Omaha daily bee., 1899-10-08
THE PEOPLE CAN ne TRUSTED.

a'a@ 's'f isTf 'ftAN bF 4 htS fbs
Discussing the Nebraska republican
platform, commcnding to the thoughtful
consideration of the party the PROPOSE
ton for a national convention to be
called by two.thirds of the states to re.
wise the federal constitution, the eastern
press generally unite in saying that the
object sought is most desirable. but that
the practical difficulties in the way make
its feasibility questionable The New
York Tribune, for example, boldly ad
mits that there is certain degree of
dissatisfaction with the workings of our
federal system and that some of its ma.
chinery is undeniably cumbrous or fails
to allow that direct play of the popular
Will for which there Is an Increasing
clamor In many quarters. 1t goes
further and says that some problems of
modern politics might be dealt with
more effectively with the constitution
more flexible and elastic, but yet CON
cludcs that no revisionary movement
seems likely in our day to develop more
thar purely academic interest.
In support of this position the Tribune
cites the fact that no constitutional
change has been effected since the three
war amendments were shot into the
constitution, and that although vigor.
Gus agitation has gone on in recent
years in favor of the election of United
States senator's by direct vote of the
people no perceptible progress has been
made toward accomplishing II because
congress has again and again
refused to submit the amend
ment to the state legislatures
These state legislative bodies them
selves, it is urged, are unlikely to sane
ton an innovation which would rob
them of one of their most valued polit.
ical prerogatives american opinion"
1t goes on to say, "is not prepared to
face with eQuanimity the experiment of
Il new constitutional convention. 1t is
scarcely sanguine enough to believe that
Il present-day gathering of revisers
would sustain the reputation for hon
esty, moderation and sagacity achieved
by the original trainers of our basis of
union"
1t is naturally to be expected that the
great corporate interests of the east
would be particularly opposed to any
plan for constitutional revision. They
have always been entrenched in the
United States senate and have always
succeeded in blocking every effort at
nmpnImnnf
change would not in any way affect
them, because they fear one change
would lead to others unacceptable TO
them. The railroads, the trusts, the
great insurance companies. all throw up
their hands In holy horror at the sug-
gestion Of a new convention to revise
the constitution and ask if we want to
undo all that the trainers of that instru-
ment, in their wisdom, handed down TO
their posterity. They ask how can we
hope TO get together body Of men who
would compare with the great minds
that We're put to work on the original
frame Of government, forgetting that the
present generation is also blessed with
great men who would rise above parti-
sanship and personal preferences for the
sake of patriotism.
Should a constitutional convention be
called it would certainly be the aim Of
every state to send as its delegates the
ablest of its citizens in whom the people
might have faith and whose work would
receive the approval of all classes. |
Under a popular government such as
ours it is absolutely necessary to trust
the people, not only in the selection of
their officers, but also in the crystalliza-
ton of public sentiment into law. Were
we TO have a convention for constitu-
tional revision at the beginning of the
twentieth century there would be no
more reason to fear radical action than
there was when the constitutional con-
vendon sat in 1877 and submitted 10
the states the present draft Of our con-