points out that since the
Reformation the leading characteristic Of
the period has been the contraction of the
sphere Of public authority, and the CORE
spending enlargement of individual rights.
The freedom we to-day enjoy as to religious
liberation, for instance, was wrested from
the state after prolonged and embittered
struggles. Now the tide is setting in the
other direction, and the tendency in most
parts of the world is to enlarge state con-
troll and narrow the individual right. On
this plane the protective doctrine moves,
and most of regulative measures. The
labor and socialistic parties alike now de-
mand broader manifestation of state au-
thoritT at the expense OF the individual
right. that we have been taught to deem
indefeasible Under these influences the
state may recover, he holds, some OF the
ground it has lost in the past Legislation
in all civilized countries testiies to the
progress of this tendency. State authority
is greatest where the subject of it is least
developed, says the essayist, and it relaxes
always with the growth of the
capacity for self-direction. So he
arrives at the statement of the
principle-to which, however, there
are many exceptions the limits of
state control should vary with the political
character of the citizen, extending as this
falls, contracting as it rises" On this basis
the political character OF people may be
determined by the character of their Gov
eminent. Now, he asks, what do the
changes notable in our country signify as
to our political character? And from the
references he makes to historical examples,
as the Thirty Years War, the wars of the
Roses, the Roman civil wars, and the wars
of religion in France, he permits the
reader to infer that it is his view that it is
possible for the destruction of political ca
pacity TO proceed even to the verge OF
despotism here. But it is apparent that
he is himself doubtful of the soundnesS of
this view, and which we take it may be
successfully combatted. He adds that an
other explanation is possible, to wit, that
as state control cannot be adjusted to the
character of all citizens, some being gov
erned too much and some too little, and as
the laws are adapted as rule to the
wants of the most influential class, there
fore if class heretofore less politically
developed supplants class that has here
tofore been most influential in govern
ment, a corresponding extension of state
control must be developed. And this he
holds is manifest to-day in Great Britain,
where so-called lower class, long neglect
ed, now participate in government, and
under corresponding readjustment ex-
tension of state control is marked feat
ure. He believes that similar movement
is making progress in the United States,
but that it does not indicate any deteriora-
ton of political character, but coming
into political activity of hitherto compar-
alive uninduential class.
While the general propositions stated by
the essayist are historical truisms, it is to
be noted that the movement he sees i'll the
United States is not the parallel of appar-
emily similar movements in countries
where the rule is of class by class. In this
country, on the contrary, the political
equality of citizens has been recognized by
the laws from the outset, and under the
laws has been enjoyed by all. 1t is not
strictly correct, therefore, to speak of the
rule of classes in government of self.
The coming into political activity of
hitherto quiescent influences, though 1t
NAV enlarge state control in the interests
of the force that dominates, does not
of necessity signify readiustment of indi-
vidual rights. On the contrary, it plainly
signifies the assertion of individual
rights that have all the time existed. 1t
NAV not be said with accuracy that the
assertion of political power by any body OF
citizens really means the enlargement of
state control because 1t broadens into
greater vitality political rights that have
existed from the beginning. The mani
festations of this activity may take the
form of restrictive legislation and looking
to the expansion OF state control, but be
fore there can be any real expansion, there
must be a constitutional revolution. That
which is accomplished within the limits of
a guaranteed billof rights, cannot properly
be called the subversion Of one class and