New-York tribune., 1919-02-04
The American Precedent


conference it is a problem of world
federation that is under discussion. In
our case it was the federation of thir-
teen small states with population of
some 100000 that was undertaken aid
accomplished in the thirteen crowded
years from 1776 to 17S9 But the prob
lem OF fashicning a governmental body
for the soul of people is much the
same, whether the people be few or
many.
Looking back now, it is easy to see
what the colonies might have done, from
the point Of view Of pure political
theory, at any given moment, to save
themselves confusion and bloodshed.
They might have formed strong, united
nation promptly in 1776, for instance,
and thus, the doctrinaire can argue, have
avoided the critical years from 1888 to
1889 and all the dispute over national
ism that followed Or, at any rate, the
convention of 1887 could have avoided
the compromises which it accepted, the
compromise between federalism and ma
tlonalism, the compromise over slavery
that made the Civil War necessary. All
that was necessary in those years, the
theorist may contend, was a man with
imagination enough to conceive America
as it was to be and build therefor a fit
political structure.
But the men were there, as a matter
Of fact, with ample imagination. No
greater creative political minds have
ever operated than Hamilton's and Mad
ison's. The Virginia plan as proposed
by Madison in the convention of 1887
would have created nation beyond all
question: Hamilton saw fully the need
Of the strongest union. But govern
mcnt, at least popular government, is
not thing of imagination of few, but
of the hearts and minds Of the many.
1t was utterly impossible in 1857 to
persuade the United States Of the Con-
federation to enter into a complete
union. 1t was necessary to placate the
small states with an equal representa-
ton in the Senate. 1t was necessary to
permit slavery for twenty years longer
to win the South. For the word national"
the word federal" was substituted. AS
it was, the new Constitution all but
failed Of acceptance by the states. In
Massachusetts. in New York, in Vir-
ginia. success hung by hair
Every one familiar with the.,.temper
oil the time knows that each step row
ard union went as far as was possible
at the moment The Articles of Con-
federation represented all the unifica-
tlon possible in 1777. The Constitution
pushed the federal idea to the limit in
1887. The states could not have been
he'd together on any other terms The
great men OF that convention knew we'll
what they were doing. They Lahore | for
faur months in secret session to achieve
the utmost Of union possible. They ac-
cepted the compromises willingly, feel
ing that it was better to accept what
was possible than to attempt the ideal
and lose all. The famous words Of
Franklin express the spirit of tho con-
vention. He was in his eighty-frst
year, had seen the issue of the conven
ton sway to and fro, and at the end. in
urging his fellow delegates to sign, he
used these words:
- confess that there are several parts
o. this Constitution which I do not at
present approve, but am not sure |
shall never approve them. For, having
lived long. have experienced MANY in
stances Of being obliged by better in
formation or fuller consideration. to
change opinions, even on imDorta1t sub.
lects, whicn | once thought rich. but
found TO be otherwise 1t is. therefore.
that the older 7 grow the more ant
am to doubt my own judgment and to
pay more respect to thc Judgment &c
others.
Thus | consent. sir, 10 this CoAstitu-
ton because / expect TO better, and
because | am not sure that it is not
the best"
This has not the glowing elouuence of
the ldealist or the confident. ring OF he
doctrlnare. 1t is the spirit in which our
American government was built, Incl
dentaly' an achievement rated BY Glad
stone as 1.-The most wonderful work eve,,
struck off at given time by the brain
and purpose OF man."
There is a further point to be made.
/ not, only was our national progress
made gradually, but each advance was
builded on the past and of familiar ma
terial. Our Constitution was wholly
new in its balance and as rounded
achievement. There was very little
wholly new in it. One outstanding ex-
pertinent, the electoral college, was the
one complete failure Of the instrument.
1t was tried and familiar apparatus of
the colonial and state governments.
/ En0ltan I.,tr