The sacrifice of 1,000 brutes at a cost to the Commonwealth
of about $70,000 was a trivial sum compared to the perils
that beset a State valuation of $7,000,000, for bovines, and
the cattle of the Nation, numbering 40,000,000, and worth
nearly $1,100,000,000.

The monarchies of the Old World have set us an example; even
Denmark, Norway, and Sweden have pioneered for the world by
sagacious acts and the stern enforcement of law in
prevention.

AN AMERICAN POLICY

worthy of us is not secrecy, but boldness--sacrifice
commensurate with exposure. This will lead to the formulation
of a bill by the Washington Convention, which Congress will
enact in the interest of individuals, the State, and for the
National protection. If State-Rights theorists bring
objections, the law may be so equitable to the States that
its ratification may be asked on the ground of a just
National policy and a right which inheres to the General
Government under the Constitution in the regulation of
commerce between the States. This implies a power to destroy
a contagious disease which if allowed to spread would arrest
all commerce in bovines between the States. A State may and
ought to waive the question of damage if it is fixed by a
neutral Commissioner, and the General Government and not the
State meets the losses to which unfortunate cattle owners
maybe subject. This will be the touchstone--trust by the