Delaware State journal and statesman., 1867-09-17

TIE CALIFORNIA ELEcrIoN.-The politi- |
cal campaign of this fall has not opened IA
vorably for the Republicans. An important
State, which was transformed by the loyalty
Of its citizens from pro-slavery stronghold
into one of the most decidedly Republican
States in the Union, has been lost to the
party. A Republican majority OF l6,O0O-
equal, considering the difference in popula"
tion, to majority of 1907 in New YORK
has been swallowed up. A governor,
legislature, a United States Senator, and one
or TWO members of the lower house have all
been lost. Such loss would be at any time
grave disaster, but at the present moment
there are peculiar reasons for regrettlng IT,
as the President will doubtless be encour-
aged by it. In order to understand it we
must 60 back little in the history OF Cali
iornia politics. Every one knows that San
Francisco, IN the first few years after IL came
into American hands, was the paradise oi
| scoundrels. Ballot box stnfflng was carried
en- more scientifically there than anywhere
else, the police were the worst rutfians In
the city, and government in general was
what ii would be in New York to-day IL it
had been left entirely in the hands to Which
many wise men in the Constitutional Con-
yeution propose to restore it. The Vigil
lance Com.littee, by illegal means, rescued
the city from the hands of the thieves and
murderers who administered the mockery
which they called law, and established
law and order. They hanged one or two OF
the worst scoundrels, banished few more,
and laid the basis OF good government, which
ever since the city has enjoyed But,
though the public elections were re-
formed, the political machinery was
not Primary elections reapsed, after q
few years. into the hands of the
minor scoundrels who were not banishsd
While the Republican party was In feeblt
minority ii was not troubled with the com
pany OF these fellows. But when, in the
patriotic feryor of 1861, the Republican,
carried the State, and irbecame clear tha
they would retain power, many of the black
legs came over TO the party, and almost al
of them, whatever party they might Yot'
with at the regular elections, volunteered
their invaluable services at the Republican
'tprimariesn The consequence has beeI
that for the last four years the Republican
political machinery in San Francisco ant
; some other large towns has been entirely il
! the hands of unprincipled men bent upoi
! public plunder. In 1868 tie present Cover
. nor of the State secured his nomination b,
a a bargain with these men. During the pre-
! sent wear combination was formed by tn
! friends of Senator COnness, whose owl
antecedents are of very dubious purity, wit
T those OF Mr.. George Q. Gorham, a note
c lobbyist. who had for some years been seek
n ing 10 carry scheme through the Legii
r lature highly profitable to private clique
c but fearlully expensive to the people of Sa
8 Francisco. The allies carried the primar
: elections In that and other cities by the usus
q well-understood means, Mr.. Gorham wa
u nominated for governor, and q ticket for th
J. Legislature was presented pledged to tn
sunport of Mr.. Conness for another SENATOR'S
y term The result is before US. Gorham an
e Conness are both defeated. San Francisco
Al which gave 4,315 majority for Lincoln, give
!, 3,s4S against Gorham; Sacramento, whic
Is gave Lincoln tive votes for every two thu
h Mcclellan received, goes strongly Demo
D. cratic The whole State is lost, possibly
lie for such is often the result Of such events
| eor ,,ooraM Y Nathan