The Democratic advocate., 1907-01-25
FRIDAY AFTERNOON, JANUARY 25, 1907,
Capitalization Versus States RIGHTS

Capitalization Versus States Rights.
There is no subject upon which the
American people ought to have a more
intelligent and ell-de6ned idea, than upon
the character and structure of their gov
ernment. This is so because, if the
threatened attempt to centralize greater
power in the general government is ac-
complished it will not be done suddenly,
but so insidiously that the people will
scarcely know what is going on, until the
thing is done.
1t behooves the people, therefore, to
fully understand what powers the States
have yielded to the federal government,
under our present constitution, and whether
they desire further curtailment of the
powers of the States, and greater enlarge
ment of those of the general government.
Now let us see briefly, how our govern
ment was formed, and what was intended
by the trainers of the constitution.
When the treaty of peace was concluded
with Great Britain, lat the close of the
revolutionary war, each of the original
States was named separately, and the
treaty was in fact between these sovereign
States and Great Britain. And when the
constitution of the United States, which
superceded the Articles of Confederation,
was adopted, it was done by the States,
acting in their separate and Independent
capacity.
And so, in the construction of the
American Senate, as we have it today, the
equality of the sovereign States is abso-
lutely preserved, Rhode Island, for ex-
ample, one of the smallest States, having
the same voice in the Senate as New York,
one of the largest. While this is so, the
House of Representatives, coming from
the people, is their direct representative, by
fixed ratio of representation, according
to population. And thus the balance of
power is equitably and beautifully main
tanned between the sovereign States on the
one hand, and the will of the people on
the other.
In framing the constitution, for the gov
eminent of our country, the States yielded
certain of the powers belonging to them,
to the federal government This was done,
as the preamble to the constitution says,
"to insure domestic tranquility, provide
for the common defense, promote the gen.
eral welfare" etc.
Article xiv of the constitution says,
"The powers not delegated to the United
States by the constitution nor prohibited
by it to the States, are reserved to the
States respectively or to the people.
1t is very clear that the federal govern
ment has no powers, whatever, except
those definitely granted to it and written
down in the constitution. 1t can have no
powers beyond the constitution, because it
has no life, except that which has been
breathed into it by that instrument.
In the very beginning of our govern
ment, there was difference OF opinion
among the statesmen of that period, all of
whom we think were patriotic, To state
it briefly, Alexander Hamilton was the
representative of those who stood for a
strong, centralized government; did not
believe that the people could be entrusted
With the management of their own affairs.
Upon the other hand, Thomas Jefferson
stood for exactly the opposite, contending
that every valuable right ofthe people could
be entrusted to, and would be protected and
maintained by the people themselves.
Those who will thoughtfully read the
constitution of the United States cannot
but note how carefully the rights of the
individual citizen, and of the States are
guaranteed. Our government is founded,
essentially, upon, the great doctrine of
Home Rule. 1t is natural that freeman
should want to manage his own affairs, and
equally SO, that a community or State
should want to do the same thing Hence,
deep down in the American heart is the
love of Home Rule.
But we are being led quietly and almost
Qnknowingly, to a departure from this
safe and sound rule. And to those who
do not thoughtfully regard the subject, it
does not seem to be alarming, that the
government at Washington should be
clothed with greater powers. While the
tendency of the Republican party, all
through its history, has been to centraliza-
tion, never have the indications of the
purpose to extend the powers of the gen.
sral government been so apparent, as
during the Roosevelt administration.
Mr.. Roosevelt in speech at Harrisburg
in October last says:
''In some cases this governmental action
must be exercised by the several States ind-
vidually. In yet others it has become increas.
ingly evident that no efficient State action is
possible, and that we need through executive
action, through legislation and through judi.
cisl Interpretation and construction Of law TO
increase the power of the Federal Cover.
ment.' |
And Mr. Root, Secretary of State, and
who is believed, in many cases, to be the
mouthpiece of the President, used the fol-
lowing language in recent speech in New
York:
''1t may be that such control could better
be exercised in particular instances by the