Year: 1878

Within two months, the Convention
to reorganize and remodel the Constitu-
tion OF the State will meet at Sacramento.
Ii is natural and just that the work of
this body should be subject Of exciting
interest. II the Convention be governed
by wise counsels, it may give US an in
strument which will represent the ad-
vanced ideas Of the present day and in
corporate ir the fundamental law many
Of the best principles which have borne
the test Of demonstration in other States,
and proved to be Of practical value. If
such constitution be framed, the action
of the Convention will be sustained by
the people unless the teachings of dems-
goguery, which have borne such fruit in
San Francisco, again prevail. But ifit
prove otherwise, il II prove that the COM
munistic spirit succeeds in getting some
of its wild ideas engrafted in the instru-
ment the work Of the Convention will 60
for nothing the sober second thought Of
the people will defeat it at the polls.


Our present Constitution was framed
nearly thirty years ago. The Convention
which framed 1t mum bered less than one
third the members Of the next Conven-
tion. There were among them some
leading minds and the instrument, in its
general provisions WAS a good one. Rec
ogrizing the fact that California would
in time become :he Paradise of Labor,
the members of the Convention, many of
whom were ex-slave holders determined
that its golden mountains should he con-
secrated to froe labor only. They also
pointed out method through and by
which the instrument they framed could
be amen ded Of any features which the
lapse Of time might show to be objection
able. Under this method, needful chang
es have been made from time to time,
and had due regard for the State Treasury
been shown by the Legislature in past
years, most Of the desired reforms could
have been brought about without the
necessity and expense Of calling Con-
vention. But rs q Convention has been
called, we can only guard against the
possibilities of getting worse. instead Of
a better instrument. 1t is fortunate
thing for the State that the Non Partisan
movement has been so far successful that
it has secur cd, in the thirty two delegates
a: large. 8 number OF members who, by
past legislative and other experience, are
we'll fitted for the work before them.


The present is the time to discuss such
changes as are deemed nsedful in the
fundamental law. Upon some points all
are agreed. Upon others, the BEST minds
differ. Whatever may DO the provisions
of the instrument they should be put in
language which will, il possible, admit
Of but one construction. Passages Of our
present Constitution have been construed
in manner which never entered the
minds of its trainers. The Supreme
Court has turned upon its own decisions
and reversed them. 1t 10 not for US TO
say whether it was right in the first in
stance, or in tho second, we have only to
deal with the facts. What is laid down
as law to-day may be declared not law
by the frat change IN the personnel of the
Court. We have seen how capital
fought its way Through the courts to es
cape taxation until it carried the point at
which it was aiming. Such provisions
of Constitution benefit no one but law
yers, and if the Convention puts its work
in plain language can be avoided in the
future.