Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1901-09-04
THE DUTYOE THE HOUR

Sun day morning seems to us good
time 10 say wor about the responsl-
Utilities and duty of citizenship. Ihls
topic Is always timely and IN ORDER
but il is particularly SO just now, for
aea are in state af revolution. We
lave ssembled convention 10 revise
tie Constitution, which means that
we propose to rewiite the organic l,w
OF the stat. In.a lite While we shall
have completed this work and must
adop or autonomy to the order OF
things. The work will not have been
completed when the Constitutional
Convention shall have finished up its
labors and adjourned. Let us keep
we'll in mind the fact that the conven
ton was called to make Constitution,
not code. The Constitutional Con-
vention will frame an instrument which
will deal only with the fundamental
principles of law; it will remain for the
ext General A sembly to W rk out
the details. to revise the statuors laws
OF the State and make them conform
to the new Constitution. To use
figure We may say that the Constitu
tlonal Convention will merely lay the
foundation and put up the frame worl;
will be the work of Nd small impor-
ance. 1t is second in Importance
My to thu work OF the Constitutional
Convention. The Constitution can
only become operative through the
statutory enactnents of the Legisla-
ture.
When this convention was called, the
people CT Virginia, realizing the i'm
portance of the work to be done, de-
termined to send to the convention
nd did send to the convention their
best and truest and brainiest citizens.
The men who are as embed in that
convention are determined to give to
The people of Virginia a Constitution
that is adopted to existing conditions.
They are honest, they are competent,
they are in earnest, and we believe
that their work will be good.
We Fray thst the spirit which ami
mated the people in selecting their
delegates to the Constitutional Con-
vention will animate them in selecting
their delegates to the Constitutional
Convention will animate them in selec-
ting their candidates for the General
Assembly. We pray that the people
of Virginia will select the best and
most patriotic men to be found in this
section and that to frame new code
Of laws uader the new Constitution.
We regret to say, however, that the
people In this section at least d, not
seem to be thoroughly aroused. There
is a deplorable indifference to the
primary election soon to be held by
the Democrats of Richmond to nomi-
nate candidates, and hence it is that
Oh SUNDAY morning, we would urge
upon them the sacred duty of citizen
ship. No man llveth to himself The
privilege of citizenship carries with it
/ grave responsibility. 1t is not enough
hat man be good, moral and up.
light; it is his bounden duty to be a
rood citizen as well. to take an active
part in Politics and to exert himself in
he interest of good government. The
itizen cannot in duty shift his respon-
ioility upon the Commonwealth. The
Cannon wealth looks to every citizen {
o do his duty to the Commonwealth. t
The Commonwealth of Virginia calls !;
pom her sons to-day to take an active
art in This campaign and to do every
hing in their power to put the very
est men in the Legislature. When
irginia called her sons to arms to
ght for her rights, they responded =
most as one man. The call to-day is
, less urgent and hearty response
no less obligatory. Richmond P
ines. IO