The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-04-30

II dpIi' an unprSJuolCeu TeadlnS o.
which will enable one to determine
whether or not the governor en-
deavors to qualify his spirit OF ma
tional patriotism and whether or no
he makes the leading thought ant
expressed desire OF that paragraph
that tho status quo ante between tn,
federal government and the states b,
restored" at the close of the war
whether that is the leading though
OF the paragraph rather than how ant
wherein can Virginia help in winning
the war:
While am intense in tho spirit
Of national patriotism, it Is IA na-
tioualism that owes It's existence
LO powers delegated to the ted
craI government by sovereign
states, and Is rich In tho reserved
rights of IA people who direct
their own local affairs upon the
lines laid down by our forcfathcr-,
along which VIC have grown great
and prosperous. shall await
with patriotic expectation the ste
ccSsful termination of the war by
MS when the status quo ante he
tween the federal government and
the states shall he restored. ne
checks and balances established
by our constitution dcicgItinc
powers to the re d e q
government but reScrving rights
to the states. have provided
elasticity of government for vast
territory divided into great poiit-
cal units which have dincFchl
problems to solve. varied re-
sources. and in many cases have
heterogeneous population to alb
sorb Our form of government
has differed little in principle
from that Of the Kingdom whose
yoke VIC cast off. save in the
rights reserved by the states upon
The formation Of the union: these
rights are the basis of true
democracy. under which oppor-
tunity for all has eourishcd: life.
liberty and property have been
protected.
And now We come to the sixth
paragraph Read it and try to recall
If you are in the habit Of reading a
similar sentiment in any OF the ring
ing appeals made 10 the patriotism OF
Virginia by former Governor Stuart
or those made by countless patriotic
and public spirited citizens OF Eir-
GINA who are standing not on
whites" butts. Ifs" or "ands who
ask only where they can help to win
this war;
German efficiency Is to bc
emulated In tho commercial
world-iudeed. In the affairs of
government, save where it logic
ally leads to central administra-
tion TO the loss of peoples
rights. Care must be bad lest
with high purpose and unsoiish
ambition In an effort to make tho
world safe for democracy we sow
the seeds of autoCraoy that may
I'm the future prove a plague To
us.
Does the governor think he dis
Germs signs and tendencies in the ma
tional administration in relation "a
the prosecution of the war akin TO
sowing seeds OF Hutocracv"? II he
does The Yirginian will he glad to
have the governor point to the specific
signs and tendencies
II nc secs mo such signs. why raise
the question at a time when all ma
triotic citizens arc bending every en-
ergy and enthusiasm to press home n
the people that the victorious ending
OF this war as prosecuted by the ma
uonal administration is the first and
only guarantee of democracy. free
and triumphant. here in America, as
elsewhere on the face of the globe
Does the governor think or does
he not think that such words from
the chief executive of a great state
may cause some people to wonder
whether the governor is himself SURF
about the security Of democracy here
In this country"
or does the governor hold some
mental reservation on that point
which prevents his unqualified faith
in the belief that those Of Americas
SONS who are giving Of their lives In
the sacred cause of saving the world
for democracy are mot making the
in vain, Just as some IN
fsthomahle impulse, some impenc-
trable state Of mind caused him to
oppose the resolution indorsing the
war policy of the national administra-
ton
This is the eiEhty-ninth day since
he governor took office, and he has
not yet responded to the request OF
he national authorities that the coun-
I'll OF defense he made effective.
The adjutant general of the state