Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1889-01-14
NEWsPApER oplNIoN.


Reform Outlook HAS frightened.
Sussex journal.
The reform outlook has Frightened
amazingly since a joint session of the
Legislature adopted the resolution dc.
clarlng the vote of 1887 sufficient 10
justify the calling of constitutional
convention. This resolution will be found
IN another column, and the Justice and
modesty Of It's claims will appear at once
70 every reader who Is at all familiar with
the arguments Of Governor Bigrs In be.
half OF convention In 1852 as well as
TO ali persons who are well grounded h
democratic principles, and recognize that
TINS IS a government Of for, and by the
people The disposition to accept this
resolution as a law for the Senate as well
as law for the House noted In
our Dover correspondence. will be met
with rejoicing on the part Of our peonle
who are entitled to convention nv All
reasonable interpretations Of the law
The arguments in favor Of call on Inc
basis of the vote Of 1887 are familiar ~
all. The strongest Of them can be found
IN the utterances of Mr.. Bavard and Mr.
Biggs in 1852 and those who read these
utterances should remember that ira
people Of 50 have a far stronger case
than the people Of So II any naonle
were ever entitled TO a convention the
people Of Delaware are to-day If the
members Of our Legislature will stonto
think they viii see their oath OF Office IN
stead Of binding them 10 vote against a
convention binds them to vote for Il
The idea that an oath 70 support the con
stitution is equivalent to an oath "a
tramplc on the sovereignty Of the people
Is borne out IN no part Of that antiauated
instrument Tie Constitution is founded
on popular sovereignty; Article TX, more
than any other article Of the whole
instrument, sets forth the principle 81
popular sovereignty VIXEN il saws thar
no convention shall be called but IN
authority Of the poople-a majority 81
the votes entitled 60 vote for representa-
tiyes-and TO deny this right for the sake
OF techniculity which IS ambiguous at
its best, is TO set at defiance the consti-
tuition Itself. We are glad that our Sen
ators are not only friends Of the people
out supporters Of the constitution for
we peheve that friendship for the people
ana respect ior the law demand an i'm
mediate cali for constitutional conven-
ton.
Internal improvement by the state
Dover SentiEei.
IN addition to the standing committees
already appointed in the House. Speaker
HoHecSer would not 60 amiss to form
one on Internal improvements. WHY
should Delaware sit idly and wait for the
General Government TO make all the I'm.
Drovements needed on our water courses
Ii the state can afford to expend SIS 600
annually on the militia. can she not
afford 10 do something 20 help improve
our marshes and low lands Let the "a.
pertinent BE- tried
Democratic Party In False Position.
Smyrna Record
The Record isn't going to find faulf
with any party because that party ia
done right. The Republican partv |
through its representatives in the T,eoie..
aature has said that according to lis nr.
derstanding Of the constitution Of this I
state the vote Of November. 1887 vs.
sufficient to warrant the calling Of a con.
stitutional convention. The Democratic
party has been placed ia false position
we think, through few conservatives
who have hat thrust upon them
the honor TO represent it. Democ |
xney, we feel sure, is anxious /
for constitutional convention
because it believes such reform is neces- |
sary. end the representatives of the party /
have Iost q golden opportunity by not de- |
elaklne ~ o44ce aud UOidiy fof what. hal I
taey been At little pains they would have