The Hawaiian gazette., 1910-11-11
The New Nationalism
Lyman Abbott, in The Outlook.


The New Nationalism is simply a
later stage in the development Of a
continually developing Nationalism.
The relation between the States and
the National Government was not set
tied once for all by the written Consti-
tuition, and could not be. The Consti-
tuition is not like the hoops of barrel
that hold the slaves together. Hoops
fitted for a barrel of thirteen slaves
would not serve for a barrel of forty
eight. 1t is like the bark Of tree that
grows with the growth of the tree and
expands with its expansion. Chief jus
tice Marshall, by his Interpretation OF
the Constitution, did almost as much to.
make it what it is as did its original
trainers.
Says Joseph H. Choate, in his inter
esting address on Alexander Hamilton:
For the FIVE years that preceded the
adoption of the Federal Constitution
the whole country was drifting surely
and swiftly toward anarchy. The thir.
teen States, freed from foreign domin-
ion, claimed and began to exercise,
each an independent sovereignty, levy
many ways interfering with each 9TH
er Is trade. European nations, finding
that congress had no power to protect
American trade, proceeded to impose
fatal restrictions lpon it. They also
refused to enter into treaties with the
United States because they could not
tell whether they were dealing with,
thirteen nations or with one. This only
AIAN
treaty into effect.
Mr.. Choate adds: " 1t is clear to me
as A B c. said Washington, who from
his retirement at Mount Vernon watch
ed the course of affairs with the utmost
anxiety, that an extension Of federal
powers would make us one of the most
happy, wealthy, respectable, and power
full nations that ever inhabited the ter
restrial globe. Without them we shall
soon be everything that is directly the
Constitution, despite the jealousy of
some States and the fears of others,
this extension of federal powers was
given to the central government, and
by that gift the Nation was born. But
it was never the intention of the found
ers that it should be always in its
powers should grow with the growth of
the Nation, that it might, as Nation,
become happy, wealthy, and respect
able, because powerful.
The New Nationalism, initiated by
Washington in his call for an "exten-
sion of federal powers" was assailed
by Calhoun nearly. half century later.
Calhoun s contention may be here con-
ha ~
the federal congress are enumerated
powers; if it attempts to exercise any
power not in the Constitution enumer-
ated, it transcends its authority, and
its act is null and void; and it is for
the State which gave the authority to
decide whether the authority has been
exceeded, This was the doctrine OF
notification Not so, replied Chief JUS
tice Marshall; it is for the Supreme
Court of the United States to decide
whether that authority has been ex-
ceeded. The States did not accept Mr..
Calhoun IS theory; they have, despite
some strong opposition, accepted Chief
Justice Marshall 5 theory. The creation
of the Union of States constituted the
first stage in the development of New
Nationalism; the rejection of nullifica-
development of that New Nationalism.
A quarter of century later Jefferson
Davis propounded the doctrine of seces
sion. 1t was at once more logical and
more radical than the doctrine of null
LITIGATION. 1t was, in brief, this: The
Union is a union of sovereign States; 1t
is the very essence of this union that
it is voluntary; if State finds itself
I ha II wit h
draw; there is no power given to the
federal government by the Constitution
to forbid its withdrawal. Not so, re-
piled Abraham Lincoln. This is an in
destructibIe Union of indestructible
States; the right of representation is
inherent in the Nation as in the in
dividual The defeat of secession and
the triumph of Unionism as the result
of the Civil War constituted the third
important. stage in the development Of
the New Nationalism
Prior to the Civil War banking had
been conducted by State banks and un-
der State regulation. In 1862 Abraham
Lincoln proposed new extension of fed
eral powers;/ \" the organization of bank
ing associations under general act
| of congress, we'll guarded in its provi-
| sions,' to which associations "the gov
eminent might furnish circulating notes
on the security of United States bonds
deposited in the treasury, " which notes,
''being uniform in appearance and Sc
curity, and convertible always into
coin, would at once protect labor
against the evils of vicious currency,
and facilitate commerce by cheap and
safe exchanges" The recommends
ton was adopted by congress-; and,
despite the opposition of special inter
ests and the forebodings of the timid,
was approved by the people. Our cur
rency ceased to be a State, and be-
came a national, currency. The crea-
tion by the federal powers of this ma
tional currency constituted a fourth
stage in the development of the New
Nationalism.
Thomas Jefferson in 1896 declared
that congress had no constitutional
power to appropriate money from the
federal treasury for internal improve
ments, and proposed a constitutional
| amandmput OiviuU gueh DoWRr prpgi-