The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1911-05-10

ing it, are wearing some Of the export
of Argentina wool in their clothing OF
of her hides in their bouts and shoes.
FIFTY YEARS SINCE SUMTER.
The half century that hes elapsed
since the firing on Fort Sumter bas
given perspective 70 that great tragedy
of the Nineteenth Century, the war
between the states. With the efflux
of years passions have cooled, and It
has become increasingly apparent that
the conflict was the outcome of the
clash between two civilizations whose
form was fixed BY conditions Of soil
and climate.
The sentiment of nationality devel.
oped only slowly. The colonies had
always acted independently Of each
other. They made war on the Indians
when they pleased. Each governed
itself without reference to the others.
After they had thrown off the Brit.
ish allegiance they regarded them
selves as Independent states. Virginia,
for instance, adopted . constitution,
created a currency and ratified the
treaty with France. The articles of
confederation and perpetual union"
were only q working agreement be.
tween sovereign powers. When the
constitution was adopted it went into
effect after nine states had ratified it.
What was the position of the other
four at that time? North Carolina
was not q member of the Union for .
year, Rhode Island not for two years,
after it had become effective. They
we're independent states.
So strong was the feeling for state
sovereignty in the country that it is
doubtful whether the constitution
could have been ratified if it, nation.
alistic possibilities had been foreseen.
The first draft Of the preamble began:
I'VE, the people of the United States
Of" and named the thirteen states.
The names were left out later becauee
of doubt whether all would raiify.
In the early years Of the new gov
eminent it was New England that
threatened secession. Threats we're
made because of unsatisfactory condi.
tions in the Western country, because
of the election of Jefferson - Presi.
dent, because of the purchase Of Lou.
isiana. Josiah Quincy asserted in
Congress that If Louisiana were acquir.
ed the bond Of the Union would be
dissolved, and 1t would be the duty Of
some Of the states to secede, "amicably
if they can, violently if they must"
In the War of 1872 the Hartford con.
yention was separatist in tone.
But industrial development, with
steam and electricity, obliterated state
lines in the North and created the
Sense of nationality. The settlers who
peopled the Central and Western
states owed their first allegiance to the
Nation. The state was Q minor CON-
Meanwhile, the accident of climate
had made slavery Improbable in the
North, but an institution of growing
in the South. As result
the South specialized in cotton and
escaped in large measure the indus.
trialism of the North. Agricultural |
life under those conditions fostered the |
traditions of the previous century, and
in 1860 the South still reflected the
views Of independent sovereignty of
colonial times, while the North had
become nationalized.
A wiser craftsmanship on both sides |
through the early half of the century |
might have provided for the gradual |
harmonizing of the two civilizations |
through compensatory emancipation, |
As Lincoln urged later, until steam and |
electricity could have done their work |
in the South Is we'll Is in the North. |
But such craftsmanship Was lacking,
The fireaters Of both parties held the
center of the stage, and the constitu.
'ional conflict between nationality and
tate sovereignty was left to the arbi.
rament Of arms.-Kansas City Star.