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The New Constitution

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Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Apr 3, 1879

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 5, No. 14.

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The New Constitution.

By Editor

THE State of California is entering upon a very exciting election canvass, which can hardly be called a political one. The new constitution is to be voted upon, May 7. We are frequently asked our opinion of it. We have no opinion to give. Though it is not strictly a partisan matter, it is too nearly related to politics to admit of our giving attention to it. We have not time to devote to it sufficient to frame an intelligent opinion.
In saying it is not a partisan matter we must make one exception. It is the political watch-cry of Denis Kearney's party, ranking with that of "The Chinese must go." We heard Kearney recommend it on the ground that it will throw out of office all present office-holders, even to the Judges of the Courts, (which is true), and give a chance to fill the offices with their candidates. If we thought their wishes were to be gratified in this respect by its adoption, we should greatly deplore its being adopted. Professedly the advocates of freedom of speech, they have adopted the rule that no one shall be permitted to speak against the new constitution in the meetings of the "Workingmen's party."
As indications we notice two things. Several papers which were favorable at first, have turned in opposition on more thorough examination. And at the Monday afternoon meeting, March 24, of the Congregational club, it was discussed by the ministers in a very animated manner. Of fifteen speakers every one was decided in opposition. Of this the Bulletin says :—"If the unanimous opposition of these clergymen to the new Constitution is to be taken as an exponent of the views of the congregations over which they preside, it clearly indicates how thoroughly the educated and intelligent classes are becoming dissatisfied with the cumbersome document which the late Convention submitted to their consideration."
Whether they do in fact reflect the views of their congregations it may not be possible to tell, but the idea seems to prevail that the document is losing favor in many quarters.