Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-11-29


Wa cannot keep our thoughts from turn
ING towards New York State, where inc
Democratic Governor and his Democratic
associates are defending. ht the risk OF Their
political. not 30 say their natural lives, the
very citadel of Democracy. as well as the
freq institufions which our fathers De-
aueathed 20 us. We return, therefore. 70
the subject OF our leader OF yesterday
confident that good Democrats every wnere
win second our efforts TO send words o.
cheer 20 our New York brethren ana nia
chem "God-speed" in tina good WORK
which they have undertaken. The New
Yorl. Word appeals to all honest men OF
every party to know whether an oiigarcnv
oa4ht longer TO be allowed to rule New
York State. 1t asks all candid and patri-
otie Republicans If they approve tne
course of their party leaders. IL suggests
10 ell thoughtful citizens whether the eul-
tivatjon of contempt for the law and the
Constitution does not tend to dangerous
decentralization Of public sentiment. III
asks whether notification by Lawmakers
is not the worst sort OF lawiessness- Ana
that paper gives facts in the history OK ne
publican lawiessness in New York when
fully Justify whatever extreme measures
Governor HUI and his fellow Democrats
have found it necessary to adopt We
borrow some Of the Worlds facts:
The State Constitution provides that
census shall be taken in 1885. Dix years
after 1885 that census has not been taken,
and in consequence of the refusal OF he
publican legislatures TO provide for taking
il more than a million of the inhabitants
of New York State are unrepresented IN
the Iaw-making and tax-layIng body. Inc
Democrats Of New York city and Brooklyn
are denied representation in proportion
TO their numbers IN defiance OF eonstisu.
tional provision requiring the members Oh
the Legislature to be apportioned among
the several counties of the State asnearly "a
may be. according to the number OF their
respective inhabitants. This is November
%. 1891, and the State has not been
reapportioned since 1875. Think of that.
No wonder New York State is represented
in the United States Senate by sectional
malgnants and South-haters.
The fact last mentioned-namely, that
New York has all the time two Republican
members Ill the United States Senate
testifies too plainly to be denied that the
fight now going on in that State
concerns the people OF every state
in the Union. The most important
of measures might be passed by the
United States Senate only because OF
the presence therein of these two Repub-
Ican senators from New York. The tariff
bill. the currency scheme, the silver pro-
blem, any even the most far-reaching econ
omic plans, might be forced through that
body by the votes of two Republican sena-
tors who have no constitutional or moral
right to the seats they hold.
Last winter the Democratic Assembly
(as the lower House of the Legislature IS
STYLED in New York; passed census bill
but it was never passed by The Republican
Senate.
Now as TO a State Convention to form
new Constitution. Here is what the Old
Constitution ordains:
WAta general election 70 be held In the year
1866, and each twentieth year thereafter, and
also at such time as the Legislature may by law
provide, the question, shall there be convention
20 revise the Constitution and amendthe samef
shall be de- ided by tho electors qualified to vote
for members Of the Legislature; and In case n
majority Of the electors 90 qualified voting at
such election shall decide in favor OF convention
for such a purpose, the Legislature at its next
session shah provide by law fOr the election oil
delegates TO such convention"
Well, this question was submitted to the
people OF New York in 1885, and was car
ried by majority of over 100000 votes.
But the Republican Legislature-made up
rs we have shown, and in the absence OF
the Democrats wrongfully kept out OF that
body-has hitherto declined to comply
With the mandate of the Constitution.
There are we know not how many Re
publicans kept in Office in New York as a
consequence of these unlawful proceed
ings, which have honeycombed the State
with rottenness
Will you not extend your sympathies TO
the Democrats of New York IN this their
greatest extremity