part began
to settle, and it grew in population faster than the southern part. The
town was introduced, and now prevails in all but a few counties.

Can you see the relation of these facts to the generalization? Can you
tell where the people of the two sections of the state came from?

PART II.

THE STATE.

CHAPTER IX.

WHY WE HAVE STATES.

1. _Historical reason_. We have states now because we had such
organizations at the time this government was established. The colonies,
founded at different times, under different auspices, by people differing
in religion, politics, and material interests, remained largely
independent of each other during colonial times, and on separating from
England became independent _states_.

2. _Geographical reason_. Different climatic and topographic conditions
give rise to different industries, and therefore necessitate different
regulations or laws.

3. _Theoretical reason_. The theory of our government is that of
_decentralization of power_.[Footnote: There being a constant tendency to
centralization, this thought should be emphasized. See Nordhoff's Politics
for Young Americans. (71)] That is, we think it best to keep power as near
as possible to the people. If a certain work can be accomplished fairly by
individual enterprise, we prefer that it be done so rather than through
any governmental agency. If work can be done by the town just as well as
by the county, we assign it to the town. And as between the state and the
general government, we assign no duty to the latter which can be performed
as well by the former.

4. _Practical reasons_. There are many practical reasons. Among them may
be mentioned the following:

We need the state as a basis for the apportionment of members of congress.
This is a federal republic, and representation in the national councils
can be had only through statehood.

We need the state to establish a system of education, to control
corporations, to put down riots when the local authorities cannot do so,
to establish the smaller organizations, etc. These are some of the things
referred to in paragraph three, which the state can do better than the
general government.

There is in the state also a high court of justice to which cases may be
appealed from the courts below.

HOW STATES ARE CREATED.

The "old thirteen" originated in revolution. They _declared_ themselves
"free and independent states," and maintained the declaration