The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-09-30
For the Constitution.

The enemies of the new constitution
have persistently urged that it bears the
marks of Republican handiwork that, il
adopted, it must depend on Republican
votes that it will revolutionize the po-
litical condition OF the State; that it
will entail upon the counties OF the black
belt all the horrors incident upon re-
turn to rule of the ignorant and corrupt
element Of our State.
Good Democrats have made these OBJ
jections and they are entitled to reply.
That many who confessedly stand
among the real leaders Of the Republi-
cans in Florida should take pains to OPP
pose the adoption of the new organic
law-that E. NJ. Cheney should write the
letter lately published in the Times Union
urging his friends to oppose it-that the
speakers who appear with the Republi-
can candidate for Congress should de-
claim on the stump to the same effect
surely these opinions, rejecting SO evil
IDENTIFY the sentiments of the masses of
that party, argue little for the adoption
the Republicans. 1t continually becomes
more and more plain that Democrats
must vote "For the Constitution" il it
is to be adopted. We sincerely hope
they will. True, some have already de-
clared their Indifference or opposition,
but most Of them have been deeply
tainted by previous utilization with the
Republicans. or fail to appreciate the
reasons given pro and con at their proper
value,
Does it bear the marks of Republican
work? If this work is good, let us be
thankful to our friend, the enemy If
bad. it is the fault of our delegates. for
we had large majority.
Must its adoption depend on Republi-
can votes? Not more than the success
Of any of our candidates, for as parties,
the Democracy is for the constitution
and the Republicans against it. Think
ing Republicans will vote for it unless
prejudice blinds their judgment
or ignorant Democrats may
often vote against it. Messrs. Cheney and
Goodrich may certainly be allowed to
speak for the masses of their party.
Would Cheney oppose it if the new con-
could be used to insure a Re-
publican triumph? Yet he not only
writes letter to the Times Union, but
urges it's republication by US. We do
not criticise his objections, because we
have no hope, however great our desire,
for Mr.. Cheney's conversion.
1t is said that the adoption of the
new constitution will give back the
State to the Republicans since it places
power nearer to the people. Are we
ready to admit that we hold the State
by a tenure SO contrary to the princi-
pies of our party that an appeal to the
people would remove US from power?
Such an admission would argue our own
or the failure Of our popu-
lar form of government to subserve the
best purposes of its existence.
Mr.. Cheney urges that the autocratic
power held by the Governor under the
constitution will not return
to the people under the one offered us
Oy the democrats. 10 TINS we answer,
that even We're such the true state of the
case, still the constitution permits of the
speedy correction of evils by the people
through the legislature, and should be
if for that reason alone. His
other objection, that, under Section 10,
The Governor may suspend all officers
not liable to Impeachment, for ''malfea-
sance or misfeasance or neglect of duty
IN office, for the commission of felony or |
for drunkenness or incompetency." is no
objection to us. We are grooming I'M
Ter wrong now, because Mr.. Cheney did |
not put this section in the Republican
aw. Let all Democrats vote ''For the |
or. the Republicans will
lefeat it. 1t is too democratic for them. |