The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1897-06-26
ihe Constitutional Convention

We are in favor of calling the co,
ve,ntlon. but can see no sense nor sonn' @
poilcy III budding it down To certai,
measures. Oar Legislators have at.
i i,ehp.Ga TO do this, and it ma,
t"o, to '.aI party tactics may con.
tiol the convention i'm its ,c.
| t'"I. We cannot get il throuyh "n,
Uranium how Legislature, which is tie
.'ealion OF constitution, can assume
W " i'se'l the supleme power inherent in
!ne sovereign people, Of limiting them
.n tne forming of an organic law. We
"aht convention that will frame ms
constitution suited to the time in
WIG Mn,ci we llve-adaptel in every pos
sioIe way 10 our necessities, and that
may enable us to live under and nhav
1t to the letter in all our noI;ti.,, IVY ,,,
n9vres and legislation. We want :.
convention that will make suc|, n rnn-
stitutlon that judges and governors can
nave n" laW-making powers that the
people should respect. We are tired of
oliicers elected by election commissions
cts. III we are to have n Democratic
hepuhllcan Government, in the mama
VI uecency and patriotism, let the neo-
pie who bear all the burthens cI,nns.
their rules, from the least to the gIent.
est, and let lis forever put stop tn ti,
internal farces we have been havi,,y
ana which we have falsely been ealing
elections by the people.
All tlat IS required to do this il TO
sehd men OF learning and experience
lIeemeh-man FREQ in thought and in
aGtioil, VINO possess opinions and "A will.
VINO nave honor and will not lie. who
can face demagogue and t,amnle on
his devices. We need 10 more unrtv
politicians. many, very many of whom
never trouble themselves to read Con
st!tutlon, OF, if they do, have not the
nlihu To understand il, even where il ia
free from ambiguity
with well digested organic law, our
State may be elevated TO Il much higher
plane of moral worth. and it's laws nos.
sess some vitality. As it is, every law.
Including the Constitution, which in
letter or spirit antagonzes in ;,ny way
the Rurposes of faction or If ieadjuy
dei'fagogne, is openly disregarded, and
there Is 40 power that can be Invoked TO
give lt vnlcc. We want suffrage so
regulated, SO protected that DO regis
trar or election comm issiuner can fur
ther abridge it. IL is nonsense to sav
we nave no men who can, and who will
make Constitution. for there are such
among lis; but they will not l nsi. forward
to be chosen. The people should seek
tnem, designate and depute them to do
the work, which when properly done,
may serve as il monument to after
time.
The Constitution should not he made a |
code 81 laws. AS the present one is, and |
sHGtsfdoss us some are. Every constitu- |
|lnDal restraint upon universal suffrage
sfonld lie made to operate prospectiy..-
y, for such is the present condition of
thousands of voters, that to give it i'm
mediate effect would work a hardship.
But being made to work, say, from A. !
D. 1900. everyone would have ample
.ime to prepare for it, and negleeting to
10 50, should he made to suffer The
He then conld have
10 one bnt himself to blame.
We suggest that ali who desire to
rave IA good Constitution should begin
o look around for Trustworthy men to
make it.
Don't send representatives to the Con-
,ention to devise political puzzles and
! sytem of political jugslery. Give the
aw making department the power to
'nact good laws adapted to our neces-
titles, and deny it any right to trjfle
With the Constitution.