5<X> AMERICAN AXTHROPvLOGtST [x. s., i. 1899
representative of state legislatures which are representative of the people of the state.
Representative government requires a comparatively high degree of intelligence. Experience proves that an uncivilized people cannot properly understand the nature of representative government and cannot successfully take part in such govern- ment with equality of vote, for they desire to vote upon all measures themselves rather than for representatives to devise measures : they would return to the savage council rather than submit to the judgments of the representative assembly. In the history of the United States we have been confronted with this difficulty in the management of the savage and barbaric tribes who were found as indigenes. It has been found impossible to induce them to abandon tribal government and to take part in national government by representation. As they claimed the land by hereditary possession, and as civilized man claimed the right to use the lands for purposes and by methods which civiliza- tion demands, a conflict speedily arose between the aboriginal inhabitants and the arriving thousands from oriental lands. This conflict has continued to the present time.
Other nations having representative governments rule over subordinate peoples, who are not yet competent to take part in representative government, by the method of imperialism as it has come to be called. In such cases the subordinate peoples are governed by rulers appointed by the central government, and the people themselves are permitted to rule themselves by tribal government subject only to the central authority. The ways in which this is worked out in practical affairs are very diverse.
Liberty. — Tribal men having discovered something of the principles of peace, equity, and equality, soon learn an additional principle necessary to their establishment ; this is the principle of liberty. Every man in the council who becomes the judge of the conduct of his neighbor must have liberty to express his judg- ment, whatever may be the judgment of others. When the
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