Cayton's weekly. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1916-1921, 1918-01-26
CHAPTER K.
PROBLEMS SOLVED BY THE FOUND
ERS OF THE REPUBLIC.

expected to anticipate for the future all the
requirements of the people, and the neces-
sary powers to meet each special contin-
gency Of the national government
If they could have had greater foresight,
if they could have seen more clearly the
requirements of the future and anticipated
it's necessities they might perhaps have
made more explicit provisions for the ex-
pansion in all matters which have since
taken place in these subjects which were
then Of slight or no consequence but which
have now grown into great national import
ance.
The future, while it required an impair
tial consideration and as far as the limited
faculties of human vision permitted should
be provided for. was to them of less i'm
portance than the present.
The people then were devoted to the
services of their country It was the sub
ject uppermost in the mind. The topic of
constant conversation in private and in
public. The state with some was the
greater Importance and the national gov
eminent the lesser, while with others the
national government was of the first i'm
portance and the state secondary
If we consider that their present was
to them more important than the future
we are in position to weigh more i'm
partially the imperfections. if any were
made. and the lack Of specific powers grant
ed to meet future special contingencies
They were familiar with the tyranny of
the governments Of the world as they were
then exercised This was kept continually
in mind. It was this knowledge so con-
tinuonsly held in mind that created gen.
eral fear among the people and caused
them to exercise great care and caution in
granting powers to the national govern
Iol a.
pectation that the governmental powers
granted would be exercised to Cypress the
people. Their only examples were the gov
ernments Of the past and they dreaded the
establishment Of another of the same kind.
They founded a peoples government; but
did not trust the people. They formed
government for the protection of the people
against the arbitrary exercise of tyrannical
powers; but had not the courage to trust
themselves to be governed by the people.
They were in the position Of builder Of
ship refusing to 60 on board fearing it
would sink and drown him.
They were not sure they had established
a permanent government. They more than
expected 1t would 60 to pieces in their own
time They more than feared some one
would set himself up as king or emperor or
car. They almost expected it. They, how
ever builed in this respect better than they
knew
The states were composed of local com
munities situated within comparatively linn
tied areas.
The people discussed among themselves
all phases of local subjects and local re-
quirements; and also some of the general
topics that touched and concerned all the
states varied by the differences in local con-
ditions.
Each state in a general way was foreign
to all the others. The people were devoted
supporters, as under their circumstances
they should be, of their own state Their
interests were within and not beyond the
states limits. Each state capital was near
ly. if not quite as far distant from each
other. in time and convenience of travel
as the national government now it's from
the farthest state in the Union.
1t is the practice even to this day for