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.
In the case of our own country, however, a balance is not to be struck merely by the process of compromise in the interest of harmony.

Our forbears tried that method in dealing with the slavery problem from 1820 to 1850, and we all know with what results.