The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1907-02-14
EDIT o RIAL.

EDITOR RIAL.
One of the first lessons in govern
ment is to learn that we must yield
our personal desires for the benefit
of others. The child has it drilled in
to him in the school. He must not
whisper. not that it does him any
harm, but that it disturbs others.
The man learns it in his daily life.
that he cannot do this and that. not
because it hurts him. but because it
infringes on the rights of others. All
government is based on this prin
ciple. What applies to the individ-
ual. applies also to the state. The
state has no more right to do that
which will hurt other states than you
have to that which will hurt another
man. There is no more foundation in
fact for the belief that the state is
separate entity. entitled to do any
thing it pleases. regardless of the
rights of other states. than for the
anarchistic belief that each Individual
is entitled to act without regard to
others. The only difference is that
in the individual we call it anarchy
and damn it. while in the larger field
we call it sthe sovereignty of the
States and yield to it in many in
stances. Our point is that we can
have anarchy among the states, just
as we can have anarchy among in
dividuals. and further, that in point
of fact we do have it to-day.
If we are to believe that the state
is an entity. that it is sovereign
power. we can have no fault to find
with the states which seeded. In
any partnership the right to with
draw is retained by all the parties.
The Union idea was in 1860, and should
be today, that the states did not en-
ter partnership. but that they sur
rendered themselves to the United
States. that they gave up- their sep
arate existence. save as they were
allowed to keep it by the higher
power. If we take this view, that the
states had no right to secede. the
war for the Union was right and the
states are nothing more than conven-
lent governmental divisions holding
the same relation to the National
government that the counties do to
the state.
We believe this is the proper view.
We are perfectly willing to delegate
to the states those things which
affect only the state. but the num-
Der of these things is limited. We
contend for stronger National gov
eminent for the following reasons:
First. that it would be more har-
monious.
Second. that it would be more
powerful.
Third. that it would be more i'm
personal.
For all those reasons it would be
more Just, more impressive and more
effective.
Capitalists have taught US the les.
son of concentration. They have re-
peatedly urged that the reason fo,
great trusts lay in their economy,
their effectiveness and their ability
to perform great deeds and carry
through great enterprises. We be-
lieve the lesson could be applied tt
the government with beneficial re
suits. At any rate we are glad to
see the South coming to this view
When they want an appropriation tt
exterminate the the boil weevil
they recognize the fact what the I'm
tied States is. 1t is quite step fo
the southern Congressman. and on,
that is we'll worth the money even i
the weevil be not exterminated.
The truth is that we have everythin,
in common. except our laws. W.
have as many sets of laws as we hav
states. What is crime in one state
is misdemeanor in another and NJ
offense at all in a third. 1t is a fin
thing for the lawyers. but might,
poor thing for the man who seek
justice. The Congress. made up o
men from all sections of the country
is much better able to enact laws 70
the government of the people thai
any legislature that the Lord in hi
mercy ever allowed to live. New
Jersey may be owned by an insuranc
company. Pennsylvania by railroad
Nevada by mine owner. Colorad
by Guggenheimer. but it would b
mighty difficult for any one interes
: to own the Congress of the Unite
States. The very fact that tn
states from time to time. ask Con
gress to do things. to inaugurate re
forms which they dare not do them
selves. is pl oof that government b.