The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-03-16
UNRESTRICTED SUFFRAGE.

The question of n constitutional conven-
tion is one that has been agitating the
minds of Virginia politicians for two
years or more. 1t must be admitted that
the old Underwood constitution, under
which we have been living since 1879, is
Objectionable in many respects. In the
first place it was made by men alien by
birth or sympathy to the best elements
of the State. The result was the adop-
tion of the Underwood constitution,
under which we now live. The State,
however, has managed to progress in
spite of all disadvantages. The intelli.
gence Of the commonwealth has main
tanned its supremacy, and while in ma
teral advancement the people might have
done much better, it cannot lie denied
that under certain conditions they might
have done worse. AS to the question CT
IL constitutional convention, it is matter
for the people to decide. The age we live
in is one of progress. Extension of suf-
frage seems to be acknowledged rs the
true democratic principle. England has
tried it; France likewise and it seems to
he working we'll under both systems of
government. In the United States, where
great latitude is allowed the individual
States, various systems have been adopted
and owing to the policy of non interior
ence followed by the general Government,
Il correct estimate can he formed of the
workings of the different plans. The
result Of all these experiments has been
to show that in Il system of government
like ours unrestricted suffrage is the best
and truest exponent of popular rule.
Some of the strongest advocates of q
constitutional convention in this State,
as far as the public expressions Of opinion
stricted suifrages, either by property
or nm educational qualification, chiefly
the latter. Now, in Stale like Virginia,
where many good citiHeps are I'M
able to stand this test, such Il qualifica-
tion would be manifestly unjust.
The white people of Virginia have ac
copied the constitutional amendment
granting suffrage to the negroes, and yet
the intelligence of the common wealth has
maintained it's supremacy. With the con
tnual increase of the white majority
there is not the slightest danger of the
so-called negro rule, which, after all, is
nothing more than bug.bea conjured
up by the demagogues to advance their
own political interests, and consequently
there is not the least danger, should it be
decided to hold Il constitutional conven-
tion, in containing Il free and unrestricted
ballot to all classes of people in the State.
= free and unrestricted ballot is gen.
uine democracy, and to begin with ap.op-
erty or educational qualification would
be to force upon the State an entering
wedge that might end in Il ballot confined
to those who pay taxes on property worth
$4,000 or more, or who are able..to an.
swer any question in the English gram
mar. When once the work of restriction
has commenced, there is no knowing
where it will stop. There are many de-
fects in the present constitution, and The
Times would like to see them remedied
but in making the necessary change it is
whole people by allowing Il coterie of pol
iticians, who have only their own axes to
grind, to dictate to the State what shall
be done under the circumstances