The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1914-04-10

not ratify either the sixteenth amend
ment. concerning the income tax OF
the seventeenth. concerning the popu
lar election OF United States scna-
tors. She had the same power TO
thwart the will OF the great majority
q the whole people as the great state
OF New York. In the ratification OF
amendments the three states OF
Maine. Rhode Island and Vermont,
with a combined population OF only
l.640.937. have three times the power
OF New York with its nine millions
and this power has been exercised
again and again. The argument Is
fimply an argument against the me-
thod OF amendment provided by the
constitution itself.
There is little danger that any
measure. which before It's submission
has TO be voted for by two-thirds OF
each branch OF congress and then vot
ed for by the legislatures or conven-
lions OF three-fourths OF the states
viii be forced as a wrong upon the
minority embraced in one-fourth OF
the states. In other words the ma
ture conviction and judgment OF the
represented voters in three-fourths of
the states viii almost certainly be
right especially after the debate and
consideration and time necessary to
pass an amendment.
is a right and a wrong to 1t. To those
who believe in Il Is not a matter OF
expediency. and surely II Is not a mat
ter OF unconcern, as may be involved
in the words. Il have neither advocat
ed nor opposed woman suffrage"
They believe il Is wrong to withhold
the ballot from woman just because
she is woman. and this is just as
true though some women do not see
Il, as slavery was wrong though solc
slaves helped the army that was fight
ing TO keep them In bondage. And
when the Senator speaks OF The "
gor with which the adoption OF the
proposed amendment is urged" he but
pays tribute to that feeling which Is
In the minds OF thousands OF women
that IL is wrong to withhold the bal
lot from them and they are bound
the wrong shall be made right Won
en- agitate and march and plead Ind
petition because they feel. and woia-
en- in England struggle and suffer be-
cause they feel. and the feeling is Of
injustice and wrong. And in regard
to that other amendment. alluded TO
I'm the words. "A similar amendment
now pending. which would carry pro-
hibition into all OF the states" there
is mighty feeling. Millions OF the
people believe II involves a ques ion
which only the people as whole can
settle and the laws for the proper
governance OF which only the power
OF the nation can enforce. These NOR
tai questions cannot be shut up to
state lines; they are questions for the
people and the whole people.
The fact is a new day has dawncd
in our political life; the people are
taking a larger interest in political
questions than ever; the people arc
taking new interest; II is a moral
interest; and this moral interest
gives a new viewpoint to the people;
new era has come and he who
comes with II will find both the day
and the people parting from him.
The people have taken an advanced
position, and that position gives a
new approach to all political ques'
tons, IL is not now measures, but
principles II is not now things. but
men; it is not now wha. is expedient
but wha. is right. This advanced pc
sition also gives n new horizon, we
are one nation; we are one people. to
prosper and live. or to suffer and die
together 1t is a great honor to be a
citizen. especially to be born a citizen
of this old Green Mountain State. with
its splendid inheritance and its splen
did history; but 1t is a greater thinl
TO be a citizen OF the United States
| of America.
Rev. w. !. Coburn.