Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-10-18
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.
The Recent California rlection.-It i

causes operating to bring about the result of
casion briefly to comment a day or two ago.
We have long witnessed, with fear of its ulti-
mate consequences, the effect Of the growing
fever for Office on the popular mind, and the
political and public morals, which last have
suffered and are suffering in various ways
previously from the cause mentioned above
No better illustration Of what we mean is to
be found, than is embraced in the result of the
California election, the causes thereof being
now a matter Of well-known history. The
Gubernatorial candidate of the Democr attic
party was identified with the Broderick fa,
ton, and was unfaithful to his obligations to
the party that had elevated him to the Guber-
Material chair in his efforts to precipitate the
Senatorial election, at time when the incum-
bent, Democrat, was absent and before his
term was out; the purpose being to obtain
"snap" decision against him. Failing in con-
sumating that scheme he "bolted'' the Demo
cratic Qast) Congressional nominations, and ex-
erted himself to bring about the defeat of
Messrs. Denver and Herbert. Failing again,
he again exerted himself last winter in defeat
ing the regular Democratic nominee for U. s.
Senator, DR.. Gwin.
The Broderick faction were, for such rea
sons, driven out of the party Organization
Governor Bigler ut their head and had the
party been experienced and true to themselves,
they should never have been permitted to re-
enter it on terms of equality. Mistaken men,
however, brought about " compromise last
spring. in the hope of consolidating the party
against the Know Nothings. This was done,
though it was evident that the bolters could
not lead off u corporal's guard and also til q,
they had done all the mischief to their nomi
nal political GAUGE they could accomplish Az
soon as Bigler and Broderick were admitted,
as we have explained above. into the last State
convention, they commenced intriguing to car
~ 1t, though there was q clear majority of fifty
elected against them. Their working was by
means of bargaining and corruption, absc-
lutely buying up members and swapping votes
for different Offices; which resulted in Biclor's
denomination, notwithstanding the notoriety Of
his so recent treachery to the party organiza-
ton.
The Democratic party of tho interior of the
State revolted, as a matter of course, against
a nomination SO made, of one in whom they
had no political confidence whatever. The
trusty leaders and active men of the main
body of the party who had all opposed Biger' S
nomination, to save the ticket from defca.
calamity exerted themselves to that end,
stumpinS the State In all directions Dr.
Gwin even, notwithstanding his treatment at
the hands of the Broderick and Bigler faction,
was IN the saddle for six weeks, in which time
he travelled seven hundred miles throu III the
| rough mountain region, and made thirty
| speeches. But it was all in vain. The bone
and sinew OF the party were too thoroughly
possessed with the idea that Bigler had be-
come mere tool in the hands of Broderick
and his shoulder hitters," to be brought
back to his support by any amount of exer-
tons; more especially as Bigler's triumph
babe fair to strengthen Broderick's pretensions
| to the United States Senate, as with the State
patronage in his hands, Bigler might, as before,
use it to buy up votes for Broderick, to defeat
| the popular will. But for the manful exerticp
of DR.. Gwin and his friends, it is clear that
Bigler would have been beaten some twenty
| thousand rather than between four and FIVE
thousand votes.
Thus, the cause Of the triumph of Know
Nothingism there was wholly the state of the
Democratic party, which required purging
quite as much as other California affairs have
| required it within the last two or three wears
All the world knows that in the new States
financial affairs, public and private, and in
the condition Of the habits, customs and
morals of a large portion Of the people thereof
everything had become so unsound as to re-
quire general revulsions-semi reyolutions-to
purge them. They have fairly commenced,
and, SO far, have progressed greatly to the
permanent advantage Of the California public;
and this political CONFUSION or revolution was
about the only remedy for the terrible disease
that has for some two or three years past been
gnawing at the vitals Of the Democratic party
CT the new State.
HOW It Works.-We took occasion, day
or two since, to explain away, in few words