Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-03-27
eekin9 to avoid scylla, it has repeatedly

seeking to avoid Scylla, IL mas repeaseuty
altered into the jaws of Charybdis.
Alarmed by communlstic movements in
the lower strata of society, i. has sought
refuge in remedies which resulted in mill
tary despotism which means con6scation
and oppression through one, instead of
through many Experience therefore
shows that there is no salvation in this
policy, but that it affords only choice of
calamities. On the other hand, the unity
of interest between capital and good gov
eminent las contrasted with "streng"
government) is perfectly clear, and ought
never to be missed. Good government
demands reform of the civil service as the
first and most indispensable measure the
entire withdrawal of patronage from Con-
gress the consequent elimination of the
ssmachine - the destruction of that formi-
dable and dangerous system of organized
obstruction to free voting which consti-
tutes the power and supports the insolent
tyranny of our modern political Satraps
the guarding of local governments against
demagogism and venality, in the interest
of the taxpayers the separation of all the
subordinate governmental functions from
politics, absolutely the simpliication and
publication of the public business by the
application of the merit system and last,
though not least, the expulsion from poll
tics of the tricky, cunning, knavish ele-
ment that has made profession of them
of late years, by depriving them of those
attractions whose glitter has stimulated
lawless and INSCRIPTIONS ambition, and
caused the statesman to be jostled out of
the way by the demagogue. Whatever
will bring about, or tend to bring about,
these reforms, is in the interest of Capita,
for the accomplishment of these reforms
alone will restore honor and honesty to pol
itics, bring upright and highminded men
into public life, guarantee the extinction of
that rampant demagogism which feeds
and fosters communistic movements con-
tinually, secure protection for all material
interests, discourage that prostitution of
judicial functions which has latterly pre-
sented one of the most alarming features
of the time, and by diverting enterprise
and industry into legitimate channels, and
breaking up the fountains of political cor
ruption, give the normal value and weight
to the cool Judgment of the majority, and
build up a government which would in
fact as well as in name be "for the people,
''of the people, and by the people. 1t is
thus alone that the present tendencies to-
wards conditions in no way preferable to
anarchy can be checked. 1t will not do
for Capital to take its cue from those who
raise the clamor for 60 strong" govern
ment. A pure government is needed. A
just government is needed. A good govern
ment is needed. But a strong" govern
ment is an anomaly for which no warrant
nor explanation can be found in the history
of republican F.institutlons, and whose
wishes to find its parallel must search
among the ruins of republics which have
owed their downfall to reliance on
that broken reed. Capital ought
to include organized and accumu-
lated Intelligence as well as organ
lied and accumulated labor, and it
ought to be capable of perceiving that
it has no real community of interest with
those who are striving to secure the
abandonment of republican principles.
There is danger to Capital in democracy
only when tits corrupted and diverted from
its original functions when like old religions
its doctrines are overlaid with a paralyzing
incrustment, and when faction has
usurped the authority of the people to
maintain itself in power. In such case
there is a way of escape and recovery, but
it is not the direction indicated by the
champions of ''strong" government. On
the contrary, it is the path which leads
back to the vigorous and pure and gen
timely democratic principles and practices
of the past and it can only be followed
successfully by renouncing and condemn
ing all the prevailing tendencies towards
absolutism, and systematizing and urging
broad policy of decentralization and con-
centration of responsibility.