Sharp County record., 1888-01-05
EVENING SHADE, Jan. 5, 1888,
A NEW CONSTITUTION.

Will, unuel dl 'too P"o"N" y
general assembly, be submitted to
the people at the next state eiectlon'
and the Importance of the subject
should, and doubtless will, commend
itself to every voter as a problem to
be thoroughly investigated and stud
led before the day arrives for casting
his ballot. 50 far as the Observa-
tion of the RECORD extends, the
impression is almost universal with
tho people that our present organic
law possesses grave defects in many
important respects. 1t is asserted
that it cramps the energies of the
state; that it hampers the exercise of
rightful municipal power; that to
some extent it trenches on personal
liberty, and it is believed that the
whole people would measure longer
and more rapid strides toward the
era of prosperity if these defects
were eliminated and the powers of
the state and the liberties of the
people left freer that they might
without clog or hindrance pursue
their own happiness. Yet, among
the very persons who entertain these
views, there are individuals who
may cast their ballots in opposition
to a convention upon various pretexts
and for sundry so-called reasons.
For example, we have frequently
heard the remark made by persons
who admit the Importance, if not
the necessity of a new constitution,
that they would vote for a conven-
tion if they had any assurance that
we would thereby get better or
ganic law, but fearing that we
might not be bettered by change,
they should oppose the measure. TO
this class there is perhaps little aid
to be offered in the way of argument,
as the persons composing it have
evidently lost faith and confidence
in the wisdom and integrity of the
people, their capacity to govern
themselves and their disposition to
act for the public veal. 1t should
not be overlooked that there is a
principle which pervades our civlli-
cation and lies at the root of our
form of government, in effect that
the safety Of the state lies in its
conformity and obedience to the be-
hests of the people-the masses. A
rule to which experience points out
but few exceptions on this side of
the Atlantic is, that the people are
always right, and we have seen no
recent development that would
cause us to lose faith in the people
of Arkansas. There is popular
clamor for a new constitution and
the cause for it evidently lies in the
ability of the people to see and
comprehend that the fundamental
law of the state is susceptible of be-
ing improved to their advantage.
Whether a majority or a minority IS
making this clamor remains to be
seen; but if the election is determln-
ed in favor of convention we will
not be afraid of the result. To the
narrow pessimist there appears no
reason for a change; for change to
his comprehension means dlsadvan'
tage, but to the broad gauge citizen,
the man of liberal ideas who knows
himself and understands the prlncl
pies and theories of our government
there is a pressing necessity for 1t
because the state and the people cal
be benefited thereby; and having
confidence in himself, he has faitl
in the people, and is not afraid tina
any change they may make in tn
broad light of our civilization vii
not rebound to the advantage of th
state and her people. Opposed t.
change because we might get
worse constitution, indeed Th
sentiment is not entitled to the dig
nifty of being called speciou
argument. Let us apply it to
za, l...