Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1919-04-19
A POLITICAL ABSURDITY.

That thousands Of Democrats and
alleged Democrats are get ing tired
of their own cooking is evident from
| the complaints now being voiced all
over the country. Ex-senator Joseph
Bailey OF Texas. "a dyed in tho wool
Democrat" has boldly left the Party
| as 1t Is now constituted and is now
looking with interest in tho direction
of some other party to which re can
transfer his Allegiance. Is Il real Dem
ocratic Party, one with the Thomas
jefferson ideals now in existence?
Tho disregard of tho constitutional
rights Of the colorcd man has led to
the constitutional disregard Of the
rights Of tho white one. Tho mon,
who were first and foremost to do
nounce imperialism and n centralized
out OF office are now first and fore
most in enforcing the DEGREES OF a
centralized form Of government now
that they arc in office. The Richmond
Vs., Timcs-Dispatch of Sunday April
18th, 1919 voices the following COM
plant:
III connection with the return OF a
large number Of Indictments in the
United States District Court in this
,;i
cials that with the ever increasing
passage OF laws by Congress the juris
diction of the Federal court is bccom
ing so wide that it is embracing many
activities which were at one time con
fined to trials in the State tribunals.
lii this tendency of Congress to OK
tend more and more the authority
of the Federal government by restrict
ing that Of the States, our system OF
dual government is fast bccoEling a
political ahsurdity and the time will
come when the States will be
Invested OF practically all that is
valuable in the sovereignty which the
founders OF our government thought
they had so securely safcguardcd in
the Constitution. Yet in tho process
OF dcmolishing the citadel OF States
rights, the Democratic party, found
cd by Thomas Jefferson to guard
against just such assaults. has in nc
cent years taken an active part
through its representatives in Con-
gress willingly joining with the Re
publicans in weakening its supports
by showing a contempt for the whole
some l:mi ations OF the Constitution
by the character OF legislation they
have foisted upon the country.
- &s%"Tty;, ;r.5'y<>s,.." Z :NiffI&i
But the Democratic President and
the Democratic Congress, socalled is
responsible for this condition of af
fairs. Constitutional limitations were
overriddcn by segregation and "Jim
Crow laws. Now this kind Of nullifi-
cation has been followed by another
kind and august United State tribu
nails have been turned into petty po-
lice courts, with stately judges, no
longer dealing with constitutional
questions, but with tho trial of cases
| that should be tried before magistrate
es. A feeling Of disgust and derision
| pervades tho court--rooms. United
| States District Attorneys are over
worked and the United States judges
are as usual underpaid for this in
| creased labor. 1t continues:
In their zeal for the enactment Of
Legislation Gelimiting authority of
! the States, Democratic Representa-
tivcs have We'd with Republicans in
| scoring at constitutional guarantees
as sacred only to men who are def
cient in vision" Not content with
this, they are lending their support
to the submission OF an amendment
| to the Constitution which promises
to succeed at the Forthcoming special
session Of Congress that after it's
| adoption will destroy the last yestige
/ of vitality which no"' inhc, es in State
| sovereignty--th right to prescribe
who may or may not, vote in any
election, however local md circum.
scribcd in interest held in any State
in the Union. Once this destructive
! principle is Incorporated in the Con
! stitution, the States will find them
: selves bound hand and foot, so to
speak with no future power Of resis-
lance against whatsoever pernicious
Legislation majority Of Congress
Bmay sec fit to impose upon them, how