Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1896-03-20
The Press on the Right Side.
(RCanoke WORLDLY

"Ihere.is no paper in Virginia that
so closely watches the opinions of
the press of the State, from the most
i"significant country weekly to the
most important city. daily. as does
the Richmond Dispatch. What the
Dispatch has. to say then, as TO the
attitude OF the State press on any
question of public policy is always
peculiarly valuable testimony. For
these reasons we reproduce tie fol
lowing:
Gas far as we have been able to
observe. tn Democratic papers
throughout the State are practically
unit in favor of a constitutional
convention, al d it is but simple jus
tice to recognize the influence the
country press oxerted in determining
the General Assembly to submit the
question Of holding a convention to
n vote of the people. But the work
of these papers did not end with
pointing out the obnoxious features
Of mud the defects i'm the present
constitution that cannot be remedied
by the amending and patching pro
cess. 1t did not end with demons
trating the necessity, asa matter Of
economy, of framing new instIu
iDent. 1t did not end with present
ing the sentimental considerations
and these should lave great weight
with eyesS-people--which dictate the
---rapudiation of the Underwood abor
ton. 1t did not end with pressing
the question upon the attention of
the Legislature until that body toof
the first step towards rendering
convention possible.
"'Ob, no. There is still most
important task before our contem.
poraries, which must be accomplish
cd in large part betw 81 now and
JnEe. This task consists in seeing
that in SO far as their influence can
effect it, the delegates elece ed TO the
Democratic State convention shall be-
men who favor constitutional con
veution. That the Staunton gather
ing will be called upon 10 make de
liNerauco on tie cOlsii utional con
vention issue hardly admits of a
doabt, and upon its endorsement or
hon-endorSement IF the movement
must depend IN great degree the re
suit of the vote on the question Of
convention or no convention in MAY.
1891 If the Staunton convention
makes an affirmative declaration the
battle Of those in favor OF framing a
new constitution will nave been more
than helf won. Let our State Demo
cratic contemporaries Join forces,
therefore, to the end of making Ger.
tain r. far as in their power lies that
endorsement. The way to accom-.
piSh this is to keep up tho agitation,
aud keep the people instructed as to
the incubi and the denominations of
the Underwood constitution.
IF the press of Virginia accurately
represents the sentiment of he State
the people are for revision of the
constitution. if the people are sui
ticiently active in the election of del
egatos to the Stanton convention, il
they do not permit their representa-
tives 20 be named and controlled by
persons immediately interested in re
tardirg the progress of the State
there is no doubt as to what will be
the voice of the Democracy on this
question.
sin the presence of this issue what
Virginia Democrats have to say or
the money question sinks into insig
nlficance. Every patriotic Demo
crat should use his influence to Sc
cure delegates to Staunton who will
endorse the action of the Legislature
In passing the Withers bill"