Daily Los Angeles herald., 1879-04-23
M1re Plain Talk for Democrats.

1
was period in the history of the
State when 1t was so important as
now that the Democratic party In
California should march In solid
columns and not allow its ranks to
be weakened by side Issues. For
the first time in twenty years, it
has majority In both branches of
Congress; and except for the gross.
es, fraud aud corruption in high
places. distinguished Democrat,
who WAS duly elected, would now
be discharging the duties of the
Presiien ial Office. Another Pres.
idential election is near at hand;
and, at the election next Fall, four
members of Congress are to be
chosen in this State, whose votes
may decide the contest for the Pres
idency in case the election shall de
volve upon the House of Represent
atives. The Legislature, to be
elected next Fall. Will choose SEN
ator In Congress to succeed Booth |;
and, at the same time, all the State
officers. from the Governor down,
will be elected. II the Democratic
parry maintains an unbroken front
If its ranks are not weakened by
struggles; II its organization Is not
impaired by side issues-in other
words, II the party adheres to its
time.honoled principles, it will
achieve glorious victory next
Fall, which will secure to it, first,
four members of Congress-; second,
q Senator in Congress TO succeed
Booth; thir'i,a majority of the Leg
islature; fourth, the Governor and
all the State officers. These are
certainly substantial results, 10
| which no Democrat who deserves
the name can be Indifferent. But
a great peril Is impending over the
party. which may not only defeat
these results but threatens the very
existence of the party as q political
organic ,tion in this State. Ineed
not rem nd your readers that, un-
der the leadership of Denis Kear.
ney, an ignorant, unscrupuious,
blatant, foul-mouthed Demayogue,
backed up by the Chronicle news.
paper, q notori0usly corrupt and
venal Republican Journal, a new
party has arisen III this State.
which threatens not only the secur-
ity Of life and property, but tends
to unsettle the very fOuudat lous of
social order. Many honest, well.
meaning men, deceived by the art.
full appeals which have been made
to their passions and p,ejuiices,
have enlisted under the banner of
Kearney and the Chronicle, while
their ranks have been swollen by q
swarm of idle, shiftless vagnbomtis,
who are the natural enemies of
good government and social order.
fhis Heterogeneous mass, composed
partly of honest hut misg guided
men, and mainly of the idle aud
dissolute, have met ut the Sand
Lots and listened 10 Infiammatury
harangues not only fron Kearnpy
but from his lieurenants, Wellock,
"a non-naturalized EngIishman.
who has been on,y few mouths la
the country ClItus .rbour, ian
obsure pettlfOgger only lew
month. In California; and other
similar characters of less note. In
the meantime, the Chronicle
patted these amiahle and patri"tic
agt iatOrs on the back, magn fled
their con-tquence, reiterated their
vulgar slang, and used its best ell
beavers to make converts to their
cause. Unfortunately IL was but too
successful In its effjrts, aud the re-
suit WAS, that at the election OF
delegates to the Constitutional Con-
ventiOn, K.arney and the Chroni.
Gle succeeded in procuring the U lee.
ton of about one third OF the dele.
gates. Very little good was antici-
pated from a Convention elected |
and organ zed as this was. In the |
nature Of Things, it was wholly i'm
possible that b 'dy so constituted
could frame a just, wise and safe |
organic law for the governm- Mt of |
the State. They finally succeeded,
however, In producing an abor
ton, which they dubbed u C0usti.
tuition and which Is n0w before the
people for approval or rejection. | |
do not propose at this time to ex-
anime this instrument In detail
aud to point out its numerous ab.
surdities, incongruities, obsourities,
and fatally pernicious provisions. |
For my present purpose 1t !
Is sufficient to say that, |
while it contains few good |
provisions, 1t is In other respects so |
replete with mischief, SO revnlu-
tionary In character, so fatally at
variance with ~ saund nrinciries
OF constitutio government 5aGt /
no intellige' aiHaeJ connunl- /
ty could IOT L0iaf4.e l.e a1~zs1s I