National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-09-02
THE CALIFORNIA ELECTION.

A combination of causes has aroused un-
usual and widespread interest in the State |
and Congressional election to be held in |
California tomorrow. The almost inexpli- |
cable breakup Of parties and confusion |
which exists regarding the State tickets has
served to concentrate attention and provoke
speculation as to the result, and it is con-
ceded that rarely, if ever, has there been q
campaign in that State in which such i'm
portant issues were involved.
The first party in the field when this
novel and exciting campaign began was the
Workingmen's, with platform breathing
exaggerated devotion to the new constitu-
tion, enmity to monopolies and capital, and
pledges the party to carry out rigidly the
policy that guided the action of the Con-
vention. The Workingmen's party, be-
fore it completed its ticket, had a
desperate struggle with the men
who are now the leaders of the new
constitution party. These are the pub
fishers of the San Francisco Chronicle, the
only paper in San Francisco that favored
the adoption of the new constitution, and
certain political fossils Of the old chivalry
Democracy, of Southern and pro-savery
antecedcnts, who had worn out their old
principles in exile and were ready to adopt
any new ones as means of getting back
into place. Prominent among these are
DAVID S. TERRY, the slayer of BRoDERICK,
and voLNEY E. HOWARD, formerly New
England man Of intense pro-slavery princi-
pies. These gentlemen undertook to ride
into power upon the wave Of the Working
mems movement, but KEARNEY wanted
power himself, and repudiated the self-ap-
pointed leaders, whom he ridiculed rs the
Honorable Bilks and the plug-hat brigade.
Though the Bilks stuck valorously to the
party Of their adoption, KEARNEY finally
shook them off, aud his convention, after
being disappointed by several nominees
who declined to take the pledges and ac-
cept the strict responsibility required of
them, nominated State ticket. Its head
is WILLIAM +. WHITE, an Irish ex-Demo-
crat of mean ability and doubtful business
and political record, who was shut up in
Fort Alcatraz during the war for reasonable
conduct, and who is suspected of having
been in the pay Of the corrupt monopolies
his party is organized to crush. He is an
unfortunate choice for the head of reform
ticket but there is no chance of his elec-
tiOn.
The Workingmens ticket was completed
in June. A fortnight later the Republicans
presented themselves with platform pledg
ing obedience to the new constitution, and
with GEORGE c. PERKINS rs candidate fol
Governor. He is an energetic and respected
young merchant of San Francisco n native
of New England and representative Of thu
young, clean, anti-monopely element of th'
PARTY. He first came into public notice il
: the State Senate as AN active and consisten
opposer of railroad subsidy schemes. TIL,
only point made against him is that he i
nresident of the Pacific Coast STEAMSHIP
Company, which is alleged to be monopoly
: of a smaller breed. 1t is hard to find {
public man in California who is not, eithe
, in appearance or reality, tainted with tn
suspicion of connection with monopolies
> but PERKINS is the least exceptionable o
!, the candidates
n The new Constitution party, like tn
n workingmen, chose a Democrat, DIR. HUGl
j. GLENN, u native of Virginia and pro
slavery man before the war, to head 1t
ticket, lie is an unfortunate candidate 70
q an anti-monopoly party too being tn
/. largest land monopolist in the Unite
3 States He has wheat farm of 6G,00
{ acres in the Sacramento valley, $4,000
: tract of land in Oregon, and grazing iarr
with 10000 head of cattle in Nevada, II
4 is also large employer of Chinese, whoI
8 the new constitution undertakes to exp'