The Grenada sentinel., 1907-01-12
POWER FOR PEOPLE
RIGHT TO HOME RULE SHOULD
BE JE.aLOUSLY GUARDED.
To Preserve Our Democratic Republic
Constant Vigilance Is Necessary
Concentration of Govern.
rnent a Fatal Error.


Concentration Of Govern.
ment a Fatal Error.
Nothing should be so cherished by
the people of the United States as
their right to home rule Any action
by the legislative, executive or judi
cial departments of the federal gov.
ment looking towards increased cen
tralization in the hands of the federal
government is step towards decreas.
ing the power of the people to govern
themselves. Nor should the people
of any state view the encroachment
OF their state government with any
less suspicion, for home rule is a
fundamental democratic principle.
There is nothing so necessary in a
deHnocratic-republic as the constant
Eilance of the voters to preserve
d if possible increase their own
ower to direct their local govern
gment. 1t need only be pointed out
that the most veXatious and irritating
issues, such as sumptuary laws, can
best be settled by allowing each coun-
ty or township to pass upon the ques-
ton of "wet" or dry" high license
or no license. Taxation for local pur-
poses can only be settled equitably in
the same way. The old town meet
ing" is the place where home rule
started, and no better plan has ever
been devised to give each sovereign
citizen an equal right with his neigh
bors to express his views and vote
intelligently on the matters that di-
rectly interest him.
Directly the power to rule Is dele
gated to others there is the tendency
to encroach upon the liberty of the
citizen and to concentrate more power
in Nwer hands. Our vastly increased
population has made it more and more
difficult to preserve home rule, and
has tended to lead citizens to look
to a higher power to do the things
they have neglected or feel unable to
do. The individual looks to the town,
or ward; the town looks to the county,
the county looks to the state and the
state looks to the United States to do
what would be irksome or expensive
for the lesser political subdivisions to
do, but which could be better done
even by individuals, If they are public
spirited and act with energy. The
further away from home rule we get,
he greater is the cost Of government
and the more difficult to prevent graft
ng and corruption.
After all, government, whether town,
,ity, county, state or national can do
)ut little to help each individual. To
preserve the peace and punish evil
loers Is almost the extent of the good
# all our complicated government ma
,hinery. If the people had not gradu
lily allowed the concentration of
government in other hands but their
,wn, there would be but half the taxes
md half the horde Of public officials !
ucking at their substance. There |
would be no tramps and but few poor |
nd aged but what their friends and |
eighbors could care for. There would |
e much less crime and litigation. |
ever lawyers and hence laws would |
ot be made so complicated and in
ricate, but more plain and simple.
)ne-half the judges would be un-
eeded, and jails and reformatories
Iould have less occupants. There is
tendency, that should be stayed, for
Individuals to run to the mayor or
ouncil, or state legislature or even
ongress for assistance, or the right
D do something that they ought not
D do, or to prevent their neighbOrs
rom doing what they inherently have
he right to do, or might do without
ljury to the public.
Personal and public ignorance has
ID to most of the excrescenceS of gov
but now everyone is becom-
OF we hold fast to what remains of
mple government and home rule in
Lead of making 1t more complicated
nd concentrated? The federal gov
rnment has we'll defined powers
ranted to it by the states and all else
expressly reserved to the states and
le people. The proposition to expand
le constitutional limits of the federal
overnment and for the executive to
10 things" that he has no power to
D, is a dangerous innovation that +
1ould be checked and curbed. An oc-
asional crisis may be reached in such
strenuous manner, but 1t is very dan
srous to the republic and If allowed
be persisted in will break down all
le safeguards to the liberty Of the in
vidual, which our forefathers pro- {
ded for so carefully.
The Presidential Echo.