Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-22
TO DISARM OUR FOES.
The Governor Relterates His Views as
TO constitutional Amendments.
THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION.
1t Is Absolutely Essential, the Ex-
ecutive Thinks, That That Body
Shall Declare Itself as Opposed to
Radical Changes.

Convention, which meets at Staunton In
June, should declare against any very
radical changes In the Constitution. and
he reiterates his advice to the members
OF that convention to take such action
on this line as will completely disarm
the enemies of the Democratic party OF
the State.
A Dispatch reporter, who called upon
the Executive yesterday, had quite a
pleasant talk with him on the subject.
Governor" said the scribe. "some Of
the papers In the State criticise your
views expressed in an interview in the
Dispatch few days since as to what
action the Staunton convention should
take IN reference TO a constitutional
convention. You said, as you will re-
member, that IL was probable the State
convention would be expected to ap-
prove the action of the General Assem-
bly,; II so. you thought the conven-
ton should put itself on record as favor
ing certain restrictions; that all kinds
OF charges as to the intentions OF the
Democratic party in desiring consti-
tutional convention would be made by
the enemies OF the party-prominent
among which would be the following:
First. that the homestead provision will
be abolished second. road-service will
be made compulsory: third, provisions
radically inimical to the railroads will
be engrafted; fourth, unreasonable llmi-
tations upon cooperative business en-
terprises will be inserted; fifth. discrimi-
nation in the use OF public free school
funds will be allowed; sixth, reduc-
ton Of the public free school term and
impairment Of the public free school sys-
TEN will be attempted"
THE GOVERNORS REPLY.
"Oh, yes" replied the Governor. 'T
have seen some criticisms. l was not
surprised, for men have always differed,
and always will. Things are seen DIFF
! ferently by different eyes, and considered
| differently by different minds. When my
views on any question are criticised in
a manly way II does not hurt my feel
ings nor lessen my respect for my critics
| In fact, l feel that honors are easy
for 1 am as much his critic as he Is
mine.
Now, as TO the Views I expressed. I
will say that more mature reflection has
| convinced me that, though they were
| hastily stated, they are correct. I have
been struck with this fact, that mona
| OF the few papers which disapproye
the suggestion made by me have favored
the adoption by a constitutional con-
vention OF any Of the provisions TO
which / referred: on the contrary, one
OF them frankly declared that con-
stitution containing any one Of The pro-
visions would be defeated at the polls,
the same opinion.
| "There being a concurrence, then, upon
that point, the question at issue be-
| tween my critics and myself Is simply
whether the Staunton convention should
make a declaration favoring the reten-
ton OF the homestead Of the poor
man, and opposing compulsory road-ser-
vice 0n my opinion, wrong in principle,
and OF no practical benefit TO the road
sys3em), provisions radically inimical
TO the railroads and limiting unreason-
ably cooperative business enterprise.
and provisions discriminating In the use
of school funds, and reducing the pub
lie free school term, and impairing the
public free school system.
DEMOCRATS OPPOSED TO THEM.
"Wnl II be denied for d moment" asked
the Governor that such a declaration
would reflect the Democl attic sentiment
of the State? Where is the Democrat
who will rise up and declare that he
| favors engrafting upon new constitu-
ton either of the provisions recited2 I
assert, without a qualifying word that
| the Democratic party of Virginia IL OPP
| posed 10 each and all Of said provisions
Then why should not the Democratic
party in convention assembled, and speak
! ing through its authorized representa-
tives put itself on record? What harm
could be done thereby? Will some one
answer, II he can? Candor Is the orna-
ment and pride OF party.
Now, what practical party benefit
would be accomplished by such a decara-
ton by the Staunton convention? 1t Is
| a we'll known fact that the enemies Of the
| Democratic party are opposed TO con-
stituttonal convention Every Republi-
can and Populist member Of the late
General Assembly voted against the Joint
resolution providing for the submission
OF the question TO the people; their
speakers will vehemently denounce the
proposition on the husungs. and the
combination will stand In solid phalanx
against It; charges as to what the Demo-
Gratis will do, IL convention Is called.
and they control it will fill the air. Who
can meet these charges and refute them
in the absence Of party declaration?
THEY ALONE CAN SPEAK
''The only body authorized to speak
for the party between now and May.
1897, when the vote will be taken, will
be the Staunton convention. IL needs no
n prophetic eye to see that charges will
be made along the lines | have marked
out. Shall we, though forewarned, take
| ,.lo N "a
10 meet and refute them. when 1t can
be done so easily? Why not checkmate
our enemies, why not disarm them, when
the means are at hand? 1 have always
thought IL was better to dismantle an
} eremy's guns before they could be un-
limbered and fired. rather than take their
shot and shell and submit 10 possible
injury. The great military genius Of the
war always anticipated the movements
of the enemy and turned their flank
when they were least expecting IL; he
did not wait for them TO attack before
getting into position. he OWNED their
purposes and thwarsed them. In politics
as well as in war these tactics are good
and how readily can we resort TO them.
"By a simple resolution the convention
can express the sentiment OF the Demo
cratic party and then the mouth OF every
opposition speaker will be closed, or II
he dare make charge, II can be re-
futed by every Democratic canvasser by
authority of his party as expressed IN
resolution In convention assembled.
HIS ONLY PURPOSE.
"These are my views as originally giver
and now only elaborated. / can have
NJ purpose In this connection. but th'
welfare Of my party, and as an humble
member / give my ool..oA iog w..-.. s..
Il may be worth / have been In party
harness fer many years. l have nevei