THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA. [To THE EDITOR OF THE "
SPECTATOR."] S111,—As bearing upon your discussion of the use of the word "Commonwealth " in relation to Virginia, I venture to quote a passage in President Harding's address at Plymouth, Massachusetts, yesterday :—
" We must combat the menace in the growing assumption that the State must support the people, for just government is merely the guarantee to the people of the right and opportunity to support themselves. The one outstanding danger of to-day is the tendency to turn to Washington for the things which are the tasks or the duties of the forty-eight Commonwealths which constitute the State."
Mr. Harding's timely admonition against centralization transcends in importance the question raised by your original correspondent, and it is pleasant to read in to-clay's New York Times this pertinent editorial comment upon it :-
"That is the old Den-ocratie doctrine, too much abandoned or forgotten by many or most contemporary Democrats. That ought to be the American doctrine and practice. The contrary doctrine and practice mean a swollen, socialized Federal State, the starving of local self-government and initiative, unendurable taxation."
—I am, Sir, &c., G. A. B. Providence, R.I., August 2nd.
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