The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-04-29
OPINION ON
CONSTITUTION.
A Situation That Has No Parallel
in History.
MANY DIVERSIFIED VIEWS.
Large Number for Submission and
Many for Proclamation, but None
for Submission to an Abridged
Electorate-A Review.
MANY DIVERSIFIED VIEWS
Special Correspondence

counties of New Kent, CharieS LILY,
James City and part OF York. III these
counties. as elsewhere. one finds public
opinion diversified The Constitution,
however, and the question as TO whether
it shall be submitted TO the present or
an abridsei electorate for adoption. or
whether it shall be proclaimed, now
holds first place in public thought.
Wheat crops are poorer than for many
gears, so bad, indeed, that in places 1T
con hardly be seen on the iano. but ~
IS consoling to learn that in these parts
the tisher,nen's luck is better this sea-
son than the old proyerb reports 1t; so,
good in fact that they catch more than
they can market to good advantage.
There are those in the sections named
who favor submission to the present cleo
1c!ate, and again those who favor pro-
cla1nation; there are others, among them
The office-ho!ders. who, for obvious rea-
sons prefer the old to the new Constitu-
ton, and there are still others who are
opposed to the new instrument on the
general principle that they do not like
anything Of which they cannot claim
authorship. There are, repeat, all OF
these ana others. but have yet TO meet
in my rounds that distinctive individual
who favors submission to an abridged
electorate.
They say, almost without exception,
Tat the idea is ridiculous, Tepellant, dis
gushing. They cite no constitutional au-
tlloriity, but weigh 1t in the baiahce on
common sense and reason 1t is ile'o
very unfortunate that such q queslioh
should be presented at THIS tine' wien
public opinion IS being formed on the
work of the convention, lest the nnnds
of the people he so inflamed and preJu-
diced that they be incapacitated to calmly
deliberate or TO form just conclusions on
The merits of the Constitution itself.
AN EMPTY FORM.
They say they would characterize SUD
mission to an abridged electorate as
mere mock. a pretensc, an empty 1ornl
i"For," they ask, .'if the convention shaa
create an abridged electorate Tor the
tpccitic purpose Of passing upon Its own
work. Is it not possible Or even proDapie
that they will so qualify the electors ny
the temporary understanding clause ana
Otherwise as to admit only, or princi-
pally, those voters who will ratlfy thelr
action? And would not such a course
present more OF the spectacle Of farce
than of the independent action OF the
body politic?'
And they say: "If the convention has
power to proclaim the suffrage clause
one of the most vital OF CONSTITUTIONAL
subjects. why not by that same authority
proclaim the whole instrument, and thus
avoid any appearance Of jugglery? And
the question, a hard one, still remains
unanswered So. then, it Is considered
that the real question is: Shall the new
Constitution be submitted TO the present
electorate or proclaimed by its trainers:
And TO this issue We will now pass.
The writer has heretofore advisedly
used the phrase public opinion instead
of Public sentiment" for the former
term means more than the latter. Sentl-
1nent, # is said is born on the spur or
the moment. the daughter OF impulse, 4!
while opinion is the product OF more
mature elaboration, i'll the formation
of which figures sundry CONSIDERATIONS.
Sentiment the offspring Of emotion, is
only the Junior cousin of her more per-
fectly formed rival and successor, opin-
ion,
] have consulted numerous gentlemen
the Hon. d. Gardiner Tyler, of Sherwood
Forest, among them, who say, in sub
stance, that, moved by impulse or senu-
,ne.lt their first thought favored submls-
Zion to the present electorate: hut alter
mere mature reflection they believe that
tNpediency. public safety, and the security
OF the objects for which the convention
vas called, foremost among them the
preservation of the supremacy OF 1he
white people Of Virginia, they believe that
these considerations strongly demand the
proclamation of the new Constitution.
,rhe- do not undertake to defend their
position on the grounds Of sentiment, but
on those of reason, ny which wise men
ere ruled. So the ranks OF the submit
tiers" are thinning but to reinforce the
army of .'proclaimers."
PROCLAMATION POPULAR.
Thus il is admitted that proclamation
is defended and inspired by more practical
considerations than is submission; but 1t
A pointed out that we have no precedent
in history for our present rredlcameht
and the action which must follow. All
previous conventions liberali2ed the suf-
Irage laws. charging suffrage privileges;
tie object of the present body being 10
restrict the suffrage and to qualify the
voter, it is not expected that those who
npe TO be disfranchised will vote for its
contamination. Many expect the corpo-
Yations and the hordeS of oftice-holde:s
to fight it's ratification; and these, taken
together with the regular white and
colored Republicans. reinforced by all the
dsgruntlea and disaffected Democrats,
aided by the Golfers of the national Re-
pyblican party-all of these combined. it
is argued, would mako at least a formi-
dable foe from whom, once in control,
Il would take something even hotter than
the Malone heat TO rescue the State.
II is the contemplation of risking all in
such a fight, and the anticipation of the
dire consequences of the defeat of the
Constitution in case of submission which
would mean the domination of the very
distasteful elements we have been stflN-
ing TO suppress-these are among the
things that transform me-: froT sub
mitters' to ..proclaimers." But however
gigantic the foe, and however well found
ed these fears. it is confidently expected
that whatever action is taken with re-
gard 10 submission or proclamation. when
the supreme hour is come the Anglo
Saxons will rally round the standard of
their color-bearers in such numbers as TO
make doubt and despair only dim spec
tres on the distant political horizon.
Though many now appear Indifferent, or
sarcastic. or even skeptical. it is hoped
that when the Constitution is fully under
stood ii will command the support Of a
vast majority OF unprecedented, unseliish
white voters-So vast as TO bury forever
the forces now opposed to sAnslo-SaSon.
supremacy.
The writer has interviewed about sixty
merchants and as many farmers. with a
good sprinkiing Of professional men. and
has consciensciously endeavored to reflect
their opinions and convictions but. FOR
fear of shortcomings in this particular,
has been strictly impersonai. except in
One instance, and docs net claim infalli-
M. 49, ~.