Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1907-07-28
STATE OF CURRENT INTEREST
SELF SURRENDER OF STA
RIGHTS.

is growing weaker in the South, or
at least is believed to be losing its
former Intense hold on the affections
of the people, stronger undercur-
rent toward State Rights" is set
ting in in the North and West. This
is doubtless largely due to the pro-
nounced tendencies of the present
administration to expand the Fed
eral powers, and the covert threats
of further encroachments on the re-
served powers of the State and of
the people.
The most interesting editorial we
have seen in this connection of late
is one in the Philadelphia Record,
an Independent Democratic paper,
taking the South to task for its self
surrender of some of the rights of
the states. 1t is of interest as show
ing the gradual swelling of the State
rights sentiment in the north. and
we reproduce it below in its entire
~
"of ar the Gulf States Texas alone
still maintains q quarantine, the rest
having surrendered Sfhis function in
to the hands of then United States
Marine Hospital Service. A move
ment has now been begun by the Gal
weston Chamber of Commerce to in
duce the Legislature and Governor of
Texas to join Florida, Alabama Mis-
sissippi and Louisiana in their act
of abnegation, and thus hand over
to exclusive Federal control the
quarantine regulations of all the Gulf
ports. The argument in favor of uni
form regulations is not to the point
neither is the assertion that the Ma
rine Hospital Service is very good
State quarantine regulations need not
conflict and the local service need
not be inefficient. The protection of
the nation as a whole against the
carrying of infection from abroad is
provided for by powers now vested in
the Surgeon General.
1T may seem no great matter, but
| it is of more Importance than it
seems. The establishment of quar-
antines was one of the duties or priv
ileges expressly reserved by the max
ers of the Constitution to the States
1t is conceivable that circumstances
may arise under which the establish
ment of local quarantine, even against
persons who had passed Federal in
| spection at the ports, would be eX-
pedient or necessary. To pursue the
subject in this direction would lead
| too far afield from the topic imme-
diately under iscussion-namely, the
, propensity to centralize government
al functions Our institutions were
built on basis of local self-govern-
ment, with the towns and counties
as the ultimate units The old spirit
| of self-reliance seems to have grown
weak, however, and while the FEEDER
al Government continues to arrogate
powers by necessary implication"
from the Constitution, the process of
naturalization is being accelerated by
the voluntary surrender of govern
mental functions by the citizens of
communities whose fathers and grand
| fathers would have resented any in
reference Herewith from above as
an intolerable usurpation.
And what makes matters worse
| is the unworthiness of the motive for
this abnegation of power. 1t is most
ly sheer indolence-a lack of interest
in local affairs-or the desire to es-
cape the the eost-of- maintaining a local
administrative service; as It it made
any difference in the last analysis
whether Congress appropriated the
money or the town meeting, County
Commissioners or the State Legisla-
ture. Maryland recently practically
gave up sovereignty over her oyster
beds that the State might be saved
the expense~of a surrey of the same
and SO it goes, North, South, East
and West. If our dual form of gov
Iernment is to be preserved the States
and lesser political divisions will have
to vie with one another in the excel
lence of the administration of their
reserved and naturally appropriate
powers. Jealous insistence upon re-
served rights is not incompatible with
uniformity, where uniformity is de-
sirable, through cooperation"