States of the Union? Is the whole country not changing from an exotical human inundation and a growing tendency to European centralism? Instead of the splendid axiom of a late writer: "Worms to the dust; eagles to the empyrean," is not the opposite too true: Worms to the front; vultures to the empyrean? In the gradual focalization of power in Washington, and consequent disregard of the limitations of the Constitution and the reserved rights of the several States, is not the spectre of the Man on Horseback discerned in the twilight of distance? Is not his coming ultimately certain, unless there shall be social and political reform? In the insweeping, unrestricted tide of foreign immigrants of monarchical habits of thought, diverse tongues, differing religions, and unassimilating tendencies, is there not anarchic danger? Is there not an ignorant use of the ballot by a growing African-American population, and a terrible prospective racial collision which must end in the extinction of one race or the other, or the ruin of both the white and the black races by hybridization? Is not the Republic Peril ? WHAT IS THE ROAD TO SAFETY? The author has endeavored to reblaze the road to safety in the pages which follow. Our fathers studied the principles of the Declaration of Inde spirit of the ConstiIn the rush of com pendence and the letter and tution of the United States. merce and trade, the selfish desire for plutocratic millions, and the mad struggle for political power and plunder, good government is neglected, and the great charters of freedom relegated to the dust of the libraries. We must become students and patriots again, or the historian will chronicle the greatest suicide of the centuries-the destruction of the last republic that promised to federate the world. Authors and statesmen who understand the genius and practical workings of our institutions should make haste to correct a growing fallacy which has for its nourishment political ignorance. The fallacy is that the United States have outgrown the Constitution, which needs important revision. Although more than a century has elapsed since its ratification by the States, the people have not grown up to the principles of the Constitution. The minority have governed, and still govern. This is chiefly due to the tremendous influx of new peoples who are in everything diverse. They need education in the great school of our fathers, who were students of the histories of all of the republics and nations of the earth. A CATECHISM OF THE CONSTITU TION OF THE UNITED STATES What is the baptismal name of our States-Union? The United States of America. Whence came the Union and the name? From the temporary confederation of the Colonies for self-defence within the British empire. The United Colonies led to an independent Union which was thereafter known as the United States of America. The Colonial War was commenced, and prosecuted a year with the hope of "redressing grievances." George Washington was commissioned commander-in-chief in the name of all the Colonies severally recited. When Congress had issued to the world the Declaration of Independence, the Colonies rose to the dignity of sovereign States. "We, therefore, the representatives of the United States of America in General Congress assembled," are the concluding words of that creative instrument. The official oath was: "I acknowledge the thirteen United States, namely, New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, to be free, sovereign and independent States." Did a compact follow the Declaration? The Articles of Confederation succeeded. They bore the caption of "Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union between the States of New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia." Article I. declares: "The style of this Confederacy shall be the United States of America." Article II.: "Each State retains its sovereignty, freedom, and independence, and every power, jurisdiction, and right which is not by this confederation expressly delegated to the United States in Congress assembled." Article III. provides that, "The said States hereby severally enter into a firm league of friendship with each other, for their common defence, the security of their liberties, and their mutual and general welfare," etc. Was this the genesis of a constitutional Union of the States? It was. The Articles of Confederation were formulated by Congress, July 9, 1778, and ratified between the thirteen States, March 1, 1781, and the War of the Revolution was fought to the finish under them. The treaty of peace with Great Britain, as well as the treaty with France, our ally, was made with the United States as separate republics. Each State was named. The treaty of peace with Great Britain recited that, "His Britannic Majesty acknowledges the said United States, namely, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, to be free, independent, and sovereign States." John Jay drew the treaty. What was the policy of Congress before and after confederation? Congress having been the United Colonies, and afterward the thirteen United States in council, urged the ratification of the Articles. Before they were ratified Congress resolved, but never |