Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1902-02-13
THURSDAY. FEBRUARY Is. 1902.
BY THEIR WORKS WE JUDGE THEN,

BY THEIR WORKS We JUDGE THEM
Recently we took the Richmond News
to task for scolding others for criticising
the Constitutional Convention, though II
had been one of its severest critics. We
alec called attention to the Inconsistent Pc-
sition of the News in now defending o.
acquiescing in the understanding clause
after it bad denounced it as dangerous
and fraudulent device. The News in lite
issue of the 4th inst. responded to our artl-
Gle in an editorial-"The Conventions Crit
ics'-and opens tie editorial with the fol-
lowing paragraphs:
''The Tszewell Republican accuses the
Richmond News OF Inconsistency In lite POI
sition toward the Constitutional Couven.
ton and the ''understanding" clsnse Of
the proposed suffrage plan. The criticism
on its face is just.
'1he truth Of the case is that the Con-
ventiou has been unreasonsbly slow. In
that respect it has deserved the CRITICISM
it has received; and vet it 10 the truth that
much of The delay haa been caused by Abe
anxiety Of the members to avoid mistakes
by their scrupulous care to &As-she right
thing"
Thus does our interesting contemporary
plead guilty to to the charge Of inconsst
ency and admit that the Convention has
deserved criticism; and tue News cloees its
editorial with the assertion that there 70
no use in bringing sweeping charges Of
ineficiency and oppression against one OF
the moet intelligent and conscientious
bodies of men ever gathered in Virginia.
One Of the recognized fundamental
truths Of the world is That's, "By their
works We shall know them." This applies
to the works of men in public as well az
private life. Judged by this test has the
Constitutional Convention proved itself an
intelligent and conscientious bodyS There
may he and are, no doubt. MANY. intelIl'
gent and conscientious men in the. Conven'
ton; but We charge, and believe. we can
proye. that its work has not been intelli'
gent and conscientious. l.
The News insists that the Conventiona
unreasonable slowness, mistakes aud weak
ness have resulted from 'scrupulons care to
find the right thing" When We speak Of
the Convention as an intelligent and con-
scientious body Of men, exercising "scru-
pulous care to find the right thing" it is
in orderto inquire, what they consider
'the right thing" Are the members, in
their search for "the right thinR,", influ-
enced by patriotism or partisanryf Wss
the Convention called more especially to
advance the general public welfare, or 10
increase and perpetuate the power Of po.
litical party?
There may be large measure Of intelli-
gence and ability in the Convention, but
they have been made impotent by the
spirit Of partissnry that hAs controlled its
deliberations. The ability hastaot been
20 much directed to an effort 10 shape the
suffrage laws 70 ~ to accomplish the great.
est public good but to place the Democrat
ic party in permanent control Of Virginia.
The suffrage question has not been treated
from standpoint Of right but Of policy.
Who will deny that the Convention is
one of the most partisan bodles ever a..
sembled in any State? -Four 6fths Of it,
members were nominees OF the Democrat
ic party, elected on party platform. When
the Convention assembled its officers we're
selected in party caucus, and all impor'
tant questions have been settled by q eau
cus. without any consultation with the Re.
publican members. The two suffrage re-
ports, the majority and minority reports,
Sere settled in the Democratic caucas, and
, Were never seen By the Republican mem.
BEN q the Suffrage Committee until these
reports were ready to be placed before the
Convention.
1.-THE Convention 10 trying to find the
right thing, from an ethical standpoint.
and not the right device for accomplishing
the partisan purpose, why did it refuse to
take an oaih9 This question is answered
by the declaration OF ones Of the sblest men
who spoke against the oath. and who do.
elared that he was unwilling to take It,
because it would put him in the attitude
of either having to violate the supreme
law of the land or to break hB pledge to
4 his constituents by failing to do what he
{ was sent t. the Convention to do.
1.-THE Democratic members Of the Con.
vention are hunting for the right thing,
why do they indicate their purpose to VIC.
late the solemn party pledge made In the
State Democratic Convention at Norfolk
and bv the members. when candidates, to
submit the new Constitution to the people