The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-05-11
THE MYSTERIOUS. PRESENT
OF THE NIZAM OF RUZERAI
His Disappearance from the Scene of His Sovereignty Was Never
derstood Nor Inquired Into---A Psyc
Phenomenon of the Orient.

He plundged the pen to the bottom of
the inkstand and planted bold figure
I. at the head OF his first sheet. Then
he sat for few moments, thoughtfully
strol1ing the side of his nose with his
foreinEer.
Submission or Proclamation to the New
Constitution,
Editor Of The Times:
Sir.-It IS almost universally admitted
that the convention have the rightful
power to proclaim tho new Constitution;
but the question Is agitated whether they
ought to do so. The object Of this ar
ticle is to maintain mat under the cir
oumstances that environ us and the con-
ditions, present and prospective, which
confront us. they ought.
Ono Of the foremost advocates OF sub
xnission has truly said: THE present Con-
stitution is tho progeny OF aliens, scala
wags and negroes" What an ignoble
parentage for the fundamental law of
this time honored and self-respectfns Old
Dominion. The new Constitution will be
the legitimate offspring Of the represent
atives Of her own sovereignty, selected,
from her permanent citizens, adopted, or
Ito the manner born, for their ability,
experience and fidelity. Let them make
sure of giving the State the bene-
fit Of their long and earnest labors
and OF starting her on future career
under an organic law, devised by them
for her good, with so much patience, care
and anxiety. Let them sweep away the
present odous polity by boldly, yet rev.
erently. initiating the sublime example
of the Creator: God said, let there be
light, and there was light" by proclaim
ing The convention says: Let this new
Constitution be law and it is law.
The espousers of submission are them
selves divided, though they all appeal to-
the pledge of the Norfolk Convention, OF
the Legislature which called the Consti-
tutional Convention and Of the members
of that convention when they were can
didates for it. When these. or any Of
them, gave a pledge that the new Con
stitution should be submitted Ito the
people" for their adoption, who were
meant and understood by the terms the
people," and especially in the Norfolk
Convention? Some of the advocates of
submission contend that the Constitution
should be referred to the present cleo
torate and that such was the intention OF
the Norfolk Convention. Others, and
among them some Of the foremost hold
that the Norfolk Convention could not
have had any such intention and are in
favor Of propounding the new Constitu-
ton to the new and restricted electorate.
Indeed, some leading members OF the
Constitutional Convention, who were
also members Of the Norfolk Convention,
have declared that the latter could not
have taken 1.-The people,. to mean the
present electorate and did not.
So far, then, as any conclusion can DE
formed, at the present time. 1t is that,
if the new Constitution is submitted &c
..the neople" at all, it will be only TO the
new. or restricted electorate. If so, the
new Constitution will be proclaimed
to that extent. Why will that be done?
To be certain Of cutting off the opposl-
ton of a portion the present electorate
and to promote the adoption OF the new
Constitution. Now, if it be right and
proper to squelch this element OF inter
ested opposition, why is 1t not just as
right and proper to cut of, by proclarna-
ton any similar element of factlous ana
self-interested opposition, such as that
of the dissruntled office-holders and dis
satisfied corporations? I do not intend
any assault upon these alleged elements
of opposition, but merely to reply 10
what is said about them by the friends
of submission.
The advocates Of submission especial
Nv the leading ones, are in favor OF ADOPT
ing the new Constitution as great I'M
provenent upon the present one, and
predict that the people will accept ana
approve it. Then, why not secure that
result by proclaiming it and thus avoid
ing the labor, excitement and expense
of a campaign and an election for It's
adontion, II by possibility it were re-
iected, where would the State be? she
I would still be under the present detested
instrument, with all Its Objectionable
features and its nefarious origin, whilst
her treasury would be depleted, for noth
ing Of the many thousands OF dollars
| which the convention Will nave Cost
besides the sacrifices which so many or
| her favorite sons Will have maoe curing
| its protracted session.
The convention have had a difficult
| task to perform and have felt ana Known
from experience and atrltlon, the neceS
! sity for concession and compromise fat
! beyond what their constituents nave II
! their different sections and localities, ane
those costituents might not, IN voting
| upon their work, be able to appreciate
| as their delegates had to 90, the sltuation
| in which they were placed, and how they
1 were compelled, when they could no
get what they and their imrn ediate con,
! stitutents preferred, to take the pes,
| they could obtain. Proclamation VII
| even up all this and give the state al
/ opportunity Of making a tar trlai o.
! Your editorial insistents upon suom,s
sion are in favor Of adopting the new
| Constitution because "in manifold par
ticulars it's good features far exceed II:
defects" You desire that the people &C
cept it and believe that they will. You
| therefore, heartily recommend 1t ana s.
| do those who have framed it, Let 1t:
operation be insured, by its proclamation
| and you address yourselves to the con
] genial work of reconciling the people t.
! it and persuading them to release thel
/ delegates from any pledge that wa
!, made by them, by the Legislature. o
/ the Democratic Convention OF Norfolk
From your own statements. such a tasl
1 ought to be easy and agreeable to you.
It has been argued that some VIII
4 would vote for the new Constitution, !
1t be submitted to them, will kick
against it, if they be denied that priv
ilege. What noble and patriotic prin
ciple this would be for making decision
on such vital question! Such conduc
would be like that Of a mean coQuette
4 who really loved her sutton. but foolishl,
/ rejected him because he had not courte
her in the way she would have pre-
scribed.
/ It has been warmly averred that tn