important way those conditions and terms of association without fair notice, full discussion, a demonstrable need and a sufficient consent of public opinion, would be to drive a wedge into the substance of American national cohesion.  The American nation, no matter how much (or how little) it may be devoted to democratic political and social ideas, cannot uproot any essential element in its national tradition without severe penalties—­as the American people discovered when they decided to cut negro slavery out of their national composition.

On the other hand, their national health and consistency were in the long run very much benefited by the surgical operation of the Civil War; and it was benefited because the War eradicated the most flagrant existing contradiction among the various parts of the American national tradition.  This instance sufficiently showed, consequently, that although nationality has its traditional basis, it is far from being merely a conservative principle.  At any one time the current of national public opinion embodies a temporary accommodation among the different traditional ideas, interests, conditions, and institutions.  This balance of varying and perhaps conflicting elements is constantly being destroyed by new conditions,—­such, for instance, as the gradual increase before the Civil War of the North as compared to the South in wealth, population, and industrial efficiency.  The effect of this destruction of the traditional balance was to bring out the contradiction between the institution of negro slavery and the American democratic purpose—­thereby necessitating an active conflict, and the triumph of one of these principles over the other.  The unionist democracy conquered, and as the result of that conquest a new balance was reached between the various ingredients of American national life.  During the past generation, the increased efficiency of organization in business and politics, the enormous growth of an irresponsible individual money-power, the much more definite division of the American people into possibly antagonistic classes, and the pressing practical need for expert, responsible, and authoritative leadership,—­these new conditions and demands have been by way of upsetting once more the traditional national balance and of driving new wedges into American national cohesion.  New contradictions have been developed between various aspects of the American national composition; and if the American people wish to escape the necessity of regaining their health by means of another surgical operation, they must consider carefully how much of a reorganization of traditional institutions, policy, and ideas are necessary for the achievement of a new and more stable national balance.