Evening journal., 1889-01-09
NEWSPAPER OPINION.
A bourbon view.


Georgetown Democrat.
In speaking Of the Constitutional Con
vention, the governor is conservative il
his views, and advises the Legislature {,
make haste slowly. He quotes Art. {
of the present constitution, says that
many are Of the opinion that the last
vote is insufficient to authorize the Leg
islature to call the convention upon the
basis of said vote, and advises that the
General Assembly follow the require
ments OF Art. 9of the existing constitu
tion.
The language Of Governor Biggs upon
this important subject is eminently con
servative just, sound, and unequivocal
The higher law doctrine oftthe Republi
can party. as enunciated last fall. that
a convention must be called bv the
present Legislature upon the basis Of the
last vote, whether such step is author
lied by the constitution or not. is revo.
lutionaIy in the extreme and not worthy
of consideration by legislators who have
taken solemn oath TO support that con.
stitution. Article TX, referred to by Gov
erDor Biggs, expressly states how a con.
vention may be called, and specifies in
nDmistakable language the vote neces-
'sary 70 enthorlze the calling OF the con-
ventiorf szeh q vote was not obtained
and the advocates OF constitutional reform
acknowledged 4 defeat when the vote was
first ascertained Bat some of the Re.
publicans, in order to make an issue with
the Democratic party. Savs endeavored
TO so strain the '9nEuage of
the constitution that their own
peculiar higher law views may be
ventilated in their attempt to overthrow
the fundamental law OF the best governed
state in the Union in a revolutionary
manner. We do not yet believe that the
Republican members Of the House VIII
disregard the sanctity of their oaths by
favoring the calling of convention in
open violation Of that instrument which
they have solemnly sworn to support
But If they do so far forget their duties
TO their constituents then IL win become
the duty Of the Democratic Senate to
stand likea stone wall against the uniusti
liable attack upon the constitutional
rights Of Delawareans The funda-
mental law should never be strained to
allow radical changes. In the language
of the governor, "lt is better to make
haste slowly" To call the convention
without legal authority would defeat the
such convention may adopt. The people
are not to be trified with upon subject
where the fundamental law is to be
ground into the dust. The only
proper and legal course for the mem
bers Of the Legislature to take, If
they favor the calling Of convention, is
to pass a law, calling another election.
II might appear useless even to do this,
when the people have already decided
according to Article TX that they did
not want the convention. But for the
sake Of peace we would be willing TO call
the election, If it would settle the
question hereafter. At any rate, 1t is
the only thing the law making power
has the right to do. The Democratic
Senators have the power to restrain the
Republicans from the encroaehments
upon our constitutional rights as handed
down to us by our forefathers. 1t is
an important trust we have confded TO
their care, and we do not yet believe
they will betray us. The governor.
therefore, is perfectly right in insisting
npon q proper observance of the pro.
visions Of Article TX of the present con.
stitution.