Weekly Trinity journal., 1879-03-29
THAT ADDRESS.

The Humboldt Times, which erstwhile
seemed greatly disgusted with tie Con-
stitutIonal Convention but now supports
its labors, takes grave exceptions to a
recent article in the JOURNAL which had
been quoted approvingly by the West
Coast Signal. AS might be expected,
the Same unfairness which characterizes
the address" is TO be found in the
Times comments on our article. We
are accused with saying that "the adop-
ton Of the address and ordering of its
distribution 7cds procured by q low
mean trick etc." The italicized words
are from the Times; we never ssid eny-
thing of the kind. What we spoke of as
being trick was the concocting of an
address favoring 1--WE use this word un-
derstandingly) the adoption of the New
Constitution, by a selfappointed Com
mittee and having it circulated at the ex>
pense of the State. Our critic is disposed
to let us down easy as follows
"But the article alluded to is as reck-
less in It's statements upon other points as
in this. 1t states that 1t was framed as
a special plea in favor of the new nstru-
ment.' The writer could not have read
the address with care when that article
was penned, or he would never have made
the statement with reference to ii with
which it is accredited"
Before perning the article in contre-
versy we did read very carefully the
address" as published IN the s. f.
Chronicle in fact we have a habit Of at
least trying TO understand what we are
writing about, while it seems TO us quite
probable that our critic may not even have
seen the address when he wrote the scath.
ing rebuke above quoted. However, we
have tread the address with care" several
times since its receipt in pamphlet form
and il it is not "a special plea in favor OF
the new instrument" we admit cur ignor'
ance of a fair understanding of the Eng
lish language. If the Committee intend~
ed, as is claimed, to simply point out the
differences between the Old and the New
Constitutions, why that vein of favorable
criticism ard recommendation of thoir
own work which runs through the entire.
address ? let for moment, dear friend,
glance at the address and see whether the
JOURNAL is really "recllless in its state
mentS :"
The people Of the State Of California
are first informed that "to secure an efl-
cient and economical admin ;stration of
the several departments of our govern
ment, a new Constitution is an imperative
necessity" Which we don't believe, al
though some amendments to the old in
strument would be beneficial. In review
ing the Declaration of Rights the Com
mttee says certain similar provisions have
"been adopted in several of the States
and found to work well;" and again "has
also been tried elsewhere with satisfactory
results" A bold strike for popularity is
made in reference to the Right Of Suf,
irage in connection with the Chinese
question, thusly: This completely
closes the door against Chinese ever be-
coming entitled to vote in this State"
Does the editor of the Times, who is
lawyer, believe that the Supreme Court |
of the United States will take that view |
of the matter In many places the adj
dress shows the reduced expenses of De-
partments. Why does it not say, as the
Humboldt Times did few weeks ago,
that the new Judiciary system would cost
the people many thousands of dollars |
moro per annum than do the present |
Judges Why, under Revenue and |
Taxation docs it not tell the People of the |
State of California that the taxation Of
mortgages and other evidences Of indebt-
edness is being tried by tho great State o f
Illinois and is far from satisfactory, if we
are to believe leading Chicago journals ?
But, no the address contains no single
word of adverse criticism it is an elect
ioneeriug document in favor of the New
Constitution and we are convinced was so
intended. Its advantages are pointed out
with subtle ingenuity and an evident in-
tention Of leading the reader to believe
the work perfect and an ''imperative ne
cessity." And these Advantages ? May
California long be spared the inHiction of
many Of them, which are only advantages
In the highly>wrought imaginations of
the majority who framed the New Con
stlution. VIII the Times editor please
tread the address with care" and let us
know whether he does not tconscientiously
believe it to be "a special plea in favor Of
the new instrument ?"