Perth Amboy evening news., 1906-04-20
The Indifference of
Americans to Their.
Duties as Citizens
BY joseph G. CANNON. Speaker National
House of Representatives

~ONSTITUTIONS and laws are Of no advantage unless
there is a PUBLIC SENTIMENT that demands their
enforcement. The constitution and laws do not,make SEN
timent-sentiment makes and enforces THEM.
In my judgment the greatest danger to the republic
comes from the citizen who refuses or neglects to participate in gov
erning the local, state and national affairs and seeks protection from
the government torwhich he does not contribute according to his ab1-
iy or means.
The government of the United States is one of limited power, but
in the domain of its jurisdiction it is supreme, while the great jurisdt-
tion-the supreme power not granted by the constitution to the United
States-REMAINS WITH THE RESPECTIVE STATES.
The danger now to us is not the weakening of the federal govern
ment, but rather the failure of the sovereign states to exercise their
function, their jurisdiction touching all matters not granted to the
federal government. This danger does not come from the desire of
the federal government to grasp power not conferred by the conshtu-
ton, but rather from the desire of citizens of the respective states to
cast upon the federal government the responsibility and duty that
THEY SHOULD PERFORM
1t is seemingly so easy to devote our time to our respectivetcalings
avoiding the party primary, and later on the burden involved in cast
ing our ballots, many of us saying that we will not dabble In the dirty
pool of partisan politics. 1t is so onerous to exercise our duty in
ruling. The result is the MINORITY sometimes may PRACTI-
CALLY rule.
The federal government is not equipped to govern 100000
people, settled over our vast territory, reaching from the Atlantic to
the Golden Gate, in their local affairs. If the federalgovernment con-
tinues to centralize, we will soon find that we will have A VAST
BUREAUCRATIC GOVERNMENT, which will prove inefficient
if not corrupt.
The governor of one of the states'a few days ago'wrote toa senator
in congress that his state is powerless to compel the railways within its
borders to extend to its citizens faciitiesib proper connection, switch
ing and the furnishing of cars, to enable its people to have equal and
fair treatment under similar conditions with other favored citizens,
and that this condition comes from INABILITY TO ENFORCE
LAW IN EXISTENCE and to enact additional legislation and in
effect appealing for relief to the federal government.
The federal government has NO POWER to intervene except by
virtue of its power to regulate commerce among the states, and the
people of the state would not be relieved as to traffic WITHIN the
state.
Let us understand once for all that if we fail to exercise the sover-
egn jurisdiction of the several states we must suffer the penalty that
comes from a refusal to govern.
If WE, AS INDIVIDUALS, WOULD RECEIVE PROTECTION OF
PERSON AND PROPERTY, WE MUST SEE TO 1T THAT ALL OTHERS
MUST BY OUR ACTION UNDER LAW FAIRLY ADMINISTERED RE.
cEIvE THE SAME PROTECTION, AND WITH SUCH PROTECTION
EACH INDIVIDUAL WILL, UNDER GODS LAW LIVING IN THE
SWEAT OF HIS BROW, WORK OUT HIS OWN SALVATION.