Weekly Trinity journal., 1877-08-04
POLITICAL BUGBEARS.

but they acknowledge the existence of an
overruling power. The fact that men
felt the need of something superior to
themselves and, failing to entertain the
high conceptions Of God such as we
have been taught to believe IN, set up
images of wood and stone to worship, or
worshipped the sun, fire, or some other
inscnsate object, was held as an irrefuta-
BILE proof of the existence Of that superior
power. But mans belief did not stop
there there had to be bad spirit as well
MS good one-somethng to be dreaded
as we'll as something to love. So like
wise all peoples have some kind of a dew
il, and he is pictured out in innumerable
shapes with us he has the horns, tail
and cloven foot, while those of other be-
liefs picture them according to their ideas,
but his capacity for evil is always ac-
knowledged.
In politics, as in religion it is quite ne
cessary we should have our gods and de-
mons. But, unlike our objects of reli
gious worship, the idols and demons of
politics are at times made TO change pla-
ces. The idol ofyesterday is to-day hurl-
ed from his place in the political temple
and the demon of yesterday steps into the
vacant place and becomes in turn, an OBJ
ject of worship. In the quarter OF cen
tury since California assumed her place
in the sisterhood of States she has not
been without her share Of political idols
and political devis-sometimes of meas
ures, at others, men. The "Bulk head
Scheme " became an object Of dread soon
after the State government was organiz-
ed, then we had a>dose Of Honest
John and William Relief" Later
came David G.. Broderick whose name
was for years used MS bugbear to fright
en- children of larger growth. But
Broderick gained his ambition against
all the odds, and when his enemies found
he could not be killed off politically, they
drove him into a duel in which he was
merciessly slaughtered. To-day Brod-
erck stands forth as one OF the first mar
tyrs of Freedom, and his memory is re-
garded with reverence akin to worship.
Passing by the lesser deities or their re-
verse, we come down to our own times
when Gorham became the great Raw
Head and Bloody Bones " destined to
swallow up the State and its people. The
howl against Gorham was so thoroughly
effective that it is kept up even to this
day. But when the Chinese suffrage and
the railroad question had played their
parts after carrying defeat to the Repub-
licans, new devil became necessary,
and that has been found in the person o.
Senator Sargent.
Mr.. Sargent has held high place in
Republican councils for many years. He
possesses energy, ability and persever-
ance, qualities which raise man above
his fellows everywhere, but more so IN
this State than in any other. He served
with distinction in the lower braEch of
| Congress, where his talents soon won a
way for him to the front rank. When
placed in comparison with the Johnsons,
the Luttrells, and other nincCmpoops who
had been sent to Congress from Califor-
mia, he was as superior as Hyperion to
Satyr." Such man was not to be pull
ed down by the ordinary methods of def
amation, so the absconding deiaulter,
Pinney, brings charges, and these are
trumpeted over the land. This would
amount to but little were it not from the
fact that a general election will be held
before the truth or falsity of Mr.. Pen
ney's revelations" can be legally estab-
ished. And now, whenever Republi-
can convention makes legislative nomi-
nations, the nominees are at once accused
Of being "for Sargent" whether they are
or not. Few men care to acknowledge
themselves the friends of man who is
under cloud, however temporarily, but
we have no hesitation in expressing our
belief that Mr.. Sargent has been the best
Senator the State ever sent to Washing
ton, and it will take something more than
the word of n confessed villain to shake
our faith in his integrity. Those who be-
lieve otherwise do so without sufficient
consideration of the premises. There are
many who moro readily give credence to
anything which may be said against n
man than in his favor, and it is to inHu-
ence just such men as these that the howl
of Sargent" is raised whenever legis-
lative nomination is made.
This thing of making bugbear of Sen
ator Sargent's name is aimed, not at him
but at the Republican party. We do not
think Mr.. Sargent would be elected to a
second term as Senator, even if the State
elects Republican Legislature. The
letter written by him some time since
would always rise against him, nor would
1t be very easy to satisfy the supporters of
other candidates who had been urged to
come forward at a time when Sargent
was considered out of the field. We be-
lieve Mr.. Sargent can render more effec-
tive service in settling the Chinese prob.
lem than any man whom this coast can
send, and we are sorry to observe the dis
position on the part of somo Republicans
to speak of him in such a manner, as
though everything alleged about MIN by
Pinney was proven. 1t does no good aud
only impars the usefulness of our Sena-
tor-and it is time enough to do that when
the truth of a charge is established.
RUSSIAN WAR.-What with the labor
war in the Eastern States, the Indian
wars in Idaho and the Black Hills and