Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-13
The constitutional Convention.

| To the Editor Of the Dispatch:
Dishonest minds may be weak. but they
are never lacking in cunning. Honest
men have nothing to conceal, hence they
are frank, transparent, ingenious; but
dishonest men are always concealing
their unworthy motives and purposes;
| they are simulators and dissimulators;
their ingenuity is constantly taxed and
strained 10 hide their true characters
| and their real object. By this constant
practice they acquire at length incredible
| cunning. Never was there a better illus
| tration Of this truth than may be found
in the manner of the construction Of
the Underwood Constitution. Its trainers
did their work in masterful way. They
took steps TO provide that the instru-
ment they were forming should be self
perpetuating. Their plan was very cum
ming one but full Of woe TO the good peo-
pie Of the Commonwealth. Reduced TO
its last analysis, IL was a plan OF bribery
and corruption, not limited to that time,
but intended TO be operative through all
coming time. So far it has proved erect
ual and l fear 1t will prove effectual 10
the end.
% 1t has created vast number OF I'M
necessary, and hence hurtful, Offices. The
public service would be better performed
with a third or a fourth of the officials
demanded by the Underwood Consti;u-
ton. These swarms Of hungry office
holders are the pest OF the honest people
OF the Commonwealth. We suffer by be-
ing taxed to support them, and also by
the withdrawal of so many from the
ranks Of productive industry. Every man
wants an Office, and when an office is 10
be filled a dozen quit work 10 canvass
for votes The amount Of wealth lost TO
the State by this greedy scramble for
office is incalculable And more than
this, and worse than this the moral tone
and fibre Of the people is weakened as
they learn to look, not 10 honest labor,
but to the public. for support Hence. /
the manifest decadence in the spirit. the
courage, the self-reliance Of the people /
These e-holders-actual and expect- !
anita mighty host. stand opposed to the
abrogation OF the Underwood Constitu- !
tion Like Demetrius. they rush to the !
rescue Of their imperilled craft. Their |
advocacy Of its perpetuity was enectuany |
secured.
90 But IL one wishes to see fully the |
deadly drift OF the Underwood Constitu- I
ton, and to understand what means n /
employs TO intrench itself in popular sun I
port, let him study the cold figures or
the reports Of the Auditor Of Public Ac-
counts. He will there see that about two
thirds OF the large amount wrung. bv
cruel and exhaustive taxation from an
impoverished and despairing people Is
simply given away-given 10 the poor
given to the rich, given 10 all who viii
take It; given to every claimant .Aven
promiscuously, and without proof with
out questioning, without formality OF anv
sort whatsoeverll
Can the force Of folly further go7 7,
would seem that. rioting in excessive
wealth, we are seeking by any device the
means OF healthful depletion. We have
not got money 10 pay the men who do
honest work for the Commonwealth. we
are staggered and stand aghast M tbe
coming Increase I'm the rate of interest,"
On our public debit and yet we hovoI
simply millions 10 give away, But ~
we must give. and can't help H. LET us
give only TO those who need the publcl
AIMS Certainly. the most Optimistic ma
ernalism could demand nothing moro
Doing this. we shall find that the state
Treasury will be amply able 10 meet an
demands. by plan so simple al the
rouble vanishes.
When n demand born OF the distress
II an impoverished and disheartenea
PEOPLE. is made for the abrogatson OF the
Underwood Constitution-the Had OF our
yoes-the unnumbered beneficiarles OF its
county cry out against IT, Thus by sa- y
anic cunning II provides for It's own per-I
'etuity. IL has bribed It's way 10 support. |
many thousands
Giving money, or its equivalent without !
aging the quid pro quo. are thus COM
nltted TO It's perpetuation. They fear
hey Will lose the pap 1t has given them; J