Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1902-05-02
WILL THE CONSTITUTION
BE PROCLAIMED?

The trainers OF this instrument
are now at home to receive lnstruc-
tons from the people who elected
them what they must do when the
convention re-assembles, May ~.
1t does seem that, elected as they
were upon platform pledged to
let the people approve or dis
approve of their work, no further
action is necessary by the people.
There is no question that the con-
vention can proclaim it, but in
doing so they violate a pledge
made to the people, and set aside
the highest principle of self-govern-
ment.
The GAZETTE thinks that the
only honorable, just and consistent
course is to submit the Constitu-
ton to all qualified voters, however
undesirable and impolitic that
course may be. The whole
people called this convention and
elected it's members. If any other
course is pursued the State will be
handed, hopelessly, over to the
Republicans ghost that will
not down during our life or that
of the present generation.
There is no question that the
Constitution, as now framed, is
superior one in every respect to the
Underwood abortion, and ensures
II great saving of money by the
State government being simplified.
1t should be endorsed at the polls
by all lovers of enlightened, stable
government. But the Republican
party will vote as unit against
it. With the help of disgruntled
Democrats this superior Con-
stitution, framed by the ablest
men in Virginia at an expense of
S25O,O0O. will fail. This is the
dilemma in which the Democratic
party is today: Submit it to the
people, it will be voted down;
proclaim it, and the State will be,
at the next general election, hand
ed over to the Republicans.
How to get rid of the negro vote
and eliminate him from politics
has sorely troubled the minds of
many of the convention. The
reimbursement of the negro at
the time he became voter, was
crime, but we did not commit it.
Now that he has rights given him
bv the Federal Constitution, we
cannot overlook, nor can the
United States Court rule con-
sistently, when the question comes
before it in support of the Virginia
Constitution, if it is proclaimed or
submitted to an abridged electo-
rate. The right of the people to
approve or disapprove the work of
their servants is undeniable, and
the people cannot see how 100
men have the power to say that
the people shall take the new
Constitution whether they want it
or not, and that certain people
shall vote on it, and certain people
shall not This is tyranny.
No one hardly outside of the
convention can pretend to a
knowledge of the details of the
Constitution. Why people COM
init themselves either as favoring
or opposing, while they are totally
ignorant of it's provisions, is some
thing hard to understand. In
order to approve of it the people
must see it and study it.
No business man would buy a
horse he had never seen or tested
without sufficient assurance that
he could return it if it was not up
to guarantee. The people should be
allowed the opportunity to study
and thoroughly understand the
new Constitution and then to say
whether or not they prefer it to the
old one. No other course can be
fair or safe. In the smallest bust
ness transaction we do not give
unlimited power of attorney except
in very exceptional cases and
undernecessity. To proclaim this
Constitution would be to use the
powers delegated by the people to
Impose upon them Constitution
which none of them have read and
fa,y Lno,u ANYTHING about.