The Sphere of the State 103 



ism; that is, it means community privilege, 

 duty and opportunity. It is properly a strong 

 internal constructive policy. Such policies are 

 more and more delegated to Congress, where 

 fewer persons partake in them, and the states 

 are not developing coordinately with the 

 nation. Government should be kept at home. 

 We have talked much about states rights, 

 but very little about state opportunity or 

 cooperation between the states. We have 

 tended to emphasize separateness rather than 

 unity. The American, with his strong ideas of 

 individualism, has really made less progress 

 toward practical democracy in some directions 

 than some of the monarchical peoples. The 

 obligation of helping its people rests primarily 

 on the state organization ; but if the state will 

 not render this aid, the federal government 

 must do it. Of all affairs, the agricultural are 

 the most native and local, and need to have 

 the most careful concern of the state or com- 

 munity organization. The reasons for the 

 recent growth of centralized federal power are 

 at least of two classes : The growing urgency 



