The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1935-06-12

death of the Democratic party as
such. A party organization bear
ing the name would continue to
exist, perhaps, after the eXpira-
ton Of President Roosevelt's sec
ond term, though even this is
little conjectural, but it would
not be the same party that for
more than a hundred years re
sisted the tendency to the central
ization of governmental power
and steadfastly maintained the
dual system of government estab-
lished by the founders of this Re-
public" 1t would not be the same
party that opposed "the central
ization implied in the suggestion
. that the powers of the Gen
eral Government should be. en-
tended by judicial construction, }"
and that declared it's answering
devotion to "a plan of govern
ment regulated by written con-
stitution, strictly specifying every
granted power and expressly re-
serving to the States or people
the entire ungranted residue of
power" The Democratic party as
we have known it in history would
pass from the scene at last.
Would that be any great loss to
the country or to the people? I
shouldn't wonder if there are gen.
tlemen high in the counsels of the
party who would say privately,
without the slightest hesitation,
that it would be no great loss.
Yet, when l think of the immense
and vital services which the Dem
ocratic party, through its very
faithfulneSs to its principles, has
rendered the country and the peo-
pie in the past, / know that such
gentlemen would be mistaken.
Whenever the only nationally or
gained political body Of major
Importance that has fought con-
sistently during most of our his
tory against the Capitalization of
power at Washington, and more
than once prevented just such q
change in the form of our govern
ment as is now proposed, ceases
to be an influence in American
political life, it will be a rueful
day, in my humble opinion, for
the country and the people alike.
For if the century-old fight which
that party waged should become
lost cause, and the American
government should be changed
from Federal to centralist, it
would mean the loss of much of
value that could never be re-
gained, no matter to how great
an extent the seriousness OF the
loss might be realized afterwards.
1t would not be improbable that
once a highly centralized govern
ment, possessed of immense pow
ers, had been established, 1t would
be found to be a ready-made in
strument for precisely the selfish
interests which the present-day
advocates of centralism wish to
curb and be used by them to en-
trench themselves impregnably.
It would be hardy prophet, of
course who would attempt to
forecast just what is going to hap
men during the months ahead of
rs as a result Of the rise of this
issue. But l am not ready to be-
lieve that those who adhere TO the.
ideal of Federal government Of
limited powers, precisely defined /
in a written Constitution, will not
make fight to preserve it. am
far from believing that the Dem
ocratic party's century-oldsdefense
of that ideal is now a lost cause
On the contrary, l see a possibiI.
ity that the very challenge of the
present situation will prove \ re-
JuVenatlng tonic to those who still
remain Democrats in the best fra
altional sense, and that there will
DE nghtlng of decisive character
IN the future. This is not the first
tme Democrats have been strang.
ers IN the house of their fathers
4 ~