Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-03-05

In an editorial referring to the per-
sonnet of the Constitutional Conven-
ton soon to hN held In this State, the
Delaware Democrat Of Georgetown
says;
In choosing candidates for delegates
to the Constitutional Convention the
distinction between bipartisan and
non partisan should not be forgotten.
Some OF the press have used the two
phrases as meaning the same, but in
truth, they are az far as apart as tho
poles. Bipartisan means ticket com
posed Of both Democrats and Republi-
cans, but non -partiean means one in
which partisan polities is not consid-
cred at all. but the men are solicited
on q higher plane than mere politics,
TO frame an instrument that shall be
tho fundamental law Of the State
By all means lot us have non partisan
delegates, for only through convon
tion composed OF such men can we get
Constitution that will not partake Of
a partisan character.
What better plan to secure non-par-
tisan delegates could be adopted than
to elect a Convention composed of fiji.
teen Republicans and fifteen Demo
Gratis. Such convention would not
be affected by partisan considerations,
because such considerations could not
possibly prevail. They would therefore
be ignored.
The Democrat also editorially treats
Of the work the convention is expected
to do, and makes the following sug-
gestions;
There is something else to be settled
as well as the personnel OF the Consti
tutional Convention. That body will
meet in very short time after tho
election and will not probably be very
long in session. The work for it TO
do should not DO sprung upon the
members, but should be discussed BY
the people before the assembling Of the
convention, and their wants should
be as clearly defined as possible before
the delegates get to work. In this way
can the body learn the wishes of the
people and form an instrument in &C.
cordance with them that will be
adopted when voted upon for ratitica-
ton.
1t is not, in our opinion, sufficient
to elect the delegates with the simple
understanding that the old Constitu-
tion is to be amended in sundry ways
without deciding in what way it shall
be done 1t is for the people to saw
what alterations are to be made, and
il they do this before the election of
delegates and the latter carry out their
wishes there would be no cause for
the defeat OF the new Constitution.
A thorough discussion of all these
things in the press and before the
people is, we believe, necessary, in
order that the delegates may act with
wisdom and in accordance with the
peoples will, Amy other method would
leave the matter entirely in the discre
tion OF the members, and when the in
strument came before the people for
ratification the issues involved would
come up for popular discussion for the
first time and some Of them not meet
ing with popular approval would cause
a rejection of the Constitution. Let
the new provisions be at least outlined,
in order that all may see what is in
tended to be done, and public opinion
tested before going further. In this
way not only may time and expense
be saved. but the provisions that the
people really want will not run the
risk of being defeated because joined
with those to which they are opposed.
In this work The Gazette will be
glad to assist by all means in its power
during the coming campaign. The
columns Of tho paper will be at all
times open to the consideration Of the
subject, and we shall be pleased to re-
ceiye and print communication detail
ing suggested amendments to the Con,
shtution. The making of now Con-
stitution is work in which all the
people are interested, and in which
they should freely make their views
known. And this Tho Gazette will
help them to do 70 the fullest extent.