The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1886-09-09

Unfortunately for the members of bodies cor
porate and polite, they are not often in an att-
tude to choose between two lines of action pro-
make choice between the greater or lesser evil
Just now Floridians are confronted with just
such category, by the duty imposed to vote for
or against the new Constitution. In this case,
the evils between which they will be called to
make choice. al the next election, are of unusual
magnitude. Such would never have been the
case had the Democratic Legislature of the first
year of Governor Drew's term OF Office been true
to the pledges of the party and the interests the
great majority of the people had entrusted to
them. They simply betrayed the trust and are
responsible for the final necessity for calling
Constitutional Convention to do unsatisfactory
what they could and ought TO have done per-
fectly, by providing themselves the few amend
ments required to benefcially change the Con.
stiution of 1858. But it is too late to cry over
the stupidity or faithlessness Of that body. The
issue of the retention of the evil old or the rati.
ication of the unsatisfactory new, Constitution
is before the people, and that without the bidding
of many of them. 1t is obvious that the issue
has thrown the Democratic party into present
disharmOny, but not passion. Possibly the con-
tinuance to view the situation dispassionately,
will dissipate to the winds all dscordaut notes.
Really, there are but two important provisions
in the new Constitution that provoke to serious
division of sentiment These relate to the cleo
ton of q part of the officers of the State and
county by the people, and the appointment of
the residue by the Governor with confirmation BY
the Senate Some maintain that II Is non-demo-
cratic to withhold the right from the people to
choose by election any Of their public servants
If 30, neither our general, nor any State govern
ment, represents democracy. Neither will ever
Democratic government The members of
the late Convention are not to be censured, be-
cause they ignored an ultra aud ridiculous FORM
ula Of words, descriptive Of q principle that has
never, and can never, have Q place or hearing
in our country. The principle of appointment
to Office In our National and State Governments
is equally a. venerable and safe az the concur
rent principle of election of others to Office by
the people. No man, except one whose head is
not level or who 10 prone to indammatory DEM
agogy, not democracy, will vote or speak against
the ratification Of the Constitution on such shall
low ground.
cratic principle 10 this country. The majority
of our late Convention represented great ma
jority of the people of the State. We are bound
to accept their action a. the win Of the majority
OF the people, until majority reverses it.
This Is the main point for consideration. Will
majority OF the electors vote non.rati6cation
What ground has any one for supposing that
they wilt Surely not because the Circuit
Judges and County Commissioners will be
appointed by the Governor. Ifin nothing else.
the majority showed good sense, and no want Of
fidelity to their party and the very chicfest ii.
terests Of the people, BY committing the appoint