The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-10-10
Wednesday, Oct. 10, 1894.
The Conststut,ona1 Convention.

While the Press and Banner puts no claim
to influence In the election. yet it is our duty
and our privilege to express our views on
this, as we'll as other questions that may at
tract the attention Of the public mind.
II there was any demand or need for aState
Convention, 1t would be the duty of the peo.
pie to call II, regardless Of the expense; but
no man has yet assigned good reason for
calling it.
We have had our Constitution for more
than twenty-five years, and during all that
time our Courts have been constituting 1t, and
our people have become more or less familiar
with the laws.
As nothing Is more demoralizing to a peo-
pie than the instability Of their laws, we
should not rush headlong into 80 important
an undertaking as that Of tearing up the or
ganic law Of the land. and putting in its place
set OF laws which cannot by any possibility
be better than those now Of force.
The factional party leaders, who would use
the party lash on the backs OF the poor non.
compoops who have no mind of their own,
and who have no better sense than TO do what
they are told, are already crying out against
the Antis, and urging hatred to them as
While Of course there may be few wise
men who think the Convention a necessity,
yet the great mass OF the people can see no
reason for 1t, except as they may think they
can spite the Antis.
A State Convention to adopt q new Consti-
tuition should not be called when the people
are In an excited condition, and when mex.
perienced and partizan men are in control OF
the minds and hearts OF the people.
In troublous times the ablest and best law
yers would be excluded nom the Convention.
Because of their superior ability and wis
dom, and because Of their manhood in not
becoming any mans tool, their counsel
would not be needed.
Az evidence that the projectors OF this Con-
vention expect to make q Constitution which
will not be acceptable to the people, IL is only
necessary to state that they propose to fasten
1t on the people without their consent. Hav.
ing assumed to be the masters OF the people,
they, and they alone. are to be consulted az to
the organic law.
Tillman, two years ago advocated q three
dollar poll tax TO support the public schools
By lowering the tax on property and increas.
Ing the poll tax, hardship would be inflicted
on the poor.
It Is claimed by the advocates Of the Com
stitutionsl Convention that the great mass OF
the negroes could be engineered out of poll
tics, We presume by either an educational or
property qualification.
The Government Of the United States
would not allow discrimination on account
OF color.
Then, II the negroes were disfranchised be-
cause Of lack OF education, or the failure TO
own property, the same rule must apply to
the white man.
And We presume herein is the reason for
not submitting the new Constitution to the
people for their ratification. They must
know that the poor people are not going to
oonsent to haye the ballot taken away from
them.
II the Convention is ordered, thousands OF
white men in electing delegates to that Con.
vention, will cast their last bsllot-they Will
then, forever afterwards, have no voice in
politics. Their only privilege will be to pay
taxes.
The new Constitution will no doubt exclude
all but voters from the jury box. 1t would be
singular II q half q mana man who is moi
entitled to vote-snould be allowed to sit on
the juries.
We warn our friends against the expert.
ment Of q Convention, which may degrade
the citizen, and put brand upon his man.
hood. simply because he is neither rich nor
educated.
The poor and the uneducated need the help
ing hand OF the Government and they should
shun the crushing heel OF the tyrant.