Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-06

those vital principles OF American lib
erty. ana that. too. on the first day OF
der suspension Of rules and without
discussion.
No feature of the Constitution OF
tho united states Is or greater fmpor-
.ahce than that by which the power or
me rSderai government Is limited to
, matter perta'nins TO our foreign rela-
ions, ana TO the regulation Of such
matters only as are essential to the cf-
iectual maintenance OF IA national gov
erumemt composed OF States whose SOW
ercignty. with respect to all other. sub
Jccts OF government is most carefully
preserved.
We should never forget tho solemn
warning of jefferson: The true theory
Of our Constitution Is surely the wiseSt
and best. that the States arc indcpen-
dent as TO everything within them.
selves and united AS to everything re-
speeding foreign nations. II Is of inn
mrnsc CONSEQUENCE" that the states re-
VAN AS complete authority rs possible
over their own citizens. Our country is
too large TO have all its affairs directed
by single governments We are viii.
Ing TO sacrifice to the Union and tho
Constitution everything but tho rights
~ oil sen government in those important
points which We have ncror yielded.
anu IN which alone We see liberty, safe
~ and happiness
read with more than ordinary inter-
est Your editorial Of December II, un-
der the caption. AN attempt to shift,
the blame" The matter seems to me
10 be TOO serious To he considered or
discussed from Il partisan or sectional
point OF view. and believe the conscr-
ia,urc wi,no,,, ~, w ,rs ma i~csis-
ho bi.,nnL Ill, -, NJ ~ - I"
with respect TO which you and the New
York World are IN accord. and which is
which have roI,rr,d '"'''i '"i ~
Thinking people. who. In their ar
dor Tor prohibitions have not been led
Inocracv VIM nr'cc ,'i,h ~, W m ue
that the submission of tho amendment
ctni.s az yhc ra,',,b T." ~ ~, 'aSn pr
10 subicc, more NAN h,Ir ~ -, ,nc 49,
or ,hc t-pt,nd C,n,a. 49,. 1922.
narrow area to tho s,,n,n,,arS rcr,,,.
lions nf = minority sI.,,,nroa IL -
continent" - 80 '"e
10 don,,,. , -,
,...is, ~ ~ - p'o''e % INC po"er oil
cnar, t,tr.uch rc,rcso,,.,;-o to
own choice such laws AZ ;hov dos;rn
and IA .,mcn,, ,,,,,,;s. 80 -. 800 49," :,
laws in accordanrn win their w,shcs-.
is tr, dcStrov rbniy frnn,,nn, 1.ha -.
nose nf IN" .mcndncn, &C. -, 49,,
plish maj ycr,. ohi,", ,co,i, ~, ~,
dnpriynJ ar mo nnwor ., ,,ii.,ia ~.
reduced IL a condition or snrfdnn, rom
which thcr" is no escape bn, in r 1,S
stroys the nonc, ar ,hn G,,,," ~, =,
Congress ia Icrtsl,te In, ono -. -" ~ -.
Language is -.The conrrcss ana ~
several S,a,oe .h,ll 49,. , 49, 80
power 10 enforce M ,,tinio" 49,
,o,,.r ~. .,,,,,,t ,'i.r. - ~
,,n"c .,,t,n IN ,h"u,,H or r:pcal ~,
NM i, thin ,hc po,yar ~ ~, -, ~,
lures al !, n,fnnrI,y nc ~ $50 -,
ihwart an p.uceful cnor,s Ia rid ~,
country ot such AN inrIIhns w.
Is ii surprisinr ,h,, s,o,o. nr;c,,
arc unwilling 10 L,vn NOR .oycroi.n,n
DESTROYED and ,hcir rcouI. ubio., ii -,
lccislation ~ ,ynich NO. ..rn ann..d
should fool rcgnntfuI NJ .ucb :, ;, ,,n,,a,
rantcd invasion of ,hoir rI..hte" ~ ~,
state or Virginia should Vote IN forc.
upon the state Of New York or Mas.
sachusn,ts or any Of Tho othcr S,,rca
"A policv OF local roycrnmrn, ~ uhirh
they are opposed could our action real
~ DC iustited" Wn,,Id wc nnt ine";-
tably arouse IN ,hu.e sta,ea = 40,
feeling 81 resentment and rctalta,ion,
That is what * h,ppontnc as show,
hy YOUR editorial Of pnceInber "a an
tho suhjcc, or prohibition ana sur
fraEc." The Tiincs-Dispatch opposed
tn" policy Of Statewide prohibition
III" Lccislaiurc OF the state 1" he ro,o;l
upon hy the peoplc Of the Sta,e How
much more VIOLENTLY would Won bays
opposed the measure. if i, had hcen uro-
posed tina, the LEGISLATURES OF Kansas
or south Dakota should force IL upon
tho people Of Nirginl. in opposition 4"
their wishes? The Times. l,ispatch
Justly rescn,s Tho .ffort 70 force wo.
mans suffrage upou us nv ,yncndn,cnt
OF The Federal Constltution' for oh.
viouSly the privilege OF suffrage is ono
TO be granted or withheld by the states
in the exercise of their sovereign pow
ers.
The United state. js engaged in m.
mos, ,crrihIr r"nGic, ,he S.nr,n ms nn.
ever known q conflict which viii tax
the resources Of her peoplc to the limit
and viii put the PATRIOTISM Or tho
states and their citiZcns 10 tho sevcrcsi
test. Could there he time when
statesmen should exercise greater care
to preserve tho most cordial feelings
between the states and to insure the
people with greatest confidence IN tho
Constitution Of their country as their
hulwark of defense against both ex-
ternal despotiSm and Internal opprcs-
sion" Could there be q time when
statesmen should strive more diligently
not to ALLEVIATE the love cf the people
from tho Constitution OF their country?
If the designing agitators who have
prccipitatcd these unseetnly controver.
sizes hetwccn the states in tho hour
Of the countrv's greatest need for do
nestle tranquility and mutual cont
dcnce among the States. had taken
counsel Of the shrcw,icst crnissarics
Of tho nations with whom VIC are at
war they could hardly have succeeded
in more orcctualiy sowing the seed OF
discord and disscnsion than by SeizinS
upon the present time to rcyolutioniZc
our form Of government when the
whole effort Of patriotic men should
he devoted TO the countrv'a defense
and her successful prosecution of tho
wnr