Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-04-21
TWELVE PAGES.
SATURDAY. APRIL 21. 1900.
A POSSIBLE OBJECTIVE.

The Virginian- Pilot has from the
first deprecated the wholesale denunci-
alton of ofilceholdcrs on the hypothesis
that they were working untedly to de-
feat the movement TO commit the
Democratic party OF Virginia to re-
vision of the Constitution by a con-
vention. 1t regarded the hue and cry
us bit of cheap demagogy, having no
place in a serious discussion and
events have not given it reason to
change that opinion. They have shown
rather that the oficeholders. like the
other citizens of the Commonwealth.
are divided upon this question, some
being strongly for, and some bitterly
against making n party issue of the
matter
The appearances are now that when
the convention meets practically half
the delegates will be instructed to vote
for revision by convention. There may
be majority so instructed: there may
be less. 1t all depends on the counties
where conventions have not yet been
held. If there shall be majority in
structed to commit the Democratic
party to Constitutional Convention,
there will then be no excuse for not
committing 1t also To "A submission of
the new Constitution to a vote of the
people for ratification or rejection In
such n contingency, we have faith IN
the Democracy to believe that this will
be done. 1t iS SO plainly the part of
wisdom that if it be left TO the unbiased
judgment of delegates, without deals
and dickers, we believe they will keep
the Democratic record straight
There is the possibility. however, that
n majority of the delegates may not be
Instructed to make the calling OF the
proposed convention party issue 1t
is possible that between those instruct
ed for and those instructed against the
proposed convention, there may be Il
body of neutral delegates holding the
balance of power and able to turn the
scales the one way or the other. 1t
may be that the party can be commit
ted to Constitutional revision only by
a compromise. and those who believe
that no Constitution should be put up
on the people OF Virginia without their
approval at the polls may find them
selves sacrificed to the desire to OBJ
tain revision at any price.
The well-known anteccdcnts of some
OF those most prominent as opponents
OF revision give color to the assumption
that they are not so much opposed to
revision of the Constitution as to its
submission to vote OF the pcoplc.
when revised. 1t is not a revised Con-
stitution that they object to, but it Is
such Constitution as, under all thc
conditions. could command the support
of majority OF the people of Virginia.
Given the assurance that the docu-
ment would not have to undergo this
ordeal, their opposition might be ma
ferially relaxed. In convention
whose fiat should be final In determin-
ing the fundamental law of the State.
they would undertake to look ont for
their own interests. particularly MS the
delegates to such convention are vet
to be chosen, and there Is abundant on
portunity to take time by the forclock.
We should not be surprised, there
FORE to see the efforts OF this element
OSTENSIBLY concentrated to defeat
revision OF the Constitution, but
REALLY to defeat the pledge to sub
nit such Constitution to a popular vote.
Let this be kept in mind by those who
believe that the people of Virginia
should be supreme.
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The North Carolina Populists had an
other Of those Butler and Skinner times