Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-12-26
CONSTITUTION NaEITG

1t is singular paradox that the more
civilized, cultured and enlightened a
people become, the more prone they are
to law making, as if the danger to life,
liberty and property increased with ad-
vancing civilizations; as IL there was
something in the spread of education,
the activity of social and commercial re-
lations, the multiplication Of churches,
| designed to foster peace and good will
| among men-as If there was something
in all these to require multiplicity of
protection, restrictive and penal regula-
wretches in order, and to defend civil
ization from itself. or law making. as
of book making, there is no end. This
scenes to be one of the results of ad
vancing civilization. in spite of the
| maxim that the fewer laws there are,
the better off O people will be, and those
who are least governed are best gov
erned.
These reflections are called forth by the
deliberations of the Kentucky constitu-
tional convention in session for several
months past framing new constitu-
ton, and still far from the end of its
labors. Several months more will be
required to finish the work in hand. The
cause of the strangely protracted session
is the disposition of the body TO frame
constitution that will do for all time,
meet ali contingencies, and regulate
|. everything actual or supposable. All
manner of reforms, experimental as well
as of proved efficacy, are being imbed-
ded in it, and all manner OF offenses,
actual as well as imaginary, are being
prohibited. So comprehensive, COM
plete and satisfactory does its work ap-
pear, the convention imposes the most
absurd restrictions on any future
changes of its handiwork. Disguised
with the interminal tinkerirg Of the
convention, the Courier-Jo Journal is
length forced to protest, and tell the
honorable gentlemen, that they do not
understand their business, that they have
lost sight of the distinction between q
constitution and code of statutes, and
with legislative quaokeries that it will
be difficult to get rid Of. They are told
that their business is to deal with "a
few general principles. and leave the
rest to tho legislature.
1t appears strange that body of in
telhgeut men should need to be checked
and reprimanded in this fashion like SO
many school children. Every well in
formed man should know that consti-
tuition is no place for theories, for
fancied reforms, or tentative PROPOSE
tons of any sort. Only a few of the
many proposed, ever prove valuable.
The work of experimenting with such
should be left to the legislature, which,
if mistake be made, can easily correct
it. Legislation, like physio, Is largely
experimental, its efficacy or worth de-
pending on variety of CONTINGENCIES,
only few of which can be observed or
calculated at the outset. Hence the
wisdom of coufining the organic law to
the enumeration of a few tested and
universally received principles, to serve
as a corrective against the whms and
passionate gusts of popular feelings
The Federal constitution has been
Chased amongst the wisest productions
of the kind emauating from human
hands. Suppose that it should now be
proposed to frame new one in its stead;
what a scene would be witnessed. Every
obtrusiye and inpudent crank IN the
country would be struggling to get MS
whimsical reform ideas incorporated in
it. 1t would be loaded down with all
manner of penal and reform vagaries,
and with numberless prohibitions, inhi.
billions and restrictions. Imagine Hoar,
Lodge, Blair aud Chandler of New Eng
land, Ben Harrison, Spooner and Ingalls, |
New York urging their peculiar and
outlandish isIus and notions with respect |
to civil rights, the ballot, the negro, the |
South, God, Christian Sabbath woman
rights, prohibition and SO on, and so on.
The more highly civilized we become,
the more eager we are to legislate |
against each other. Are men growing |
more greedy and covetous. more reckless |
about the distinction between meum and |
teum?
Good Out of Evil.
Austin Statesman.
Good sometimes comes from an evil |