The San Francisco call., 1896-05-07
"THE STATE"
Mrs. Mary Prag Delivers a Lucid
and Learned Address
Thereon.

Thereon.
Mrs. Mary Prag, now and for the last
twenty years a teacher in the Girls High
School of San Francisco, was one of the
most effective speakers on Tuesdays pro-
gramme, and with a well modulated voice
and clear enunciation discussed "The
State" as a social and political institution.
She spoke as follows:
The main governments of the world are of Aryan
origin. and the State in its highest form is found
among them. While Semitic and Turanian races
have passed through similar forms of organization,
still II is the state of the Aryan nation which has
had most to do in the formation Of the civilization
of the world.
Starting from its original spring in the valley OF
the OXus and Jaxartes, sending its Celtic Teutonic,
ere % atm a., ana SiavonS streams through En
sending its clear riyulets and then its mighty
rivers across the Atlantic to overflow the Western
continent IL may be destined some day, perhaps,
10 flow together and form great universal state
as broad as humanity and deep as its Creators
love, carrying on its bosom equality, liberty and
fraternity.
In glancing over the field of the worlds history
TO see what is the origin of the state discover
first the 'family'' the family increases and be-
come the gems; the gems unite and form tribes,
the main ties being blood and religion the leading
kinsman becomes the chief of the tribe finally for
various reasons of convenience the tribes unite and
we have the estate" of ancient history with the
king Its head. The idea OF the state means
more than the mere reunion of tribes for defense
or attack; it conveys more than the mere idea of
union, a political and civil union. a union for
government
The next theory is that Of "original law" that
is, the binding together of one people into a
government by means of the law given them by
Athenians their Solon; the Spartans their Lycur-
gus; the Romans their Numa; the Arabs their
Monammed
Another theory is the Theological" which
regards the state of the direct creations OF
! the Almighty; it forms the foundation for the
belief in the divine right OF kings. God created the
state and anointed its ruler. This theory is true
only in much thas the growth of the state was
| spontaneous and based upon instincts implanted
in man by his Creator.
The state is Lot the result of agreement con-
tract or convention among men; il is natural or
| ganic development and Is the only condition in
which man can achieve all he is capable OF achiev-
| ing.
| without government, and this government attains
its fullest perfection in that called civil society
| the state This state involves guvernmen n OF q
hi ghly organized form.
In the state we have two great general forms OF
| government. the popular and the ABSOLUTE. each
! claiming for Its existence basis OF reason and
nature
But the power be vested in the people, if they
enact the laws: settle questions of public policy
and choose officers to carry them out, then we
| have democracy.
| The government is either good or bad according
to whether the object is the good of the governing
power or of the governed. In order to understand
| the modern state it is necessary to know the an
clent and the medieval states in their successive
| periods of development We find in the civiiiza
tion of the ancients the one great thought of niv
| we see IL in their literature, their manners, Gus
toms, institutions. This idea of unity is funda
mental idea OF the state. The state signifies unity
1t is the unit in our civilization, the very word
| civilization is derived from civitas-the state
The last step in the evolution OF government
was the modern state with its constitutional gov
ernment, government based upon written con
| stitution which clearly defines the powers and
duties of the governing body, and the rights and
| privileges of the people. The next development
was the separation of the government into three
great departments, the executive legislative and
Judicial, coexisling. but with the jurisdiction Of
each clearly outlined. All OF these exist by and
at the pleasure OF the people. The government is
the creature OF the governed its duty guide and
direct but not to dictate
The people express their will and their ruler.
must see that the will thus expressed is carried
out once more the people are the state.
What constitutes a state?
Men VINO their duties know,
But know their rights, and knowing dare main
TAIN