Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1901-08-08
THURSDAY, AUGUST s, 1901.
so FAR A DISAPPOINTMENT.

an able and earnest body Of men. So far
the expectations of The public have been
unfnlflled. The convention has been In
session nearly two months and seems to be
as completely at sea OH the important
questions that are before it as at the com
mencement of the session. Much OF its
time has been occupied with discussing
QUESTIONS that were idle and foolish. 1t
Will be remembered that several days were
occupied at the beginning Of the session IN
discussing whether the convention should
have eight pages Or twelve pages. Re-
Gently several days were given to the dis
cussion of the question Of taking recess
for thirty days. So much Tor the boast OF
what the convention was going to do in
the way of quick and efficient work.
If we look for a reason for the unsatis-
factory and diatory action of the conyen-
ton it may, possibly, be found i'll the mo-
tive which originated and surrounded this
convention movement from the beginning.
While some advocates Of the INVENTION
were influenced by honest motives, the
prime force which called it into existence
was political and partisan. There was
transparency insincere profession made
that it was proposed to change the organic
law for the good of the public, but every
person of common intelligence knew that
the real purpose was to make COnstltu-
ton that will, if possible, perpetuate the
control of the Democratic party. The
movement was made a party one at tire
last State Convention, and partsanry has
controlled the deliberations Of the body
ever since it assembled.
This is the first partisan constitutional
convention that ever assembled in Virgin
ia. The object for which it was called was
unfair and evil, and it is not strange thai
perplexity should dominate its dellbera
tons. Though eager to accomplish the
purpose for which it was called the spirit
who are controlling the convention seen
unable to agree as to how it shall be done
The restriction Of suffrage in the interes
of the Democratic party is the great ohjec
in view. 1ut 50 far tue so-called Statesmen
have failed to agree as to how that shal
be wrought. 1t is amusing to read the nu
merous resolutions that have been intro
duced on the suffrage question. Many 0
them are 50 inconsistent and ridiculous a
to seriously call in question tie hoaste(
ability of the members Of the convention
MIR. O'Flaherty, the Wild Irshman from
Warren county, on Wednesday Of las
week presented p resolution to settle th'
vexed suffrage question, that is in keeping
with the general quality of those that has
been offered IN such profusion. The
O'FIaberty resolution says;
"Wbereas, it is an uncomfortable prlnc
pie that men cannot be taxed or deprived
of their property without their consent
nor bound by any law to which they have
not in ike manner assented."
After reciting, as preamble, these
grand principles, enunciated in the immOr-
tai Bill of Rights, Mr. O'Flaherty declares
that, "the right to vote is fundamental
political right upon which all other rights
are based" and "that every male citizen
of the United States who is SUI jtriS and
twenty one years of age shall have the
right of suffrage" Then, in the face Of
these great truths and just principles, he
proceeds to put price-a capitation tax
of S1.OO-on suffrage, and also an educa-
tional qualification by requiring that each
voter 'shall be able, unless physically dis
abled, to mark and prepare his own ballot
unassisted."
This is, perhaps, one of the fairest reso-
lutions that has been offered, but each and
all of them, that have come from a
Democratic source, has disclosed the pur-
pose of outraging the right which the Bill
of Rights aud Constitution of the United
States have declared shall be exercised by
every honest citizen.
The convention may be composed Of
able men, of statesmen, but the proceed
ings SO far have not been marked with in
tellectua force or high order of states
manship Ability, when misdirected,
when employed to do outrage, is poor
possession.
Hon. B. Walton Moore, while speaking
on the motion for the Constitutional Con-
vention to take a recess said awe are
continually wandering in region Of vacil-
alton, marching up hill and then marching
down again, and our actions invite criti
cism."
This, coming from one Of the leading
Democratic members of the convention, is
a pretty strong indictment of the efficiency
and earnestness Of the body.
The partisan press has begun to tell the
Schley Board of Inquiry what its decision