Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1874-11-20
TIE. CON VENYEO E-EsEzts as
AFRAID OF TT!

II e &, G. . n v Z ~ z o T-NSEsG as
AFRAID FIT?
Everybody processes to abhor more
or less the Candy Constitution. There
ara some, however, who entertain
grave doubts IS to the expediency Of
getting rid Of that Constitution Icy
means of a Convention. They profess
to entertain these doubts because Of
their fears that the white people are
too much alarmed about their home
stead, and Federal interference, and
the blacks about their rights before
the law.
Now we beg our friends who enter
tain these grave doubts to consider
seriously aDd candidiy what are the
facts.
The discussion now going on in re
gard to the calling If a Convention Las
lasted for ninety days. When has q
mere local or State campaign ever be-
fore been carried On for SO locg e
time Was there ever before any
question SO fully discussed in all It's
bearings and by SO many distinguished
gentlemen IS this?
For ninety days tie discussion has
been going Oh, time enough, surely,
for the fears Of the people to have as
sumed definite shape and to lave
folrd emphatic utterancc. Ii the
people desire TO be heard they know
full we'll both how and when 70 speak.
What proof IS there that the peoples are
afraid Have they said 50 ? Are the
people opposed to a Convention ?
Have Ney said SO The press Of the
whole State Las been open 70 them,
a. the outset large p1opo1t ton Of the
press did indeed oppose the call OF q
Convention. But did these papel S
represent their own views merely, or
did they in truth reject the sentiments
Of tho people IS well? Upon this
point We propose to quote what one CT
these very papers, our esteemed CO.
temporary, the Statesville Landmark,
says, rather than express any opinion
of our own. The Landmark says:
1.-The Legislature should not rely
too implicitly on the newspapers as
rejecting public sentiment on this
question. A large majority of the
newspapers in the State-the Land-
mark among the number-oppose the
call at this time. The views expressed
by us have been our own private
views, and we presume the other pa
pers IN the State have discussed the
question from the same standpoint.
And has there been nc change in the
tone and temper Of the press even? Is
tie opposition rs decided now as it
was at the first flush We think every
candid man who has constantly read
Lie papers of tle State may have been
struck with the change in the senti-
neilts Of the press and tie manner Of
expressing them. OF course there are
exceptions. Some people are so con
stituted, to use q familiar illustration,
THAT if they have once said the horse
was si1teen feet high they will ey1-
stand 10 ii; and rd.tors are both mortal
and human Ike other people.
But was this Aasty verdict Of tl.5
press IL opposition to the Convention.
sustained by the ioca12Ec : For ninety
days the People have been told they
Vcl G afraid about tier h 3mesteads
and about various other things often
enough certainly to put the fear in
heir heads and the expression OF it on
heir lips. But has that been the re-
'ult ? If what the Lo51dnaarA SAYS be
rue, We have the individual opinions
Of some two dozen or more gentlemen,
editors Of newspapers, the editor Of
he Landmarks included, and the opin-
ons of Hon. William Eaton, Hon. A. |
v. Nenable, Hon. d. G.. Fowle, Hon.
los. j Davis and Hon. J. J. Yeates,
Who entertain grave doubts about the
Of calling a Convention.
4 other gentlemen have put them
elves on the record, that record, so
ar as we know, has not yet been given
the public.
On the other hand we have the indi-
idual opinion of some dozen or more,
re know not and care not pecisely how
lany, and the opinions of Graham,
lanly, Conigland, Moore, Davis,
TRANCE, Eolmes, Meares, French,
Wright, Howard, Bachelor, Manning, {
lcGehee, Gather, Coleman, Shipp, j
Hen, Mcdowell and Steele.
This is the result of ninety days |
lscussion, discussion unprecedented ,
| duration as we'll as ia the character i
the participants outside of the |
ress. Are we not justified then in I
'ylng that the hasty verdict of our I
Conservative press has not been in
orsed by the people. We may rest
sured that if the people viewed the
onVention with the alarm and aver T
on, that certain gentlemen would I
I'VE us believe. it would not have t
ken ninety days to have said so. So c