The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1897-02-20
A NEW STATE CONSTITUTION.

legislature looking toward the calling
of a convention to formulate Il new
constitution for the state.
We are not prepared just now to
take positive grounds in favor of the
proposition, but we are impressed with
the necessity for n careful ~considera-
tion of the proposition. The opposi-
ton to the calling OF a constitutional
convention is largely based upon the
assumption that the motive behInd
persons who are urging it Is a desire to
remove restrictions against excessive
taxation, and TO begin a saturnalia of
public expenditure and extravaganza
such as characterized the few years
Just following the evil war; but when
such men as ex-Gov. Stone, Gov.
Stephens, Judge Sherwood, E.
w. Stephens, and others whom we
could name, begin TO think it would lie
well TO have a new constitution, other
reasons thar the one indicated must be
looked for. None of these gentlemen
would c%ountenance anything which
looked toward unnecessarily b%urdening
the people with taxation
The present fundamental law OF
Missouri is in many respects an adj
mirable instrument. In its Jealous care
of the rights and liberties of the citi-
zen, it might well have been written
by Thomas Jefferson. There is in 1t
neither aggrarianism, a%narchism, arts
tocracy Or plutocracy. In its strong
| vigorous declarations of the principles
underlying a government OF the people
by the people it is a declaration OF true
democracy. In these respects it chal-
lenges admiration, and upon these
points there can be no doubt in any
reasonable mind that its successor will
follow closely in its path-indeed, so
closely that only such changes will be
made as changed conditions and newly
discovered evils shall demand.
Careless declarations made in debate
in the general assembly, charging that
the making of the instrument was DOM
mated by a corporation agent, are
false and unpatriotic. The roll OF the
members of the constitutional conven-
tion of 1876 is a roll of honor, not only
as to integrity, but ability as we'll
With Adams, Allen, Black, Broad
head, Fyan, CAN'T, johnson, Lacland,
Norton, S~hackelford, Switzer, Todd,
Wagner and our own Wallace among
its membership, no selfish or m%ercenary
interest could sway the body without
exposure and derision. They wrought
well; they gave 10 the people a good
work.
But that was in 1875, and this is
1897.
We do not pretend to say that every
twenty-five years should give MS q new
constitution. The difference in condi-
lions does not lie so much in the time
has elapsed as in the unusual
nature of the changes which have come
ovcr US in many ways 1hose we're
war times; these be times of peace.
Those were days of vine and wassail
these be days of soberness and bnsi-
ness. There is no danger of the recur-
renee of what was seer and done from
1865 to 1873.
There are so many reasons why we
should have a new constitution. The
legislative restrictions of the present
instrument are im~practieable; the
in our state tax arrangement,
by reason of the payment of the bonded
debt, demand attention; u growing
expenditure for criminal costs needs
cure which can only be radically
Effected by a new judicial system, free
from many of the delays and expenses
Of the present one. Trusts and COM
bines in restraint. of trade should be
reached.
These and other reasons may be ad-
iuced for the calling Of the convention,
20 that there are evidently two sides to
The question among honorable and
patriotic men.