The consequences of the failure have been mitigated because the weakness of the state governments has been partly concealed and redeemed by the comparative strength and efficiency of the central government.

But the failures have none the less been sufficiently distressing; and if they are permitted to continue, they will compromise the success of the American democratic experiment.

The Federal government has done much to ameliorate the condition of the American people, whereas the state governments have done little or nothing.

Instead of representing, as a government should, the better contemporary ideals and methods, they have reflected at best the average standard of popular behavior and at worst a standard decidedly below the average.

The lawlessness which so many Americans bemoan in American life must be traced to the inefficiency of the state governments.