Cayton's weekly. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1916-1921, 1918-05-04
THE GLORY OF THE AMERICAN RE-
PUBLIC
The Science of Government
The Hope and Dependence of the Human
Race
Copyright 1917
BY ORLANDO BELKNAP POND
Cali rights reserved)
CHAPTER XVI.
The World is No Longer Astonished at
UneXpected Triumnhs

They concerned all alike, the one person
the same as all others and naturally belonged
to, and should have been taken and adopted
BY the national government and instituted as
part OF the postal system of the country
That it was not so taken and established as
part Of the postal system was one of the
great mistakes made in the governmental
management of the affairs of the nation.
Many in the community realized this mis-
take within very few years after the first
telegraph line was strung between Wash
ngton and Baltimore and it's practcability
demonstrated. 1t was not then however the
policy OF the government to consider any
new functions for itself, or functions that
were apparently new, or to assume any re-
sponsibility other than demanded by the
promulgated laws Of the country
The national government failed to compre-
bend that it's duty it's obligation, and it's
responsibility to the country in the interests
OF growing trade and interstate commerce
was to Immediately assume the control and
management of all trunk lines and interstate
railroads
In like manner it failed to comprehend the
fact that the telegraph was the means of
transmitting messages, through a different
and quicker method than the older and
slower method Of carrying written letters
by mail. The telegraph was the means and
only the means Of transmitting quickly mail
matter and should have been fully con-
sidered as such and taken under the con-
stitutional provision to establish post offices
and post roads, and have been attached to,
and governed by, the post office department
of the national government where it natural
ly belongs.
Not only was the government delinquent in
this respect but the people themselves were
supinely negligent Of their own interests.
The country was unfortunate in that no
one Of great capacity, honesty of purpose
and Of disinterested temperament, and
forcefu, determined character, came for
ward with a sufficient grasp Of the subjects
involved, to present them in all their intri-
cate relations to the people.
1t may after all be we'll that no such per-
son came forward. Perhaps there was no
one equal to the OCCASION 1t is possible
the time had not arrived for governmental
CONTROL Things were in transition state
condition. No one fully understood the sit
uation The railroad and telegraph were
comparatively new inventions, and of recent
development, unknown to the worlds history.
Mankind had not yet been in a position to
observe fully their practical working, and
besides new phases Of their application were
constantly arising, and new demands Tor
their construction and adoption were being
made in every part Of the country. 1t is
no wonder the mind Of man failed to grasp
the situation.
It was necessary for the nation to have
a greater knowledge and larger experience
concerning them. 1t must know better the
extent of their uses what the general effect
upon the country would be- whether they
were Of public or private nature; and I'M
derstand the advantages and disadvantages
in either case and observe the benefits and
injuries to the community, if there are any
such. before it could undertake their direc-
ton and control with any prospect of sue
cess
There were great problems associated
with, and allied to, these utilities, then un-
known, which must be developed before they
could be solved. ..,