New-York tribune., 1894-10-31
nE. cHOlrE on TIE ANENDMENTS.

4
Mr. CHOlTE on THE AMENDMENTS.
The constitutional amendments have not had
the attention they deserve. An apathy. mol
easily explained in view Of the momenouS
issues between good and bad government in
volved. seems to have fallen on RepubicihS
and other good citizens who should have been
active before al things in seeing that the char
actcr Of the reforms proposed by the Convention
was properly presented 10 the people. The de-
bates in the Convention. which would have gone
far toward explaining the questions arising IN
the minds OF voters. have been withheld from
the public by the Democratic printers to whom
the work of publication was intruSted. Little
or no effort except by few newspapers mas
been made to supply their place with other
documents 1t has been left to Senator Hill and
his followers to play upon the ignorance ana
nreiudice Of voters with Specous appeals. which
have had influence only because largely uncon-
tradicted The letter of Mr. Choate comes ut
the right time. 1t is an effective refntauon OF
Hiu's arguments and an unanswerable demon
strat!on of the desirabily ON the broadeSt con-
s;deratiops Of Justice aud good morals Of having
thc work of the Constitutional Convention adopt
cd by the people.
Mr.. Choate devotes most Of his attention to
the appOrtionment; for that has been the main
article-in fact. the Only aricle-seriously al
tackled by the Democrats. Point by point. with
convincing logic and overwhelming array OF
facts. he shows that there is not the slightest
ground for the cry that the apportonment Is
partisan. On the contrary. 1t is distinctly I'M
partisan in its every feature. 1t does not deal
out seats TO this party or that party, nut
divides the political power fairly among the
sections and the people on basis Of substantial
numerical equality. and at the same time guards
the varied interests of every part or the stale
The uttpr dishonesty of Hills Outcry against the
slight differences inseparable from any system
which does not destroy the fundamental political
divisions of the State is shown by an analysis
Of the Wantonly outrageous and entirely unneces-
sary ineoualities in the appOrtiOnment based on
the fraudulent census forced by him through
the stolen Legislature Of 1892 Admirable rea-
sons for the increase in the membership Of the
two houses are given. and tho charge that New
York and Brooklyn are Disseminated against
is rcfutcd 1t is notorious that under the present
apportionment these cities grossly favored,
vet their proportonate share in legislation will
not be decreased by the adoption Of the new
article. AL present TIE ''ubAi'S WI -''" '''''
and Kings have 3719 per cent Of the member
shin of the Senate. The proposed amendment
gives them IS per cent In the Assembly they
now have 37.499 per cent. and ii is proposed
TO give them 1888 per cent. Thus they are TO
have all that even Senator Hill dared to give
them when making his gerrymander. II Is no
violation of either Democratic or Republican
precedcnts to place a limit on the vote of one
city in the upper house. as examination Of the
constitutions Of various States shows. II Is
recognized principle Of representative govern
ment that concentrated population in one city
shall not utterly control the destiny Of great
State Even with the restriction New-York will
be able TO carry almost any legislation. 1t may
have the Assembly entirely In It's power when
its population is large enough, and in the Sen
ate solid minority will be effective against
q larger body Of men representing the different
interests of widely scattered localities. But
beyond the present apportionment is the pro
vision against gerrymandcrs in the future. Inc
absolute justice with which this provision is
framed and the fact that the Convention left
the whole question to separ's'" vote OF the
people instead Of tying it up with other amend
mcnts which would encounter no objection, Is
proof If any such proof were needed. that the
delegates were actuated by no party zeal, but
by the highest considerations of public good
Mr. Choates letter, though dealing more briefly
with the other amendments. argues for them
with equal ability. II is difficult TO conceive OF
any intelligent and honest citizen reading his
words and not being convinced that all the con
stilutional amendments should be adopted Every
person who has any doubt about the wisdom OF
voting for them should read what Mr.. Choatc has
TO say. When such men az Hill and Maynard
come into power again as they are likely to do
some time they will try their old tricks once
more II they can. Now Is the time TO make
that forever impossible Those who neglect this
opportunity TO stop utterly gcrrymandering and
false naturalization 10 place our municipal gov
ernment on better basis, to insure more careful
legislation and to incorporate the other much
needed reforms in our fundamental law. will
deserve little sympathy II at some future day
they suffer grievously from governmental
wrongs.