The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1934-05-31

drainage districts, public service
corporations, county governments,
ETC., and while these bear differ
ent relations to the state, they all
come from the central idea of the
municipium as conceived by the
Romans. Such a system makes it
possible to perpetuate nations IN
their sovereign capacity and pow
ers, and at the same time permit
their subdivision into states, coun-
ties, towns, districts, etc, wherein
the people govern themselves in
most respects not Incompatible
with the perpetuation of the SOW
ereign head.
This system, begun with Caere,
has been the inspiration and pro-
lection of most of our liberties,
both religious and secular.
The Justinian code is the great
est heritage left US by the Ro-
mans. 1t contains the whole body
of the Roman law. 1t will probably
remain the Invest subject dealing
with Roman civilization. "'.
But however matchless this gift
to civilization might be q am not
of course taking account ; Of
Rome's part in preserving Chris
tianity), it would never have
reached the perfection that it did,,
nor would it have been preserved
to US as it has been, in other
words, never been brought forth
in so glorious a manner, had not
the education and refinement of
the Greeks. together with their
democratic institutions to a large
measure permeated Roman soci-
ETY..
As the superior education of
the Greeks softened the rigors of
the Roman law and finally nodded
it into the most perfect system for
the protection Of both personal
and property rights so the educa-
tional system of today molds our
laws and sets the standard by
which human rights are measured.
1t is not more law that we need
today, but a better knowledge Of
the law and its limitations. 1t is
very clear that education is a nee
essary prerequisite to the estab-
lishment and maintenance of
that moral standard by which is
measured the degree Of RESPONSE
bility towards the state, and So
ciety in general. And as coming
from the state it measures the
responsibilities of the state itself
and directs its destinies.
Local self government was
stressed to the limit in the early
history of this country and even
up to comparatively short time
back. 1t is still talked about a
great deal today. but we have lost
permanently great deal of the
prerogatives of local self govern
ment by reason of demand for
a more uniform administration of
many governmental functions.
Many of these losses are attribut-
able to a failure in local self gov
eminent to properly carry on in
the respective fields. 1t was newt
able that not only the state but
| the national government should
| take from the local field certain
| functions not contemplated in the
early days. A people more educat-
ed with relation to government
than our people have been for the
past 35 years would have resisted
many Withdrawals of local pow
er. The worst part of it is that we
seem to be in a much worse plight
now and more endangered than
we have been. We will continue to
swing towards Capitalization until
we are, better able to function To-
cally. If our educational system
continues to fail to fit the people
/ for a clearer determination of
the responsibility attendant upon
local self government it will con-
tinue to slip through their hands.
The inherent power of the state
will be resorted to more and more
and the. national government will
be given more and more power
as the states fail to exercise their
power. 1t is the logical and newt
able road that will be travelled.
1t is, not so bad when the state
Withdraws its delegated powers,
for they can again be delegated,
but when the, states, themselves
hand over to the national govern
ment a part of its. inherent pow
ers; they are gone for good. The
states must be more jealous of
the national power or the nation
al government will soon swallow
'up the states, so to speak All
along the lines there has been of