New-York tribune., 1918-08-18
Speaks at Albany Meeting
i'm Interest of ATTORNEY
General Lewis
Attacks Ban ON Liquor
Republican Leader Hints at
Form of "Prussianism" in
Whitman's Ambitions

William Barnes, Of Albany. in q
speech at meeting in Albany yester-
day afternoon in the interest Of Attor-
ney General Lewis, who is opposing
Governor Whitman in the primaries
warned Republicans against the third
term aspirations Of the Governor, hint
ing that it was form Of Prussianism
He attacked the proposed constitu-
tional amendment prohibiting the
manufacture or sale of alcoholic bev-
erages, and wound up his address by
saying Attorney General Lewis was
the right man to support in the pri-
maries. Mr.. Barnes said in part:
If confession is good for the soul
US when the European war broke out
were afflicted with q narrowness OF
vision that is now appalling.
ION the day in April, 1915, when de-
liberately, by sinking the Lusitania
the German government denied to
citizens of the United States. a neutral
country. their inallenable right to sail
the seas in peaceful pursuits, it tram.
pied upon one of the rights of Ameri-
can citizenship. and thereby, if this
government did not resent the act
made US subject nation, all Of whose
rights might be disregarded at will.
War Brought to United States
"There were, however, in this coun.
try thousands both in private life anc
in public life at Washington who die
not seem to recognize that this vita
principle of independence and freedom
had been assailed. Even after Congress
had declared that Germany was max.
ing war upon the United States our in
tellectual Secretary Of War stated te
the Senate Committee on Military At
fairs that the war was three Thousand
miles away. To-day war is upon the
shores Of Sandy Hook.
"As our minds open to the reality
which surrounds US we must, IL We
have any pretensions to wisdom. real
ize exactly what the conflict is ir
which we are engaged. BY many it i:
thoughtlessly called a contest between
democracy and autocracy. That does
not cover it. 1t is battle for freedom
against tyranny.
'Prusslanism embodies the spirit OF
the will to power of one over another
1t Is equally important whether thai
spirit is manifested in Berlin or ir
Albany. That spirit is the enemy ot
freedom. 1t exists in every nation in
the world, and the battle against its
supremacy is always on.
Precedent Cited.
The American states are bound TO-
gether in indissoluble union through
the agency of an instrument which We
call the Constitution of the United
States: That instrument is q skeleton
1t is the bone which holds together al
the parts. 1t is not the flesh and the
blood. 1t is an agency for union.
is q platform upon which all American.
may stand, although differing in Their
opinions upon many subjects. The ne
cessity for national unity was never
more clear to everyone than now. The
response of the American people t
war demands in blood and wealth
proves that. Yet in the midst Of ths
war the endeavor is made to depriv.
the Constitution of the United State:
OF its character as a bond of unioI
by writing into it prohibition article
subject upon which there is th'
widest divergence of opinion, as ever!
local option election that has been helt
demonstrates.
"Forseeing this danger TO the Re
public, George Washington refused t.
become a candidate for the Presidency
of the United States for third tern
and laid down the principle that pub
lie officer was a public servant, ane
that there was no greater enemy o.
democracy than the man who en-
deavored to perpetuate his power b!
clinging to public Office.
Sounds a Warning.
Two weeks from next Tuesday tn,
Republican men and women of New