Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-04-25
A STRANGE RESOLUTION.

We take this opportunity to COM
ment upon the resolution adopted by a
mass-meeting OF Danvilie citizens, that
is we'll worthy OF careful thought. The
resolution. as adopted. declared that
the question of referring the Constitu-
ton. when framed. to the people should
be left to the convention framing 1t Of
such convention shall be called) and
should not be determined in advance
We are not advised as to the circum-
stances that produced the resolution,
but 1t seems to embody strange Demo-
cratic doctrine. That the Danville
mass meeting did not set wise or safe
precedent for the Democratic State
Convention. in this particular, is too
patent to need discussion.
AS the Register very we'll said, there
is the danger that the convention might
flavor a Constitution more objection
able than the present one" and in case
it did SO, and had plenary power, Il is
practically certain that it would not
submit such Constitution to n popular
vote. We do not mean to assert that
the convention would not frame a per-
fectly acceptable Constitution. But it
is to leave no room for doubt that it
will do so that we insist upon the as
surance being given that its work will
be subject to adoption or rejection by
the people.
There Is neither wisdom nor honor to
be had by binding ourselves to the
70 OF th1t tg e.. IN
was fifty years ago to entrust plenary
power to n convention in the framing
of a Constitution. This is not due to
any degeneracy Of the citizen body or
to the absence of able and honest lead
ers. AS people, we are quite as good
as our fathers and grandfathers. But
there are forces. influences and dangers
in the body polite to-day. of which the
fathers and grandfathers knew moth
ing. and to fail to take them into ac-
count. and guard against them. is to be
guilty OF folly little short of criminal.
In the matter of the proposed con-
vention, there is but one way to guard
against these influences. and that is to
leave final action on the New Constitu-
ton with the people. Certainly if safe
ty demanded in every other earlier
instance of Constitutional revision that
there should be ratification by the peo-
pie. 1t demands it with double empha-
sis now.
The tendency has been of late years,
to take too much for granted. both liz
State and national legislation. 1t is
assumed that the representatives OF the
people will always do what is right and
proper, but unfortunately neither Con-
gress nor our Legislatures have justi-
fled the assumption. 1t is about time
that this foolish optimism should be
dispensed with. 1t has given every
State in the Union a wealth of bad leg
islation. and nationally it has resulted
in the practical conversion of the Re
public into an Empire.
The proposed convention will doubt
less be composed of very good, very
patriotic and very enlightened men, but
there is no need to take chances in the
matter. The certainty that they shall
have to submit their work to the people
will not detract one jot from their good
ness. their wisdom or their enlighten-
ment. And 1t will go far to secure the
choice OF men possessed of these quail
fications, because 1t will then be to no.
body's advantage to see that men def
cient in any of them are chosen men,
bers OF the convention.