Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-09-23
VIRGINIA ms ANARcHlsm.

4 It was no doubt patriotic and noble
spirited impulse that led the Virginia
constitutional convention to move for
ithe restriction of speech. The St.
Louis Globe-Democrat points out the
momentous significance of 1t In the fol-
lowing:
Thomas Jeffersons' state assails a
principle which was particularly dear
to Jefferson's heart. The words free
dom of speech" in the Virginia bill of
rights have been stricken out by the
convention In Richmond which is franz
ing new constitution for the state.
One republican member Of the house
attempted to have the words retained.
but he was overwhelmingly beaten.
There was practical unanimity In elm
mating the phrase. almost every mem
Der of the convention, OF all partisan
organizations, Joining in rejecting these
words.
This action has momentous signifl-
canoe. 1t Is a recognition of the tre-
mendous change in social conditions
which has come since the early days of
the nation. One of the objections which
Jefferson, then minister to France,
brought against the federal constitution
when he saw the first copy of it in 1857
was that it had no bill OF rights like
that possessed by many OF the states at
that time ard by some of them when
they were colonies of England. The first
ten amendments to the constitution,
which were proposed in the first con-
gress. in 1859, were intended to remedy
this defect. The first one OF these
amendments recited, among other
things, that congress Should make no
law "abridging the freedom of speech
or of the press" This stipulation was
particularly dear to Jefferson and to
most OF the other Americans then and
since. OF course. state can do many
thing which congress Is prohibited from
doing. Virginia is clearly within her
rights in putting any sort OF restrictions
which she desires on freedom OF speech.
Virginia. action has been cited by the
abuse of the free speech privilege
which led to the assassination at Buff
falo This was avowed by the cham
.pions of the elimination of the phrase.
The assassin said that he was melted to
his crime by the talk CT Emma GoldmSa
and OF other marplots. THESE malcon-
tents are practically responsible for the
tragedy which has startled the world
1t is not freedom of speech which is as
sailed by the Virginia constitution max
ers. but license of speech. The men who
compose the constitutional convention
OF that state recognize, as do all observ-
ant Americans, that vast change has
come in social conditions slnce the be-
ginning OF the government. Recent I'M
migration has brought persons and In
fluences into the United States hostile
to representative government and ini-
ntcal to most of the social and political
sanctions. 1t is the duty of the govern
ment to guard against the pernicious
activity of those elements. even If, IN
certain contingencies, some of the rec
ognfzed prerogatives of citizenship have
to be restricted for the time. There is
no reason to believe that many other
states will follow Virginia's example In
this respect, but the move which shehas
made is significant commentary on
the changes which have come in the in
gradients of the people of the United
states, and the necessity which has
arisen to provide safeguards against
abuses which were not deemed to be
possible in the earlier days Of the gov
eminent.