The railway is a Circumstance, the steamship is a Circumstance, the telegraph is a Circumstance.

They were mere happenings; and to the whole world, the wise and the foolish alike, they were entirely trivial, wholly inconsequential; indeed silly, comical, grotesque.

No man, and no party, and no thought-out policy said, "Behold, we will build railways and steamships and telegraphs, and presently you will see the condition and way of life of every man and woman and child in the nation totally changed; unimaginable changes of law and custom will follow, in spite of anything that anybody can do to prevent it." The changed conditions have come, and Circumstance knows what is following, and will follow.

So does Mr.Root.His language is not unclear, it is crystal: "Our whole life has swung away from the old State centres, and is crystallizing about national centres." " ...

The old barriers which kept the States as separate communities are completely lost from sight." " ...