The sun. (Wilmington, Del.) 1897-19??, 1900-02-21
SUGGESTED REVISION OF
NATIONAL CONSTITUTION

Washington, D. c., Feb. 2o.-The idea
OF q National Constitutional Convention
ia getting hold upon the minds OF some
Of the most thoughtful men in public
life. The. thought. Is merely suggestive
as yet, and has not been resolved into q
definite purpose, but there ia growing
feeling that we have reached stage in
our history where il begins to be seri-
Gus problem whether the Consultation
must be reconstructed or reconstruct.
The feeling is very common in and out
oil Congress that this nation is like big
boy in abort trousers, which will give
way at every seam if a new pair is not
soon provided. Almost every important
development in our national growth,
supported by considerable element ac-
tive in public affairs, is felt to be strain
of the Constitution. Within the past
eighteen months more than ever before
during the present generation of political
doctors the Constitution has been raised
across the path OF progress along the
lines Of development seemingly most
popular, and men who believe thorough
" in the new policies and have faith in
the future world influence OF the United
States have been disturbed and caused to
ponder over the question of constitu
tional limitations. They have hesitated
between yeneration for this time. honor
ed instrument and a common-sense
recognition of present conditions and
future needs.
Few men in Congress, aside from those
who are utterly indifferent to anything
except merely temporary policy, who dc
not agree that the present tendency is tc
break away more and more from the re-
straints which the Constitution has beer
regarded as putting upon the policies Of
Government. This is justified upon the
grounds Of necessity arising from the
growth and development OF the nation
It is argued that if the trainers OF the
Constitution had any conception of the
nation to be built upon the foundation
they laid, the conditions existing at til,
time OF the framing of the Constitution
did not admit OF its being made broaC
enough to meet that nations needs TO
all time. Not to speak too irreverently Q
that great instrument, it vas OF necessit,
patchwork, in which each Of the State
or colonies contributed patch, and th
doubts and anxiety Of the time foun,
expression in the color of the patches
What once stood out in glazing colors ha
now faded; time has reduced the who'll
fabric to common shade, but tina
Gud0S 10 iholopihNt anu DtCOlI
ing colorless.
In dealing with the conditions tha
now exist there appears little differenc
OF opinion as to what the facts are, an
it is question OF method in dealin
with the problem presented. Compare
lively few men among the class reepor
sible for Government today, in either tt
legislative or executive branches, an
perhaps in the judiciary, have much RI
spect for the narrow restraints OF TIL
Constitution. A suggestion OF their e1
istence with right to be respected prt
vokes outbreaks Of impotence in ever
debate in Congress. The only ope
question appears To be whether the re
straints which ale deemed inconsisten
with our present national character an
a hindrance to expansion shall /
ignored and allowed to become a dea
letter, or whether the problem shall
dealt with more directly by reconstru
ton of the Constitution to suit it to ii
changes that have come about during i
honored existence of more than
hundred years.
Those who are inclined to the idea