The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-05-16

ifFeSf1 on career of GufN ana re-
newed service, with characters made
steadfast and firm by reason OF dan
gers. faced without ff1nchine and supA
ported in their work by a grateful ma
ton whose very existence they have
been instrumental in preserving.
These two years have. without
doubt been tho most eventful in the
history t,f The notion tss The past fohr
years have keen epoch making in the
worlds history. This period has dem
onstrated to an astonished world. not
only the power and resources of this
nation, but has made plain the sta bill
ity of this government and the solid
arity of its people on all questions at
fectinc national integrity. These facts
are worth knowing and count as ire
mendous mpenSations that come
from the eXpend'tu OF yet uncounted
billions and the sacrifice of much of
the flower OF our young manhood on
the poppy-clad Helds of FLANDERS and
battl@~ Scared hills of France a
Credit Due Profession.
'1t Is TO tho everlasting credit OF
the Ia wvers Of this country that dur
ing these irving days no petty-fogging
attempts were made 10 hinder and
delay the efforts Of the government by
iAI~LlitttH suits f' test oQl ttlF tpfiEfi~
tutionaIity of this or that measure in
aueerated for the common good We
realized, aud taught the people TO
recognize that The instrument which
has been. is. and viii ever be. "A shield
and protection in times of peace. could
not be properly ipvok cd TO bring about
discord and controversy during times
Of war The instrument itself made
provision In itv-w4tr ffower for the
orderly and lawful concentration of
the national resources TO meet the ext
gency OF foreign aggression. The pro-
lection and peryading power Of the
constitution never cease TO exist Due
process of law and the equal protec-
tion Of the laws remain uhimpaired
whether we be at peace or at war.
yet 1t Is not true that because the gov
rrrrrr1rrrt powers
war with " hich the people are un-
familiar. that The exercise or such
powers Is in any way unconstitutional.
The federal government NAV not he
called upNn ~ aii times 70 exercise all
The powers confidpd n IT, and II ia only
when the exfgencv arises that we ind
out that wise provision has been made
whereby uationaliyed unton has in
fact been created. provided with all
the authority necessary for the main
fsHAnCF III itF own fstNtt'th-'t anu tAAN
preservation to tho states and the peo-
pie Of the form of government when
has become theirs by voluntary adop-
ton, Happily for this people, the de-
mand for the exercise of these ex-
ira ordinary powers or the federal gov
ernmcntS hav" seldom been invoked,
but AT no time in our history has II
been found that the powers granted
to the federal government have been
insufficient Ia meet the 'cmergencles
which confroted the nation in any time
of peril
Seek lesson From War.
IF we seek a lesson from the war,
We can at least feel that one great
fGct has heen dem onstrated to the
world beyond "A reasonable doubt. that
autocracY as modern governmental
agency. is a dem onstrated failure.
Former Eenerations had decreed that
the aGloCrHttc viii or no Individual
should be q governing force, nor
should that uewer bc entrusted TO the
OF governing class. and
this generation Is witness OF the
fact that outocracy even when con-
Quoted by tho controlled cooperation
Of the masses ana organized to pro-
mote efficiency IN every material de-
il failure, II can make
no appeal To The hearts and souls of