Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1904-10-20
SPOTTS BROS.
PROpRIETORS
Little Grocery Store
Around the Corner

dents Of the fathers and the fundamental
principles underlying the making Of all
constitutions. He said that hs wrote. the
letter, that it expi esaed his convictions
then and now. But he offered in defence
of the violation of these fundamental
principles the excuse that the con-
stitutional convention was afraid
to submit the constitution to the people
because they knew the people would vote
it down or reject it. The Governor made
no reference to his speech made four years
ago under the east caves Of the court
house where be was then speaking. In
that epeech four years ago he. gave the
people of Tazewell county the solemn
pledge as leader Of his Farty that the
new constitution would be submitted and
that no honest white man should be dis
franchised.
Immediately after admitting that the
Virginia Democracy had violated its
pledges to the people in the making Of q
Constitution, he proceeded to state certain
great moral. fundamental principles that
were necessary for honest and legitimate
government. He declared that where the
law.making or governing class legislated
in its own interest and disregarded the
welfare and wishes of tie masses who are
governed, such Legislation was immoIal
and illegitimate. This idea he empha-
sized by stating repeatedly that no govern
ment could be legitimate or moral where
the governing or legislaling class assumed
authority to legislate In the interest Of its
own class in disregard of the sovereign
power lodged in the masses.
We agree with the Governor in the
above conclusions. We also agree with him
in bis declaration that "the making ofa
constitution is the highest expression OF
sovereign power" and that "the very
genius Of free government requires sub
mission" to the people Of any constitu'
ton framed for their government. The
Governors speech was terrible criticism
Of the Virginia Democracy. The con-
'stitution it has fastened upon the masses
is illegirimate, immoral and vicioas-fas-
tened upon them without their consent
and in the interest of the classes who
made it Remember that the Governor
offered as the only reason or apology for
not submitting the constitution to the
people, the fear, the certain conyic-
ton that the constitution would be rejec-
ted by the masses, the governed classes.
The Governors treatment Of the tariff
question was about as weak as we have
ever heard, and we have heard many
Democratic speakers, weak and strong,
discuss it. His criticism OF President
Roosevelt for violating the constitution
and usurping authority belonging to
the Congress must have been In
sincere. We cannot believe he is so ignor-
ant of the record of Thomas Jefferson and
Andrew Jackson as not to know hat both
of these fathers of the Democracy violated
the constitution hundred fold more
grossly than has President Roosevelt, II
his acts complained of DID violate the
constitution.
AZ we have said before the Governors
speech was chaste; but we do not remem-
her TO have ever heard one which more
conspicuously borc the impress oiinsincer-
isy or was SO marked siih misspplication
of facts and great moral principles.