Litchfield enquirer., 1873-07-10
THE CONSTITUTIONAL coNvEN-
 TON.

The action of the Senate in voting down the convention, two to one, settles that question for the present year. While, considering the narrow basis of represen- tation proposed, we cannot greatly re- gret this action, we hope the friends of reform will take warning and broaden their base of operations for another year. The difficulty in the present movement lies in the fact that while it proposes to do something like justice to the cities. it has offered nothing but injustice Gas far as representation is concerned) to the country. Adopting the false principle of of town representation instead of popular representation, it proposed to reduce towns of 3, ,000 inhabitants to level with towns of 800 inhabitants. It proposed to take away representatives from the larger coun- try towns while it offered no represents tion to minorities either in towns or cities. As necessary consequence only the cities were interested in the movement. Coun- try minorities, practically disfranchised already, saw nothing to hope, and the large towns were defeated even in that branch of the legislature where they had most reason to hope success.
 To accomplish real constitutional re- form in Connecticut, we must propose not a little but great measure. Those who oppose the great measure will oppose the little one just as seriously, and no one will work for the little measure as they would for the great one. Thorough re- form can be accomplished at just as little cost of time and agitation as partial re- form. City advocates of convention may as well make up their minds first as last that the little towns will never yield any of their privileges under the present constitution till a majority of the people of the State have shown themselves i'll ear nest in the matter.
 Nothing is easier than to enlist 8 ma- jority of the people of the State in favor convention if the proper principle of re- form is adopted. A majority of the peo- pie of the State are not interested in grant ing cities fairer representation. Only a minority of the voters of the country are disfranchised by constitution that gives minorities no representation. But the city maiorities who are not represented, combined with country minorities who are misrepresented, would make large ma jority of the voters of the State. When that combination is effected, and the peo- pie interested in it are aroused to the full importance of it, we may expect change of the present system, and not before.
 The new Democratic paper in Winsted starts off as mild as May morning; finds comfort in the cheering news of the per- feet harmony existing between the Liber- al Republican and Democratic parties admits that there has been corruption among Democrats as well as among Re publicans, but looks to the combination of Democrats and Liberal Republicans for reform.
 s'We want an honest administration of affairs, carried on within our means to pay we want men capable and energetic, having the good of the whole community at heart, brought forward because of their known ability and patriotism. We be- ieve the time is coming, i'll fact the day has already dawned, when such men will again be called to the front and the car pet-baggers, salary-steal takers, and, in short, the whole host now welding des- potic power shall be returned to political obscurity." e-.....
 While we want an honest administra- tion of affairs as much as the Press can possibly do, why are we to expect that the proposed combination will. be honest CT than the existing Republican party? Cochrane, Yarmouth, Banks & Go. had no such reputation while they acted with the Republican party as will induce hon. est Republicans to follow tEeir political leadership. There are honest Liberal Re publicans, it is true, but will they average better than the party they have left? As to salary -stealers, were not more of them Democrats than Republicans ]? Has Mr. Wm. H. Barnum, by the way, return ed the money voted him? If not, Re- form newspaper can find something to criticise very near home.