The Osceola times., 1886-01-23
D. II. BACCHUs. NJ. II. FLETCHER.
BACCHUS & FLETCHER,
Druggists.
Corner Main Il Merchant Street Osceola, Ark

THE question of new State Con-
stitution, with here and there sug-
gestions to amend, or patch up, the
present one, has been pretty gene
rally discussed by the press and
leading polite ians throughout the
state. Ii there were no other reason
adduced for 4 demand for a new con-
stitution, or at least, radical amend
ments to the old, the present system
and laXity in the discharge of public
trusts, would of itself be sufficient
grounds for spch change. The
defects, however, NAV be chargeablc
as much to the weakness Of human
nature as to that of the laws under
the present constitution.
Human nature is pretty much the
same the world over; and no one
with proper ideas ever looked over
life that had been lived, or a law
that had been enacted and enforced,
without seeing and feeling how it
might have been bettcred. The
proverb, " The best is often the enc
my of the good" applies to princi-
plies of law in its relation to individ-
uals, as well as to other things. In
deed, 1t is hard to determine before
hand whether any proposed change
in the constitution, or Organic law,
would remedy the defects of the
present. plless human nature could
also undergo or experience change.
In this age Of vast fortunes amass-
ed by single individuals without ap,
parent effort; of large corporations
and syndicatcs speculating in the
products Of the world long before
the crops are even soGn and plant
ed; of dcfaications by those high in
authority and positions OF honor and
trust; aud the general aud all-perva-
ding ideas which have obtained in
consequence of this state Of unsettled
and fictitious values, and low estIm-
etes Of character-the greed of gain,
the aspiring and grasping for place,
power, wealth and influence, has
w.ll nigh invaded all classes and
conditions of the people, both in
public and private life. Shoddy
goods, -.nirr,0r articles of manufac-
ture, adulterations in food and drink,
and the thousands of deceptions
practiced in the trades and proles-
sions are the natural results of this
money getting mania One creed
has been almost universally adopted,
sect money, no matter how, but
get money
In politics, as in secular affairs, the
temptations to speculate on the pub
he funds conided to the officials is
unfortunately, often, too great to be
resisted, and when once installed in
to Office, the great aim and object of
life becomes at once struggle, not
50 much in deyising and planning
how to subseIve the best interests of
the people who elected him, but as
to how be may fortify and keep him
self in Office; or If too big for the of
fee, spend his time in planning for
promotion to higher and more in
| iiuential and lucrative one. The
office is at once .conycrted into po-
litical machine, in some cases a spe-
cies of inqulsition, where plotting,
scheming and wire working, in or
der to get the voter in his power, is
made the principal duty as public
servant--a duty which is persistent
ly and Systematically discharged
with little regard as to whom it may
effect, pecuniarily or otherwise.
The remedy for all this, if indeed
there be a remedy, is to make all
state and county offices eligible for
one term of four years. with fiaed
salary attached to every Office, grad
ed according to the voting popula-
tion of each county, and all fees aud
perquisites Che source of mischief,
paid into the county treasury. Witt
new constitution, under which
some such a system could be adopt
ed, and with demand, on the part
, Of the voters aud taxpayers, for abil
ity aud business tact AS essentla
qualifications for the intelligent dis
charge and administration of the af
: fairs of the public, no doubt th'
present cause of so much dissatisfac
ton which exists, 10 II greater o.
less extent oil eyer the state, woul'