The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1894-10-31
certain restrictions UPON the administra.

4 CSTl2iQ I0SlrlCLiOuS upOu IuC dGllIuIo VI .
tive forces CT governnent--the legisla.
tive, executive and judicial, But such
restrictions must extend no further than
these administrative agencies; thst is,
they must not bind the principal, the
body polite. Ths convention for the
better security Of the people may tell
future legislatures how they must work
but not what they must do. Governor
Russell rightly argues that these later
state constitutions ara evidences OF dis.
trust. THY show that society IN those
states does not trust itself in the selec-
ton of 1ts own legislative representa-
tives; that the people though they do not
say to king "Come and rule over Us"
does say to q convention, Come and
take care of us; we have weakened; we
have not tbs power Of self-government
WHICH our fathers had" It is not ua-
likely that. some future historian after
careful study Of our modern state coDsti.
tutions will pbilo.ophcally formulate as
r Law OF political sciences, The longer
constitution tie weaker the people and
the more corrupt the community. p
Central Law Journal.
This is Q tree couutry, and when the
right is denied any mau to differ with
others, tte would.be leaders who at
tempt such a gag rule will find them
selves badly lett. Why, certain politi-
c!aus and newspapers arc now trying to
rule every man out OF the reform party
that does Lot support constitutional
convention. Well, it is our impression
that when the experiment is tried these
bt tses will find they have bitten eff more
than they eau we'll chew. When free
born American citizen is asked to stran-
gle his own views and support measure
Just because our 'leaders" SO advise,
be will 60 most too far. Now, let US
see how this constitutional convention
takes IN South Carolina: The Lsxlng-
ton Dispatch, one of the sblest reform
papers in our State, and that has done
great work for the movement, has taken
a decided stand against convention,
unless submitted to the people. The
Yorkville Yeoman. another paper estab-
lished By the farmers, and that is a
staunch supporter of Gov. Tillman ia its
last issue says that the people will not
support constitutional convention un-
less they have voice In saying whether
or rot thev will adopt it when made. A
farmer, writing IN the last issue Of the
Cotton Plant, takes a decided stand
against q convention. Hs argues:
'sThe matter OF this convention is no
new thing before the people, for it has
heen before them in other elections, but
il seems that it has been voted down on
every occasion, and why is it thus? We
will speak only for the farmers that sur
round our immediate neighborhood. We
know their sentiments and fears as re-
CARDS this convention; now 1t ls admit
ted that the State constitution was iraim-
ed by the Republican party. Lst that be
as it may. There is oue part of that
constitution that has been ever slnce 1t
was framed q protection to the farmers
and poor widows and children Of our
State who mightin -arious ways become
involved and be thrown out into the
world without house or homo. Aud
that part is the part of the homestead
law, and We know that there is strong
opposition to that one feature OF the con-
stitutlon, and that is just why IN our
minds that the convention has always
been voted down-was the fears that if
there was ever o constitutional conven-
ton called that We would not know who
that convention might be composed OF
whsther it would be made up OF men that
believed in some protection, or men that
have been long wishing to see the day
come to get the opportunity to wipe
out that feature as part of the constltu-
ton. There may be some parts OF the
old constitution that really ought to oe
changed, and some might tblrk that
that very Homestead feature il the one
that GU yht to be changed, but somehow
or other We that have seen the good
there has been 10 1t to some people
don't think so, unless it can be changed
to make it bstter by making il good
against all mortgages. or anything else
that might be likely to upset it; that is
the way We think it should b1, SAT-
against any and all things"