The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-02-18
rnn ooMINa rIFrY YEARs

THE COMING TIFTN YEARS
First. As to national politics-Amer-
lean politics will grow more and more
national for half century and more.
THIS has been inevitable, since the in
crease Of facility Of communication. On
that facility has followed emigration
from state to state, so that each state
now has many citizens who are born In
others states, and have the traditions
Of other states IN mind. As II now Is
many citizens Of Connecticut and New
Jersey spend their waking hours work
ing in the city Of New York. IL is i'm
possible, under such conditions, TO
awaken much special interest in the
politics Of one state OF another. Inter
est in national politics sweeps away OF
overpowers the issues Of state politics.
And, also, as the nation really becomes
one body, instead Of being foTty-four
bodies, il is desirable that many mat
ters should be settled by uniform ma
tional law, and not left to the variations
of state statutes and courts A uni
form bankrupt law, uniform marriage
and divorce law, suggest themselves OF
course 20 the people Of a nation who
have tested and proved the value Of a
uniform postal law, a uniform tariff,
and uniform currency.
When the constitution was made and
the nation born, there was great ieal-
ousy between state and state. Every
effort WAS made In the constitution TO
satisfy this Jealousy, by adjustments be-
tween commercial states and agricul-
tural states, between large states and
small OF these jealousies the emf
grants from Europe know nothing. They
do not understand their origin and can
not even pretend 20 take an interest in
them. Such a man moves from Boston
TO Albany and does not 80 much as
know that the law above HIM has
changed. Probably he means to do
right, and generally does right, so that
there is no occasion that he should
know that the law has changed. lie
knows he is a citizen Of the nation
called the Omitted States" But he
neither knows nor cares anything about
the trad itions or OF peoularities Of the
state Of Massachusetts or Of New York.
He would as soon call a fowl a chicken
because he lives in New York, as adapt
himself 70 any traditions Of the politics
OF the Clintons or the Burrs. lie con-
tinues 10 say chicken because he is q
citizen Of the United States, quite in
different t. local custom. And for the
same reason, so long as he il an emf
grant, that is for one generation and
most Of two. the citizens whom we re-
ceive from Europe are interested il ma
tional politics with zeal which quite
overpoWers their interests in state poll
tics.
This unfortunate name has been
chosen by the "Friends Of Govern
ment," 70 describe their wish that the
state or nation should undertake many
enterprises which are now in the hand
Of strong corporations.
The name Is unfortunate, because
it seems to imply wish that Tho
United States as a nation should tako
the duties Of the separate states. With
this matter nationalism so-oalled, d az
nothing 90 do.
The drift Of opinion in tho next fifty
years in America will DO in favor Of the
assumption by the administrations oil
cities, Of states and Of tho nation. Of du.
ties now discharged by individuals Of
corporations. The drift las been that
way for two hundred and nInety-three
years, and it viii not stop to-day Of
tomorrow. The stops IN this direction
are suggested in the following Gallon
dar:
l621-l63L. The public recorded ell
deeds and wills and kept records. Thl
is not a matter for the individual in
America.
lG3A The public provided ell educa-
zion.
From tho beginning the public pro
Vided all roads.
1O0O-or thereabout-the public pro
yided all lighthouse service.
1o2O-nnd alwaYs-eYery man mus
uerve on occasion in the army.
From 1859, tho public carries al mail
and distributes all letters.
From the beginning the public is re-
npansible for tho relic, Of poverty an,
the suppression OF disense.
From the beginning Of street lightin.
tie public lights the streets.
From tho beginning ~ aqueducts thI
public furnishes water.
Prom ls15 down, the public furnishe
fro department.
The principle aoom1 % bs this. Whei
need s q need which everybody feels
or as P.nsiors says, ''aimost everybody.
tie public undertakes tle charge. j
eftabhahel tho administration, us %
sewage, water, removal 81 raluse, vaccl
nation, paving, lighthouse. mails
schools, roadWays, probate, transfer o