Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-21
An Attempt to Shift tho Blame.

An Attempt to Shift tho Blame
= DING out Of its way to launch venomous
VI attack upon the South, tho New York
World, frightened by the specter Of nation
wide prohibition, lays full responsibility for
adoption by Congress OF the resolution sub
uniting the constitutional amendment at tho
door of the Southern States. Injecting a
modicum Of truth into it's diatribe to make 1t
plausible. 1t forgets history and facts in its
bitterness.
Let grant that the South's representa-
tves in Congress might have voted against
the resolution and thus accomplished its de-
feat Grant, also, that in supporting it they
were inconsistent with the South's cherished
tradition Of States rights. Does that put
upon them the full burden OF blame? Where
were the Northern Republicans and the
Northern Democrats when the vote was be-
ing taken? 1t was within their province and
their power to vote against the resolution,
and surely their votes would have counted as
heavily as any from the South Take the
ballot as it was cast in the House. For the
resolution Of submission there were 141
Democratic votes. Not all of these came from
Southern States. Many of them were cast
for Northern constituencies. or the Rcpub-
licans. 1877 voted for it, and they came al
most solidly from the North Opposed to the
resolution were sixty-four Democrats, most
OF them from the South, while only sixty
Two Republicans were counted against it,
These figures would seem to prove that
Northern Republicans must share equally
with Southern Democrats the burden which
the World would put solely on the latter.
Thinking people who in their ardor for
prohibition have not been led astray from
the fundamentals of democracy, will agree
with the World that the submission OF the
amendment lis n deadly assault upon the
basic principles of the republic. It's purpose
is to subject more than half of the people
Of the United States, embraced in a narrow
area, TO the sumptuary regulations of a
minority scattered across continent" but it
must be condemned for its unfairness and
forgetfulness Of facts when it thus attacks
the South: FOR the vote in Congress and
for the expectation Of legislative action sus-
tanning 1T, we have to thank the Southern
States. In the interest Of negro slavery
supported by an extreme expression of State
sovereignty. they once involved the country
in wicked war. In behalf of negro so
briefly, or whatever it may be called thew
now, by unexampled majorities, decree tho
destruction OF the States and the creation at
Washington of centralized power over the
haDlts OF the people such as the republic never
has known"
Southern States will agree heartily that
the spirit which made possible adoption of
the prohibition resolution will manifest
itsell next IN the woman suffrage amend
ment. and if woman suffrage comes, it is
certain that it will call black men az we'll
as black women to the polls, South as we'll
us North" This admittedly is true, and If
suffrage by constitutional amendment comes.
the North will be as bamable for fofstfnr
1t upon an unwilling South. as it considers
the southern States to-day in the case of
nationwide prohibition.
But the end is not yet. We cannot be-
iieve that prohibition forced by the South
upon me North means. as slavery and seces-
sion did' the disruption of the Democratic
party. When the various Legislatures os
tne southern States have voted on the pro-
hioition amendment. it may be found that
many nave demonstrated their loyalty to the
prlhclpie or States rights and have helped to
defeat the nationwide movement. viii the
northern States do as we'll in case the woman
suffrage amendment is submitted?
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