Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-12-13
FRIDAY MORNING. DEC. 10. 1895.

Gov. O'Ferrall after stating his Objec
lions to the calling of constitutional
convention, intimates that the legislature
now in session can accomplish the desired
reforms by legislative enactment OF by
submitting to the people amendments te
the present constitution. 1t is, in oul
opinion, as certain as anything in legisla
ton can be, that SUCH work will not be
accomplished by the body now in session
at Richmond. 1t is work Of great mag
nitude, needing preparation, and the mem
! bers have not gone there equipped for it.
Like every other advocate of convention
we are perfectly willing to let the leglsla
ture try its hand at it, but the people Will
demand to know before it adjourns whether
it has accomplished it. If they have, then
that ends the necessity for the convention
if they have not, then they must call one
Something, it is certain, must be done.
The people of Virginia cannot bear thell
present burden-and above all the farming
element cannot. Men who hardly felt
their taxes when wheat was $1.5O, and corn
SO cents, are hard pressed by having to pay
with wheat at IS cents, and corn at 80
cents, cattle at 81 cents, horses at one-half
their former yalue-the same taxes. the
same salaries, the same myriad OF public
officials they had to pay before.
They cannot understand the costly adj
ministration in this State compared with
that of our next door neighbor, n orth Car
DINA, a State equally well governed.
They cannot take in the reasons for
Virginia S extravaganza aggregate for her
judicial system in comparison with that OF
our neighbor. They cannot understand
how a constitution which was so univer-
sally condemned by tax payers when 1T was
adopted, should find SO many defenders
now; nor does it give them any comfort
under their burdens to find that fully nine
ty per cent. of the beneficiaries-tho who
hold offices, from the highest to the lowest
are IN favor of maintaining the "old
SYSTEM
AS far as the Democratic party is con-
cerned in this matter, they find themselves
confronted by strange political situation.
The leaders of the Republican party are
opposing convention because it may
bring about an educational qualification
for the ballot, something that will for the
time reduce their party strength. A num-
Der of place holding Democrats of proml.
nence are opposing it because like the con-
vention of 1850 it may place their future
prospects at the disposal of the direct vote
of the people. A number of small place
holding Democrats are opposing 1t from
the fear that the offices they hold being not
vitally necessary to good government, will
be swept away. That is the plain and
honest truth of the matter as far as the
political aspect of convention OF no-con-
vention is concerned. While the hard
pressed tax payers of both parties are
thinking of saving their money, those OF
both parties who have OIL expect to have
places, are thinking Of saving their places.
We are not as optimistic AS the Cover
nor as to the probability Of this legislature
doing the work of a convention. Its mem
bers. as body, have not prepared them
selves for it, and it is a work that needs
preparation. The people want a reduction
of expenses. they want the slow processes
of justice, civil and criminal, in the courts
\ fastened, they want the superAuous list OF
Office holders cut down, they want the ad
ministration of the government placed
nearer to the voters-as it was by the con-
vention of 1850. Is this legislature equip
ped to undertake the work? Is any repre-
ready to make war on the network Of Off
y Gals that spreads over the State, from the
q county district up?
This legislature will sit for ninety days.
and it finds that it has not justified the
confidence Gov. O'Ferrall has in it's pow
ers. will it then call convention ? Or will
it point to a few thousand dollars saved
here and there; few petty offices Topped
off, and then promise to come again in 1897
and do a few more days work on the job
The people to go Oh paying in the mean
time! Tinkering at laws is an unsatisfac-
tory process, but when a leg islature extends
its flight to multifold tinkering with a
constitution, it is not likely to profit any
4 body much. You may rest assured that
they will be so bewildered by the size
of the job that they will not hurt anybody
much, and that after they adjourn the
salary-drawers will feel comfortably safe.
We shall soon see what Of promise there
! is in the legislature, and we shall watch
closely for it. And not only we, but the
people of the State. In their burden bear
ing they have had hope, almost pathetic
in its confidence, that something would be
done to relieve them. AS the Richmond
Dispatch. paper that well understands
the aspirations of the Virginia people, SAYS
"Year after year have they waited an op
n portunity, often and over again have thei1
hopes been deferred but the popular purpose
remains unchanged
They have hoped that the Democratic
party would do it for them. They have
not looked to the Republican party, because
1 it was Republicans who placed the present
E constitution and all its burdens on them.
q They will not forever submit to this hope
s.N5eing deferred-their patient waiting may
soe turned to passionate haste. And in their
anger the Democratic voters may sweep
away every leader who has opposed the
Z fruition OF that hope.
81 This legislature has grave responsible
W ty resting upon it. How will it treat it =:
"a DEAD SOLDIERS LOVE LETTER
Il PROBATED AS 4 WILL.