New-York tribune., 1873-06-17
THE PENNSYLVANIA CORSIITOHONAA
CONVENTION

The Pennsylvania Constitutional Con
vcption now sitting at Philadelphia
while laboring under sort Oh uiS-
advantage i'm being in session aI
time when the discovery of gross abuses anu
great wrongs in administration has set all Vno
doctrinaires agOg, and flooded II Win panl-
pblets and theories and models without end'
has still great advantage over all preceding
conventions that have made or mended organic
acts For with all the quackery ana empiri-
cism that such times engender, 1t shouio DC
remembered that they likewise spur the oeSc
thought of tho people, and bring out careiulY
and wisely devised remedies Tor ue-
fects which experience has uncoVereu'
So that the Convention, which fortunately is
composed of the best and brightest men IN
the State, is not confined to suggestions trem
within itself and measures OF It's own lhVeh-
ton. The subjects of their deliberations are
topics of conversation in social circles, when
bring education, culture and refinement TO the
discussion, and lift the whole debate out ot
the noisy realm of polls and caucus The
contributions of learning, scholarship, political
observation and experience are freely offered,
and it will be strange indeed if from them
practical wisdom and sound philosophy.
Tho discussions in tho Convention Itself,
so far as we have observed them have been
of high character; very creditable to the
Convention and honorable to the State; hav-
ing so much of dignity and dccOrum, and ex-
hibting 80 much genuine ability and states
manship, that in the midst of Congress and
Legislatures such as surround Jus its atmos-
phero has been refreshment. 1T Is, 1T
must be confessed a somewhat lonesome
monument but monument and proof it ia, OF
the possibility in this country OF political
assembly of gentlemen. As such, Peunsylva-
nians-indeed decent people the country over
have cause for pride in it.
In the existing condition of affairs through
out the country, and especially in Pennsyl-
vania, it is felt by members of the Convention
and honest citizens generally that tho great
task to be accomplished in framing new
Constitution is to enforce honesty and put an
end to ring rule, fraud, trickcry, maladmin-
istIaton and organized robbery. Experience
has demonstrated, and it is now the universal
conviction, that honest administration is not a
question of details, nor a thing that can be
safely left TO mere majorities to secure. Legis-
laturcs are too much the creatures of chance
or the creatures of rogues, and legislation too
much the mcrcst wind of caprice to be de-
pended on. The door against not only
dishonesty itself, but tho temptation to
dishonesty, must be shut in tho organic
act away at the foundations beyond
the reach of monopolists, ring thieves
and salary grabbers. To incorporate the
prayer of Our Lord, Lead us not into temp
"tation," in the foundations OF the political
structure is the best and only way, and is
putting it where it will do the most good.
With this end in view the whole subject Of
special legislation has been very carefully
canvasscd, and q great variety Of PROPOSE
tions, covering quite a wide range of subjects,
have been received and considered. 1t is
hardly possible that any complete and perfect
remedy can be at once devised OF any absO-
Lutte prohibition enacted. Special and local
legislation has had too long run, and has
become too closely interviewer in our whole
political fabric, to be easily rooted out or at
once gotten rid of. The steps that way must
necessarily be tentative and the progress slow.
Illinois began working in that direction in
the adoption of her new Constitution, and
other States feeling the grip of gross abuses
that have developed under the old practices
are watching her experiment and contemplat-
ing similar action. The really good sign in
this current of thought is that our intellectual
activities are directed to the consideration of
existing abuses and the prevailing corruption
of the times ~ questions not simply of public
morality but of political philosophy and econ
omy; taking the whole business out of the
realm of emotion and treating it as one of the
problems of social science.
One other subject of no less Importance than
this one of special legislation seems to us to
demand very careful consideration at the
hands of the Pennsylvania Convention. The
evil to be corrected is very patent, as are also
the tremendous possibilities for mischief in it
but the remedy is by no means difficult or
impracticabe. 1t was just touched upon in
an exceedingly interesting and able paper
upon "The Work of Constitutional Conven-
" tion," lately read by Mr.. A. Sidney Biddle
before the Social Science Association of Phil
adelphia. The undue influence Of the
Federal upon State Governments as ex-
hibited in our quadrennial Presidential
elections, is the evil referred to. The
last Presidential election furnished very
striking illustration of it. 1t is no doubt fresh
in the minds of all our readers how the cleo
ton in November was discounted by those in
August, September, and October, and how in
all the States which held elections between
July and November the considerations of hon
esty, integrity, ability, and fitness on the part
of the candidates voted for, from town constable
to Governor, were all merged in what was
made to seem the overtopping and overpow-
ering consideration of the effect of vic
tory or defeat of ono nnrtv or tho