Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-02-22
FIorida,s Constitutional Convention

riOfiua constitutional Convention.
The people of Florida undoubtedly
| realize that they have a very important
work to do in selecting delegates for their
/ constitutional convention. In order to
insure the framing of an instrument that
/ VIII contribute to their happiness and to
| the prosperity OF the State they mustunite
/ in sending TO the convention their ablest
and wisest men. In every county per-
/ haps there are those who would like to
/ be members of the convention. not so
much because they desire to promote the
interests of the State as to advance their
/ own political fortunes or to enjoy a fleet
| ing honor. Men of this class should be
/ iroWned down. They would be only
/ workers Of mischief in the convention.
Florida has plenty Of men Of liberal and
! progressive views who are capable of
sinking all personal and party consider
atoms IN discharging a duty which in
wolves the good of the whole people and
the most important interests of the State.
| They are not punched together in any
particular town or county. They are to
be found in all parts of the State. Let
such men be chosen.
But if such men. are chosen it will be
/ because the people are determined to
have a constitution that will afford the
widest scope for their energy and enter
prise, and will be an advertisement that
will increase the already phenomenal i'm
migration to their State. Those best cal
culated to serve the State are often eX-
tremely modest men and must be sought
and pushed to the front.
Blatant demagOgues Will, of course, use
every art to get into the convention, and
to get control of it when they get in, and
if the people are not watchful and vigil
liant they will succeed.
That Florida needs new constitution
it cannot be reasonably denied. The
present constitution was adopted under
Republican rule and at time when it
was not possible to frame an instrument
that aimed only at the highest good Of the
whole people. A more conservative SEN
timent prevails now than in 1868, when
the present constitution came into exis-
tence, and there is a much clearer appre-
citation of the States needs now than there
was then.
The election for delegates will take
place on the first Tuesday in May and the
convention win meet on the second Tues
day in June. The day Of election is not far
away, and it is none too soon to be think
ing about selecting men who are to serve
the State on so important an occasion.
Let the merits Of those suggested for del
egates be freely, frankly and kindly dis
cussed in order that mistakes in making
selections may be avoided as far as pos
bic.
The basis OF representation is the same
as for the Legislature. The Democrats,
therefore, are certain of a fair working
majority. The two parties are so nearly
equal, however, that if the instrument
when it comes from the hands of the con-
yentiOn, has any partisan features it will
pretty certainly be defeated. The knowl-
edge that only an absolutely fair consti-
tuti0n-such a constitution as will meet
the approval Of men of honest purposes
who care more for the glory and great
ness Of the State than for self or party is
likely to be adopted, ought to, and no
doubt Will, cause the convention to frame
an instrument that will command the
support Of both Democrats and Republi-
cans, and that will do much towards
making Florida the most progressive and
prosperous Of the Southern States.