The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1920-03-07
CONSTITUTIONAL
Continued on Page Two,)


statutes; life and property are pro-
te<ted oy state statute and men are
executed by states in accordance with
sta tuHof9 provisions.
Ii Is only when the lesisIa turc dares
10 lay its hands upon the liquor traffic
that u forfeits the respect of the
men who wrote the New York Mat
form and aroused their "unaltera bic
opposition"
II would of course be "A reflection
upon the heads and the hearts of the
mon responsible for the New York
Platform 10 say that their opposition
is matter Of principle. There are
no such isolated principles Nothing
but feeling can explain the attitude
OF these unalterabie opponents of the
prohibition, and they do we'll 10 use
the word feeling" instead Of con
science" or intellect" If the feeling
is due to thirst. il is disease that
needs remedy: il it is due to coer-
clon brought to bear upon them by
the representatives. of a revengeful
and outlawed liquor traffic. it Is a dis
grace. But whether the feeling that
is so feelingly expressed is a disease
or disgrace. it IL an insult to the
Democratic party and TO tho nation.
But passing from The 'unalterable"
objection TO the federal amendment.
"e come To something even more
startling, viz, the sentence in which
they declare, not only for the speedy
repeal, although that is had enough.
bat 10 the statement that. until such
time,as this repeal may he brought
about they declare tho right" of
tho state Of New York, lin the ex-
erctse Of its sovereign power, to so
construe Tho concurrent clause OF the
eighteenth amendment as TO be in ac-
cord with the liberal and reasona BILE
views OF our people"
IF this is not the doctrine OF multi
fica ton. 1t has no meaning: if it is the
doctrine OF notification II raises an
Issue greater than any other now be-
fore the country The right OF a
state 10 nuliify the federal coustItu-
ton was settled in the negative nearly
sixty years ago and the case will not
be reopcned merely to p.ease men
with an appetite or men who want
10 re-enter crime creating business.
And this in the name OF personal
liberty
The statistics show that the saloon
is tho creator of crime. here and
everywhere. II increases the number
Of accidents in industry: 1t pauperizes
on largo scale: it disrupts families;
il starVeS children, and increases the
death rate among infants 1t is the
direct aud active cause behind
crimes OF every kind.
The issue raised by those who
wrote the New York platform is moth
ing less than that OF national SUI
premacy against sovereignty. Can
any larger issue be raised" Can any
greater menace to law and order be
imagined?
win the New York Democrats
not the New York Democracy. but
the spurious representatives OF New
Works Democracy--who insolently
attack tho homes OF the nation. will
these men say that q broken down
I asssssse IS ssatsre deserving IF 1srottcviafa
| from the horse thief than The boys
and girls are from the liquor dealer
who attempts to snare them and lead
them down to ruin for so many dol
lars per life?
IL New York's Democrats are will
ling 10 indorse the astounding and
shameful performance Of the leaders
who assumed to speak for Them at
Albany they must expect the con-
tempt OF the Democrats OF the nation,
flor the Democratic party cannot des-
cend to the level OF those who wrote
that platform. and il cannot permit
them to speak for the Democracy of
The nation.