The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-08-24
\ Menace TO Liberty

~ NERSllADOWlNG all the social, economic
~ and even moral objections which can
be urged against Statewide prohibit ion
bulks the attack that the very submission of
the act to the voters makes upon the hard
won principle of self-government upon those
Tree institutions under which men can attain
to the maximum of spiritual and temporal
well-being. Blood is being shed In Eu-
rope in defense of the right of people of like
aims, kindred aspirations and similar needs
to govern themselves. Even the autocratic
Car of Russia has shown in his promise to
the Polish people that he recognizes that
this precious right to govern themselves is
controlling passion in mems bosoms
The War Of the Revolution was fought TO
acquire that right for the American people,
and our system of government is based on
the theory that wherever possible only the
citizens affected by the passage of law shall
vote upon It, The United States government
does not control State taxation, nor does the
state Legislature say what a municipal tv
shall spend upon the cleaning of the streets.
The voters Of Virginia asked to
say whether they are willing to lose the right
to govern themselves where they are gathered
together i'll communal units. They arc asked
to- decide whether q community shall attend
to its own housekeeping in its own way in
matters that concern itself alone We be-
lieve that the electorate of Virginia will not
force upon any OF its constituent parts
mcnts and convictions of that part
Any other result would be menacing re-
progression in the endless TO acquire and
maintain the right 10 self-government. The
control OF the political subdivision in which
a man lives is more important to his happi-
ness and self-respect than having n voice in
state and national affairs. His need 10 pre-
serve that control is correspondence great
If he is compelled TO conduct himself in con-
formity with the ideas, not of his own fellow
citizens. among whom he lives who share
his pride In the welfare of his community and
suffer from its defects he does but ac-
cordinG to the notions Of people who live
apart from him, who contribute nothing to
maintain the prosperity or comfort Of his
own city. town or village, such man has
suffered greater deprivation of his liberty
than If the right to vote in presidents
election were taken away from him.
1t might be said that the general good
sometimes requires municipality or other
political subdivision TO give up some OF the
rights usually entrusted to local control In
the case of an outbreak Of an infectious dis
ease for example, it might be necessary for
the higher power OF the State or nation to
intervene, II local agencies were not sufficient
" strong The cases are not parallel. AS
to infectious diseases there is usually no diff
ference of opinion. whereas mems views diff
fer radically to the best means OF dealing
is Il difference OF opinion. with respect to
preventative medical measures. it is TO be
noted that the decision is left to the indi-
vidual community; of this fact the wisdom
or unwisdom of compulsory vaccination as a
precaution against smallpox is striking
proof. The right TO local self government
should be held sacred inseparabe from
the rights of free men, whose most vital pos
session is to have full control OF their acts so
long they do not clash with the rights of
others.
The cs-Dispatch, an unshacklcd news
paper for free men. deems ii its duty to call
upon the voters OF Virginia TO reflect very
seriously before they surrender the right to
control local matters in their own way that
is. before they give up the very core OF free
institutions\ If any community III this Com
monwcalth desires TO abolish the licensing
plan OF dealing with the liquor question: let
that community proceed to exercise its right
10 treat local problems locally. but that com
munity has no moral or economic sanction
to impose its local theories upon other
localities.
And whenever uniftcr FOL