The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-09-12
PLEADS FOR
 STATE RIGHTS Judson Harmon Makes
 Fine Speech. OHIO DAY AT JAMESTOWN Distinguished Lawyer as Principal
 Speaker. Governor Swanson, snd Governor Har- ris are Among Those Who De- Iivered Addresses on . Not
 able Occasion.
OHIO DAY AT JAMESTOWN

Norfolk. Va, Sept. 1.-The celebra- ton of ohio day at the Jamestown Exposition was marked by a distin- Ruished assembly and forceful speech by Judson Harmon in which he pleaded for the unalterable right of the States and for local self-government
 Hundreds of visitors from Ohio were present including Governor Harris. The address of welcome was delivered by Governor Swanson of Virginia to which Governor Harris responded. Braxton w. Campbell, President of the Ohio Jamestown Commission, presided Governor Higgins, of Rhode Island ana the Rhode Island delegation which participated in that States ceiepratioh yesterday were present.
 This afternoons feature was mil-. itary parade. The official state recep- tion by Gov. and Mrs. Harris took place tonight
 In the principal speech of the day. Mir. Harmon traced the history of the government as it pertained to Ohio and Virginia. He alluded to the Old Do-- Yninion as the mother of the Status and spoke of the pioneers of this country. Continuing he said;
 eRut the Old Dominion, in making to the Union a grant or her western rights, did more than secure homes For her soldiers. Her councils were dl- rected by men who through profouno study of government and farsighted nurnose were making our revolution more than a successful rebellion They were designing and building repub- lie on a plan until then untried.
 aour present republic had not yet been formed. but 1t was apparent that the old Confederation must be replac- ed by a more perfect Union of the coio- nies which had become independent ha was already taking form in their minds. It would be a government en- dowed with certain powers of the states delegated to 1t by them to be used for their common protection and welfare. But by reason of It's oriGan and nature it could have no existence apart from the States which composed it and no functions except those de- volyad. on 1t by them. The principle of iacaf self lf-go&ernment or home rule was too important and too deep seated in the hearts of the people of all the states to be yielded or even uuaiined further than was necessary to create a lasting Federal Union.
 And what use could the Federal Government have for a region great enough for an empire in itself. None except to open it for settlement. Ana what relation were the settlers to have with the States or the new republic? Some of the States could not extend their boundries, and iealousies would be aroused. More than a century was to pass before anybody would suggest that the general government has im- perial powers and may acquire and hold territory for it's own aggrandise- ment without regard to present or prospective admission as new States.
 Government at Home.
 Home rule~ means a government
 a~1- nN tNEy home agencies which are thus never out of touch with the people. AS Virginia soon after consented to sepa- rate Statehood for Kentucky, because the government beyond the mountains at Richmond was not home rule for Kentucklans though they had voice in it, so she did not seek to impose government from a distance on the people beyond the Ohio, but secured for them the same right her own peo- pie enjoyed.
 That there might be no question about the political future of the coun- try she gave up, Virginia made and Congress accepted her grant on the express condition that the territory so ceded shall be laid out and formed into States, not less than three nor more than five, to be distinct Republican States and admitted members of the Federal Union having the same right
 
 of sovereignty, freedom and inde- pendence as the other States
 This was no doubt the precedent for the similar condition in the latter grant by France of the Louisiana region which extended our boundaries to the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific ocean. And the course so provided has been followed without exception with re- spect to all territory settley by Ameri- cans. Arizona, New Mexico and Alas ka alone do not yet enjoy the rights of statehood, unless Oklahoma is to be stopped at the door.
 Fitness Is Proved.
 More than a century of experience under this dual form of government has proved its fitness and sufficiency for the needs of our people. In each State they have built up and carry on for themselves institutions under which protection justice, education and pub lie conveniences are provided and civil rights defined and secured. Those whom they entrust with the making and enforcement of laws are chosen by themselves from among their own number and act under their own hand and eye. And they have at the same time a voice in the conduct by the general government of the foreign and general affairs committed to 1t.
 "The people of Ohio cherish still as they always have done the rights Of sovereignty, freedom and independ- ence," as well as the membership in the Union, thus secured to them. They might have gained these otherwise, but are none the less gratefud for the precaution taken by Virginia which as- sured them. And they have justified her by the use they have made of these rights. They realize that for a people who have set out to govern themselves to look to some one else, no matter who. to help govern them, is a confess sion of unfitness. They are proud oG the governor who when pleaded with to call for federal troops said Ohio could take care of herself, as she did. They know that authority once surren- dered or qualified is never regained, no matter how bitter the regret. They have learned that encroaching power Is sometimes well meant and always strews it's path with attractive present benefits. And they have that sovereign virtue Qf free peopIe-patience to