Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1918-01-19
"TyvO NOTABLE DESNRTIONS."

'"FWO NOTABLE DESEttElONS.
Remarkable changes are taking
place II this State in particular, and
in this country in general. The fol-
lowing citation from the editorial
columns OF tho Richmond (Va.)
Times Dispatch Of the 18th INSTANT,
Will prove interesting reading:
Within the past forty eight hours
two Democrats, both native SONS OF
Virginia, whom the State has hon
orcd above all others, one as the ma
tons President, the other as its Gov
crnor, have deserted the fundamental
principle of sclf-goVcrnmcnt upon
which democracy is founded, and have
gone over to stand in the ranks OF
those who say that it Is morally with
in the province OF Maine to impress
its own pecul ar views In sumptuary
legislation UPON the people OF Cali
fomia or any other State. Woodrow
Wilson, born in the State which gave
OF its hearts blood for defense or
the doctrine that each State should
DO sclf-govcrning IN such matte rs, and
risen to worlds leadership through
his repeated cnunciat son OF that basic
principle, has announced himself
squarely III favor Of woman suffrage
through amendment to the Federal
Constitution. Thereby. he probably
has made certain the adoption of tho
<aRtfrage resolution by Congress. His
4Ton0uncom ont, 1t may no fea ccd, naa
shattered the remaining courage OF
many Southern congressman who III
ready We're wavering under the tre-
mendous pressure brought to bear up
on them. With the moral support Of
the President they might have stood
firm.
This Is but a reiteration of a doc
laration made in these columns that
Capitalization Of power at the Ma
tional Capital and the power to inter
fere with internal affairs Of the State
were violative of States Rights doc
trines and in keeping with the doc
trines and prccepts OF the most radi-
cal Republicans this country has pro-
duccd in a century. We hardly OK
pected though. that the editor Of a
Democratic newspaper would have
the tcmerity and the courage to at
tack tho idol" of tho Democratic
Party, Hon. Woodrow Wilson, and the
leader OF the Democratic Prohibition
forces in this State, in the person Of
Hon. II. G. Stuart. The one is Prcsi-
dent of the United States and will
occupy that position for about three
years, while the latter is retiring,
not to private life, but with the prob
able expectation that he, will one day
Wear the senatorial toga at the Capt.
tai Of tho nation. The Times-Dis-
patch continues:
Why the Presidents conversion to
tn suffrage-by-Fede
plan? His frequently and forcibly OK
pressed attitude favorable to suffrage
through State enactment was we'll
understood and commended. His sud
don change is a surprise. 1t may
IlOG DO SNlu IuAI lii OuSll IL Ic ScChS
political prefcrment. He twice haa
received the highest political honor
tho nation can give. There Is moth
ing more for him personally. That
bong true, there can be but two eX-
plantations: one, his convictions have
undergone sudden and marvellous
CHANGE; the second. he has taken the
role of 0pportunist for his party. The
rot al, mo n
characteristic Of the man argues
then, must be true, and he has laid
sacrificial altar Of continued party
dominance. UnIuestionably, propa-
ganda and open threats Of defeat for
the Democratic party, together with
political oblivion for the South IL 1t
Ell, have had their effect Southern
Congressman have felt their force
and their trcpidation has reached the
White House. But if desertion OF
principle be necessary to save the
would we sec it going down to de-
feat with its colors flying and it's
principles unbcsmirched.
We take 1t that this Is q charge
that President Woodrow Wilson and
Governor II. G. Stuart have deserted
right principles. What becomes Of
that halo of glory with which both
Of them have been surrounded and
on account OF which they have been
held up as shining examples Of great