Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-20
PAUSE AND CONSIDER.

II would be well for the Virginia pub
lie to bear in mind three facts with re-
ference TO the county and city elections,
which are to be held in this State on
the fourth Thursday in May OF this year.
First, that a vote is then 10 be taken
upon the question of requiring the Lesis-
lature to provide for the assembling of
a convention to revise and amend the
State Constitution.
Second. that on this question Demo-
Gratis have been left free 10 vote "for"
or against calling a convention. 1t
has not been made party question.
Third. that the Republicans. as party,
In State convention assembled, have de-
clared against a convention.
The Republicans have been told how
to vote. but Il. will rest with each Demo
crat 10 decide for himself whether he
will vote yes" or mo" That there are
many things in the Underwood Consti-
tuition, as we have II to-day. that might
be improved. none Of us can doubt. And
by many 1t is contended that we shall
never be able 10 effect the retrenchment
called a convention and given into its
hands the privilege Of presenting us with
complete. modern. and economical Con-
stitution. The speeches made in the SEN
ate by Mr. Withers. of Danville. showing
how much greater is the cost Of admins
Carolina, have made a great impression
upon the public mind. 1t is believed that
we could devise a cheaper and better
court-system than we have. 1t IS also
believed that. in the interest OF economy.
some offices might be wholly abolished
Then there are the suffrage question,
the distribution of public-school funds,
etc. to be considered Moreover, it can
be shown that nearly all Of the Southern
States have held conventions Of late
and revised the constitutions put upon
them by the carpet-baggers and scala
wags.
But the really great question with us
Democrats OF Virginia is whether the
times are auspicious for having such a
convention. For our part, we fear ;hat
they are not. We do not yet know what
will be the future political affiliations CT
many Of those who refused TO vote with
us last fal-some OF whom stayed away
from the polls: some of whom voted with
us, because they were pledged TO do so;
some of whom voted for Palmer and
Buckner, and others of whom supported
Mckinley and Hobart We cannot be
.hai Oh he h
licans to contest for such a prodigious-
~ rich stake as a constitutional conven-
tion until we have convinced ourselves
that failure on our part would be we'll
nigh impossible.
On this ground alone, we think Demo-
Gratis would do well TO ponder the mat
Ter carefully before determining TO vote
I'm favor OF calling a constitutional con-
vention.
We have long waited for the coming
of the time when we might safely enter
upon the work of revising and amending
our State Constitution; but, we regret
10 say, we do not think that that time
has yet come. Certainly. that was the
opinion Of the State Democratic Con-
yention held at stanton last spring.
Had the Democratic convention felt rea-
sonably sure that there was plain sailing
before us, who doubts that IL would have
declared as emphatically in favor Of a
constitutional convention as the Repub-
lIcans had previously declared against it?
No: the Democratic convention fore
saw the rising Of factions in our party.
and. therefore. avoided making decla-
ration either for or against consti-
tutional convention. Was not this for
tunate foresight upon the part of the
convention? We think so.
Before we Democrats determine upon
having a constitutional convention. we
ought 10 outline the general policy that
we should pursue in case We acquired
control OF the convention. For us &c
meet in convention without a chart oil
compass, so to speak, would not be to
remove, but 70 create, factions in our
party. Let us. therefore. take heed as
20 calling a constitutional convention
Just now.
. ------------------
Z. There is a bill before the Ohio Legis-
lature forbidding the promiscnous c.stri-