Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1901-02-07
SUBSCRIPTIONS.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1901.
OLIGARCHY THREATENED.

When the Constitutional Convention
question was being agitated, and before
the question of calling such a convention
was submitted to the people we appre-
hended it was a movement for the estaD'
lishment of an oligarchy similar to those
that have existed in the States of Miss
issippi and Louisiana. When we wrote
and published our apprehensions on that
line our fears were hooted at by Demo
Gratis. From expressions that are now be-
ing made by members of the Legislature
and Democratic papers, it seems that our
gravest fears as to the dangerous purposes
of the Constitutional Convention are likely
to be realized.
We publish in another colamn an edi'
torial from the Lynchbulg News, headed
"Power of The Convention" The editor
of that paper Is member of the State
Senate, and is being urged as a man pecu-
liarly fitted to be delegate to the coming
Constitutional Convention. He has been
considered a very conservative man, but if
he is correct in the views he expresses in
the editorial above referred to, then, the
liberties of the people of Virginia are in
very grave danger. He says
at will be for the convention itself to
say whether a constitution framed by it
shall be submitted for ratification to those
who now enjoy the right of suffrage or to
those who will be entitled to that right
under the new constitution, or whether
it shall be put into operation without be-
ing submitted to the popular vote. What
course shall be followed will be question
of expediency and not of obligation on the
part of the convention"
With such extreme views expressed by
the conservative Lynchburg News, we are
not surprised to see reports in the Rich
mond papers that many members of the
Legislature are taking the position that if
the new constitution is submitted to the
popular vote no man should be allowed to
vote on its adoption except those who will
be entitled to the right of suffrage under
the provisions Of the new constitution.
The masses Of the people may well be
alarmed al the aims and purposes of the
coming constitutional convention. If the
course suggested by the News and advO-
Gated by members of the Legislature is to
be followed no greater outrage was ever
inflicted upon civilized, free people than
is contemplated by the party that will con-
troll the convention. The exercise of such
authority as the News claims the conven.
ton will be invested with will be a tyranny
unequaled in America and an outrage that
would and should provoke revolution.
1t was never contemplated to give to any
body of men the power to change the organ
ic law of this State to suit themselves, as to
them may seem expedient, without the
approval of majority of all the men who
were qualified to vote under the existing
Constitution. To say that convention
will have the power or authority to sub.
NIT the new constitution to those whom
they propose to be enfranchised under
its provisions would be investing the con-
vention with prerogative that is thor
oughly antagonistic to republican institu
tons. The convention could, by the new
constitution, disfranchise nine.tenths or
ninety per cent. of the voters of Virginia
and let the outrageous provisions for such
Acknowledgement be ratified by the favor
ed few who are invested by the new or
ganic law with the right of suffrage. If
the position of the Lynchburg News is
correct the coming constitutional conven'
ton will have the authority to do such
things. We deny the correctness of the
position of the News; and predict that SUCH
an exercise of authority by the convention
will provoke social and political revolu-
ton. The people will have to contend
with an oligarchy. The oligarchy will
be crushed.