The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-01-26
cop.,Itut,opnl convention,

Temple Times
Some OF our exchanges talk on the sub
| feet OF constitutional convention with
such manifest Ignorance that u rs painfui
| to read what they say. One says: The
cali don't cemc from the people and the
people won't have Il, The constitution
MS II stands, while imperfect. is yet some
thing known, and Il will not be traded Tor
something unknown" Evidently the author
OF that statement thinks a constitutional
convention has a right to make ana ADOPT
n constitution, There is nothing more alb
surd A convention would simply meet
and prepare n revision OF the constitution.
1t would cut out the defects the learned
editor speaks of and submit such changes
as. In It's wisdom, would seem more III mar
mony with the wishes Of the people. When
this convention had finished its work, the
revised constitution would BE- submitted TO
the people for their ratification or rejec-
ton Then would be the time to DISCUSS
the change. There Is such depth OF in
excusable ignorance manifested by the OBJ
lection 10 o constitutional convention on
the ground that the people have. not dis
cuseed Il, that II Is positively painfll. There
Ia hardly we'll informed man In The lind
that will not agree with the learncn
editor that the constitution Is defective.
Shall the defects he retained, or do enough
men see the same defects to remove themf
This can only be tested by offering revi
sion. embracing the defects. to the people
10 vote upon II. II Is impossible for tho
people to discuss the defects until they are
placed before them In no other way could
the people be brought TO the discussion
of The same defects and their remedies.
revised constitution submitted to the
people would enlighten them more uponi
what they have aud what they would tnen
have. than anything else could do. Even
the LEARNED editor" who wants the peo-
pie TO get up IN arms against the constitn.
| lion before calling convention. might
learn something under the general Discus
sion. He talks about the consultation be-
ing something known To whom Is u
known? Not one man In hfty can express
crude outline OF what our constitution
discussion that would follow tho work
OF a constitutional convention would en-
tighten tho people. What they would then
nave. they would know something Of he
saws the present constitution Is known ana
would not be traded Tor something I'M
knowing anything, thay would know Al
about new constitution. It's like the
| geography Of our country. Not one IN
| hundred knew where Porto Rico ~. nor ~
| Iadrone Islands. before the war; nov every
child even knows y, Wnsre =. ,,, ,ns swnass
mental law. We know We have ccnsii-
,ntion We know 0ur fathers discussed y,
voted upon it aud approved y We rsst
| easy under It. knowing that Il ooptsine
nroyisions for our safety. but We DO pqe
know what thoy are nor whether they coua
no Improved uron under existing circun1-
ssances' we ali realize we have . scohset-
tuition with defects; II theqe can be nors'
| rected and ofher proyislons added fqr ~
nubiic good, Why not have thsm TSe -
pic are not supposed 70 frycteiise iavss
| they pronounce upon re hnssnsN veFk' #