The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-04-19
SATURDAY. APRIL 10, 1902.
Two PERTINENT5QUEST

submitted or proclaimed. the Danville
Register in a recent article said:
The papers in this State holding and
insisting that there is no way OF es-
cape for the Constitutional Convention
from the obligation to submit the new
I Constitution to the people for their ap-
proval can comfort themselves with the
reflection that their contention Is the onl!
one that meets the approval OF disinter-
ested, tf1oughtful outside observers. It
: IS the only position that will commend
itself to posterity. The record is worth
making for its own sake. It should be
a matter OF history that such wrong
was not perpetrated without a solemn
4 protest within THE borders Of the State.
we cannot say what Will be done. We
simply undertake to point out the only
il,ing that can be consistently done, IN
view OF what has previously been done
tending inevitably TO commit every dele
gate to the policy of submission.
Ana the Norfolk Landmark replied:
May we ask our able contemporary what
sort Of submission It advocates; and If 1t
advocates the adoption Of the new Con-
HtitlItion at all? And may We suggest
that nearly all Of the disfnterested,
thoughtful. outside observers whose
support pleases It would vigorously op-
pose the repeal cr those amendments to
{ the Federal Constitution which fasten
negro suffrage upon the South?
We of the South know that the repeal
Of these amendments would be the only
absolute cure for the political malady
from which the South suffers. We know
tl1at Il would be right from all proper
points OF view. Most of the dis1nterest-
cd. thoughtful, outside observers cannot,
as YET, honestly bring themselves to be-
lieyc that It would be anything but
wrong. When they declare that the new
Constitution of Virginia ought to be sub
1nitted,. they mean that 1t ought TO pe
s submitted to the present electorate Whlch
would defeat 1t on an honest count. ~
matter how disinterested and thouehtiui
: the outsiders may be, none of them I'M
derstands the political condition OF the
soutl, as tho people Of the South them
selves understand it. Tho race question
cannot be studied with good effect from
q distance
We do not mean to be rude or meddle-
some IN coming, unlimited, into discus
,.;or, between two esteemed contempor-
aries. but The Times has been endeaV-
orinr to bring this question, in all its
ins and outs, fairly and fully before the
voters. and these remarks of the Dan
Vile Register and the reply by the Nor
i folk landmark are valuable contributions
10 the discussion.
we do not mean to say that the Dam
vile Register is opposed to the adoption
or The Constitution, but the Landmark S
question is pertinent. Those who are OPP
nosed to proclamation and who are urg-
Ing for submission are in duty bound TO
1of@f
favor of the new Constitution. 1t they
s are opposed to 1t, that Is sufficient reason
why they should favor submission to the
people, because they will at least nave
an opportunity of voting against its adop-
1ion and using their influence in that dl-
rection. II a man is NOT opposed 70 eiie
constitution we cannot understand why
he personally should be opposed to proc
1amation, except it be on the ground that
the convention has no legal or moral
right to proclaim. The discussion VIII
a,e much simplifed if all those who are
opposed to proclamation will be 1ra1'k
enough to say whether or not they are
ip favor OF the new Constitution
The next question of tho Landmark is
also pertinent. What does the Danville
Register mean by subnaission2 Does It
mean submission, to the whole people, or
does it mean submission to an anrloseo
electorate? If tho latter. then it must
: he In favor of proclaimins the suffrage
rlanse. But 10 proclaim the suffrage
e clause and submit the other clauses OF
4he Constitution to the new electorate
seems to us to be an empty form. and we
/ do not believe that this would be any
more legal or that it would glve any
greater satisfaction to the opposition
than to proclaim the whole instrument.
Il Delegate wysor summed it all up when
,,a said that it the question ever narrow
Cd down to a submission to an abridged
electorate or proclamation he would take
IA nroclamation rs the preferable course. be-
cause a,e regarded, submission to an
abridged electorate as virtual procla1na-
ffon. and if he voted for proclamation
at all he would do so directly and not
IN roundabout way.
IA great Deal has been said about re
dee,ninE the party pledge" and the pledge
made to the people during the canvass
OF the question as to whether or not
]: there should be Constitutional Conven-
ton. But, suppose the convention pro-
claims the suffrage clause and then sub
I 1nits the other part Of the instrument
TO those who shall be permitted to vote
under the new plan, would that be re
f,eemins the pledge?'. Proclamation is
proclamation. whether in part or as q
y whole.
1t seems to us. therefore, that the cues
ton Inevitably narrows down to proclar
nation or submission OF the Constitution,
as an entirety, to the present electorate.
-
tlAilSA'S EMBARRASSMENT.
we referred the other day to the com
plaint 0. senator Hanna against some OF
= as<x< ST.