The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-09-22
POLITICS AND MORALS.

In some doubt Mr.. Bryan's exact position as 10
Mayor Dalhmans candidacy for governor upon
platform in opposition 10 the principle OF
county option tor which Mr. Bryan fought III
the convention Of his party. II his statement
lii. Bryan d2es not, was ar first reported,
declare his intention Of boIting The party nomi-
nee. He does declare thar. with regret, he can
net ester the campaign and argue i'll supper
If Mayor Dalhmans candidacy, when that can
didacy is pitched upon opposition TO what Mr..
Bryan considers to he & moral issue
There should be lesson and warning in this
Nebraska situation for Democrats throughout the
eountry especially for Democrats in States like
Virginia, where he liquor question is becoming
every day more acute. That fight upon moral
issue of this character should have resulted in all
but alternating from the support of the party
man of the standing of Bryan Is the best evidence
that could be offered tending to show the folly
and the danger OF seeking lis settlement through
political agency. II was in permitting it 70
be made party measure that the Nebraska De
mocracv has suffered the loss Of sympathy of
Bryan and the possible detection of thousands OF
people who IN the necessity of choice between
party LOYALTY and moral conviction. decide
against the parry As evidenced by the deplorabIe
conditions eexisting in Tennessee as evidenced by
the lamentabIc break in Nebraska at the moment
when Democratic hopes ought 10 be peculiarly
bright it should he clear to all thinking men that
the injection Of the question Of liquor into party
politics can result only in confusion, bitterness
and ultimate defeat for the party that commits
itself to such a species of monumental folly.
Viewed IN any light the problem of popular
control of the liquor question is essentially a
non-political question. In every viewpoint il il
moral question. IA such 7hc people as
I whole. regardless Of party utilization. have the
natural power and privilege of dealing with it.
Police regulations Of other sorts do not depend
for their enactment upon political shibboleth.
The liquor question ought not to be, for its part
placed before the people for decision under any
such false embarrassment. IT it is attempted TO
do So the result will be here, as in Nebraska, az
in Tennessee, as everywhere such course has
been followed 10 weaken the party that makes
the attempt and TO keep and troublesome
question that from every consideration of peace
and policy calls for definite decision by the peo
pie at large
This is the position which The Firgi,,ian con-
sistently advocated during the last session of
the Legislature 1t did so because it was and
4 il impressed with the belief that to cause the
party to choose either horn Of the dilemma would
he 10 injure the party and still further delay and
embarrass matter that Is pressing always for
solution and decision To commit the party to
prohibition would, Oh the one hand ALLEVIATE
large and powerful faction of loyal Democrats !;
70 commit it to opposition to the principle would
likewise PUT thousands Of loyal Democrats to the
heartbreaking choice between political and moral
convictions In either event there could be
looked for nothing bat party disaster and politi
cal confusion.
The liquor question is growing more and more
to be a matter appealing to the conscience of
every individual. II cannot much longer be
compromised with in one way or the other The
only method by which there can he hoped for il
settlement dig1lifed and effective is 10 let
the whole body Of the people who are concerned
reach GA this question of a moral character their
own non-political conclusion In refusing at It's
last session the demand Of the temperance peo-
pie of the State, through the medium Of the Anti
& Saloon league, to permit the submission of this
question 10 the whole people, the Legislature in
our opinion MADE blunder which will have the
effect Of continuing dangerous agitation. Dur.
ing the primaries Of next summer as we under
stand their policy, the temperance people and
tbs Ant-Saloon League will seek the nomina.
tion Of men 10 the Legislature who will agree TO
Put the question OF liquor where it belongs, TO
the decision Of the people as whole, without con.
4 saderatioa> Of party and without the dangerous
ezpedlent OF making ii through a party cen
vention the Of party embarrassment
Let us in Virginia take warning from Ten
nessee and Nebraska. The temperance question
in moral issue and the people should be given
the right to settle il. as to them shall seem best.
n and mans position on this question cannot be
made test of party loyalty without great con.
D fusion and disruption of the party
THE oySTCr, avprrrE,