New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-04-16
THE OPPORTUNITY FOR CONSTITUTIONAL


THE OPPORTUNITY FOR CONSTITUTIONAL
REFORM.
The World illustrates the chronic hostility of
it's party to Reform and Progress. WeRepublicans
have twice tried TO amend bcnefcently our pres
ent State Constitution without Convention. and
in both cases encountered the intense hostility
of the Democratic party. When we first tried to
have Constitutional Convention, they stopped
us again with the cry, Just wait till 1901
"when the Constitution cOntempates aud pro-
"vdes, for n Convention" Well, we waited.
perforce only 10 find nine -tenths of the Demo
Gratis who voted at ali voting against II Conyen-
ton. Having beaten them handsomely, and
carried the call they persist in their hostility !:
The World talking as follows;
"Our contemporary seems TO be OF opinion that II
Constitution which the people Will accept j. MOI Trained
before another Convention Of revision can be called
But good truth, there is no reason why convention
election, well the next year before Ihe present
Legislature has not called Convention In obedience 10
requirement OF the Constitution, but IN simple pursuance
OF It's own will The Constitution does not require
Convention TO be called at the expiration OF twenty years
yor H. but only when IL is asked by majority OF All the
voters participating In the election at which tne question
IA submitted There no such majority last ran, ahd
accordingly the Legislature were under no Onlgsuon 70
take any action the subject The call they have made
II
they can act without II this year. they may any year
That the people are abdng cGmpSeht 20 change tis T
State their right long settled by precedent
Let us look into this:
The Legislature may ut any time call Con-
vention; the People may at any time authorize
a Conyention-of course, by majority of those
voting on the question: but, if the Legislature
should prescribe and the people vote for
Convention in one of the years when or pres
ent Constitution expressly contemplates one,
why then Ninety Thousand Majority lr o.yssg
all who vote against Convention will not
suffice! Our last Convention certainly meant
to provide for or facilitate the holding Of
Convention every twentieth year thenceforth:
but all it accomplished according TO The World
was to render it far more difficult to call a
Convention in that year than in any other!
We do not doubt that the People, acting
through their Legislature, may call a Conven-
ton at any time yet the Constitutional assign
ment of every twentieth year for this purpose
will operate very powerfully against the sue
cess of call in any other year. Practically,
it is "Now or never"
And it will prove to be nOw. The time is
propitious. We are in the midst of the longest
political lull that interyenes between two Presi-
Dental elections. The momentous questions
evoked by the Shareholders Rebellion are sub
stantially and happily solved. Cruelty oppressive
defects and distractions in the machinery
whereby justice is obtained through our Courts
demand instant correction and removal. Leg
islatye and Municipal Corruption call loudly
for prompt and vigorous surgery. The inalien-
able Rights of Man require fresh and more
consistent assertion. For these and other i'm
poltant ends, a Constitutional Convention is
imperatively required, and is about to be held.
And it win do its work to the acceptance OF
the People, and to the signal disappointment
and clagrin of The World.