Page:American Anthropologist NS vol. 1.djvu/568

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povvkll] SOCIOLOGY, OR THE SCIENCE OF INSTITUTIONS 509

from the families of which it is composed, but that the people are organized in this manner by the territorial grouping of their domiciles for the purpose of promoting and securing justice, and that part of the social relations of the people is regulated by the agencies of the nation, another part by the agencies of the state, another by the county, another by the township, and another by the family. Thus rights and duties are parceled out among the units of governmental organization.

Over those relations which the nation controls, its organs are of supreme authority, but it does not control those relations which are relegated to the state governments, nor do the states assume to control the relations relegated to the counties, nor do the counties assume to control the relations relegated to the townships, nor do the townships assume to control those relations relegated to the families. At one period the differentiation be- tween national and state government may differ from the differentiation which prevails in another period ; but when this differentiation is changed, it must be done by a change in the written constitution and submitted to the states severally for their ratification, in which case the constitutional majority must affirm, which is more than a plurality.

We have spoken of the organization of this nation as an ex- ample, but all other civilized nations have a corresponding organization which varies in differentiation of functions, but the same hierarchy of units is usually to be observed. In the same manner it is necessary to consider that the differentiation of the departments of government varies from nation to nation through- out the civilized world, while the principles of government which we have set forth as peace, equity, equality, liberty, and justice are differently expounded and applied to governmental affairs.

( The remainder of this article, which treats of Histories and Ethics, will appear in the October number.}

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