The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-03-12

constitution of 1869 the first period TO
proposing further amendments to that
instrument, through the Senate and
House of Representatives, came i'll
1880. A proposition to make popula-
ton instead of dirt, the basis of re-
presentation was made in the Legisla-
ture of that year 1.-The issue was
formally raised" and ardently dis
cussed in the Legislature and by some
of the newspapers outside, although
the contemporary, who was something
of a kid at that time, declares that
"the newspapers have discussed the
topic in a desultory way only,
Again in 1890, and still again
in 1900, when the timelock behind
which the antiquated motheaten,
dust covered fabric was reposing, had
registered the hour when the doors
could be opened, and the minds Of
Solons lighted by constitutional vir-
tue and wisdom were permitted to I'M
dertake the work of renovation, the
issue was formally raised" and the
editors whose newspapers were not
cast in pewter foundries in Boston or
New York, Joined with vigor i'll the
demand that the Constitution be made
republican III fact as well as name.
At each of these decennial periods
the ardent newspaper advocates-and
others-of amendments based on the
fundamental principle of the govern
ment of this republic were thrown
down by the moss backs who infested
the Senate, where the lawful business
of amendment must begin.
The Messenger is straining its eyes
to pierce the future. It's hopes stretch
forward to 1910. "There will be
plenty of time before 1870" it says,
"in which to present all sides of the
subject to Vermont newspaper readers
and to thoroughly inform every
thoughtful citizen of the merits of the
issue" Mark Tapley, in the fever
and ague infested regions round about
Cairo, doubled up and pallid from the
effect of the miasmas in his environ
ment, was never more clipper than
his successor of the Messenger
The issue of recent agitation IL
Connecticut, as we'll as the results OF
these decennial attempts to get the
matter of constitutional reform before
the people for discussion, is not at al
reassuring. In the first place the
newspapers as class will not discuss
the question of representative reform
The editorial Ephraim is joined to hi
big pumpkin, local gossip idols. SOM
papers will discuss the subject, III al
it's bearings, as the Messenger, undel
it's present and Immediately preceding
editorship, has discussed it-and thu
predecessor probably laid down hi
quill and vacated his chair with tin
feeling, born of experience as mem
Der of the House of Representatives
: that this question Of representation
on the basis of population in Vernon
presented the forlornest kind of a for
lorn hope-and there were truth an
wisdom in the conclusion,
It's a far cry to 1910. 1t is lon
r range discussion and PROSECUTING tn
o contemporary is up against. His cor
G verts Of today may be dead, or ma
o have gone west, before the time fC
- action arrives. So also may be h
=. proselytes of tomorrow, and the nel
d day, and the next year, and so OF
: His experience will be good deal lii
the hens trouble with the ducklini
she has Matched, AS soon as they b
gin to grow and the spirit Of ente
prise stirs within them, they take
the water, their native ement al
biddv il left alone lamenting.