Los Angeles daily herald., 1876-05-04
sARGENT's SPEECH.

American politics, as managed un-
der the present system, produces both
anomalies and prodigies. In AARON
A. SARGENT we have both combined.
He is an anomaly because of the &C.
centricities of his political career, and
u prodigy because of his unprecedent-
ed success in the face of his multitu-
dinous eccentricities. Sincere in moth
Ing, consistent in nothing, selfish in
everything, he has by sort of magic
spell obtained the honor of promotion
from Obscurity to sort of national
prominence, unenviable in many re-
spects, such as no representative in
the Senate chamber from California
ever acquired before. A Know Moth
ing, a Republican, \ railroad man, AN
anti-railroad man, warm supporter
of GEORGE &. GoRHAM in his Coolie
enthusiasm, now an opponent of the
Coolie system, he stands before his
constituency as the embodiment of
inconsistencies and an example of
what sphere in the system of politics
as adopted by the Republican party
its leaders will gravitate to. 1t has
been said that the leopard cannot
change his spots nor the Ethiopian his
skin, yet Senator SARGENT, chamel-
eon-like, is ever changing, ever insin.
cere and ever unreliable in his politi-
cal career. Our Senator's personal
character We will not crIticise, but we
do not hesitate to assert that his polit-
ical career is deserving of the severest
animadversion and the most emphatic
condemnation. But now, forsooth,
when he finds the popular sentiment
in his sown State is intensely strong on
the Chinese question, he comes out
to echo the sentiments of the
people of California, and deserts
the standard of his master, Mr..
GoRHAM, and goes back at-footed
upon his own record and deserts his
confrere. If Mr.. Senator SARGENT is
the man of clear intellect, profound
judgment, and quick perception that
he assumes TO be, and which opinion
his obsequious friends endorse, why
did he not recognize the facts years
ago which he now enuncates In his
labored speech He has of late dis
covered the evils of an immigration
which he once so earnestly advocated
in humanitarian aspect, and in view
of his present position his former
course seems 10 SAVIOR of fdemsgogueism
rather than sincerity. If he is sim
cere now, he could not have been hol..
estly earnest then. Is 1t possible that
with the astuteness attributed to the
Honorable Senator, he could not in
former days have perceived the evils
OF Chinese immigration? If he pleads
ignorance as all excuse for former ac-
ton, he exhibits lack of statesman
ship that renders the apology worse
sANh thC OiuuucI.
not studied the habits, manners and
systems of the Chinese when he was
so much in favor of Introducing cheap
labor and enlightening the heathen,
or had he all idea that the firm of SAR.
GENT & JACOBS could render their
gravel mines the more productive by
the employment of slave labor? It's
hardly worth while to review in detail
Mr.. SARGENT's speech, which has
been sent broadcast over the country,
that all may read and learn the truth,
for We endorse nearly every sentiment
contained in the document, yet We are
prompted, from the anomalous posi-
ton of the author, to consider his
present status similar to that of the
incendiary who starts a confiagration
and then throws spoonful of water
upon the flames to make show of in
nocence Mr.. SARGENT's dodge will
not work. The people have tired of
political gymnastics.