Year: 1873

|


As has already been pointed out. the fact
that the opposition to the new Constitution IN
Pennsylvania made its first attack upon the
instrument in such a questionable way was
enough to confirm all the suspicious that had
been aroused regarding the source of the hos
tility and ts cause. The rule of the Ring
was one of the evils the new Constitution
aimed to destroy. The ability and the pnr-
pose of the Ring to defeat it by their control
| of the polls in Philadelphia induced
| the Convention tn take the course
which the late decision of the Supreme Court
pronounced unconstitutional in supersedIng
the regular election officers in Philadelphia by
the appointment of officers of well known
character and integrity. That the Ring felt
its power in danger was confessed when 1t
began its oppostion that it's members had
no confidence in being able to defeat it on Its
merits was shown by their attempt to take
| advantage of what was ut most technical
defect which could not under any circumstances
have been fatal. but would have been
healed by the vote; and that fraud was in
tended and still is intended to be resorted to-,
was as good as admitted when they made so
strenuous fight against the provision which
gave tho conduct of the election into the
hands of men who were known to be honest
! and upright. The manner and the method OF
| their opposition were such a confession OF
| the need of the reforms aimed at, that honest
| citizens desrous of good government would
| hardly require an additional argument. 1t
has rarely happened in the history of poiti-
cal contests that corrupt party threatened
by popular uprising has so completely ad-
mitted away its whole case in the first steps
| of its defense.


Were there no other reason for the adoption
of the new Constitution this would be almost
sufficient, for it could hardly happen that an
instrument which should accomplish so desira-
BILE a reform "a this would be could contain
ANYTHING weak enough or unwise enough to
outweigh so great public benefit But the
work of the Convention is so complete Ill
other respects that there cannot be any seri-
Gus objection raised against tho Constitution
as whole except perhaps As to some feature
! of minor importance upon which opinions
\ differ lt may be that in the sweeping char
acter of some of its provisions 1t has over
stepped the mark and set out to accomplish
some things not entirely practicable, but that
is a fault of all legislation In some direc-
tions the new organic act is tentative in
its character, and the results of the expert
ments it Institutes must be awaited before
Judgment can be pronounced. But 1t may
safely be said that wherever it provides con-
stitutional restrictions or prohibitions, they
are intended as remedies for well known ex-
| isting evils, and are such as the best wisdom
| of tho State represented in the Convention
| could devise. The work of that body was
| done cOnscicntiousy and faithfully. 1t will
be difficult to assemble Convention that will
contain more or rs much ability and learning,
or that will better represent the honest sentl-
ment of the State.


The latest phase of the opposition is an ad-
dress to the people, signed by some very re-
spectacle citizens of Philadelphia. directing
attention to what they consider Objectionable
features, and calling upon the people to vote
| it down. The most prominent Signer OF the
| address is ex-Cbief-Justice Read, whose hos
tity to the reform has been very active and
persistent from the beginning. On the other
hand, it is q noticeable fact that ChiefJustice
Agnew, who rendered the opinion Of the
Supreme Court adverse to the constitu-
tionality of the election clause, has written
~
tionable features of minor Importance, he says
| that upon the whole the reforms it aims to
accomplish are so necessary and its operation
in that regard promises to be so etfectual that
he shall vote for its adoption, and he hopes
| it will be ratified. 1t is significant fact too
| that the OppOsers of the new Constitution
| admit the need Of a change in the present in
strument and of IL general reform, but they
| object to this particular act, and promise TO
have another Convention called Immediately
in case of its rejection. The friends of the
measure, however, charge that this is only
trick to gain votes against it, and that if they
carry their point the most they will do will
be to appoint Commission, either by the
Legislature or the Governor, to prepare an
act that shall not interfere with the power
and perpetuity of the Ring.


The reports from all parts of the State are
favorable to adoption, and it is confidently
claimed by the friends of the measure that
even in Philadelphia there will be in an
honest vote a large majority in it's favor. In
| tho face of this the Ring claim 10000 majority
| against it in the city, and tho fear is that
| with the control of the ballotboxes in their
hands they will be able to show it. The Ring
fights desperately and will die hard.


| =


pPDF IQ1SHIZ