davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-11-27

of political venality, moreover The man
who does not understand why he has
vote, or what the franchise implies, or how
he may endanger his own interests by ne
glecting his political duties, is ripe for
bid of money for his vote There can be no
patriotism without intelligence. Institu-
tions cannot be loved before they are COM
pretended. OF course there will always
be some men dishonest enough to sell their
votes with their eyes open, but they are
sure to constitute small minority. But
another incentive to venality is the op-
GRAFTON OF pervading corruption which
renders single vote, or even many votes,
useless and worthless. The man who
knows how little public opinion is con
suited under the present political methods !;
how easily few astute politicians contrive
to manage and control the votes of wards,
and consequently of cities, and so of
States must sometimes feel that contest
against so thoroughly organized system
of political usurpation is quite idle, and
that the only sensible course is to swim
with the stream and make the most OF
such opportunities as present themselves.
The 9 boss system inevitably tends
to cultivate venality, for it implants
despair of better things in the minds of
those who often possess a feeble moral
balance. The tendency to do as others
do is always very strong The
men who can refrain from wrong doing
when they see all or most OF their neigh
bors indulging in similar escapades, are
very few. The majority are content to be
no better then their fellows. Example is
powerful, also, and the examples which
politics afford are seldom of a kind to dis
courage venality. The masses see dena-
gogism successful. They see men of edu-
cation and capacity STOPPING to lie and cog
and pander and debase themselves in a score
of ways for the sake of Office. They say to
themselves that these men are their superb
ors In point Oh intelligence ana II such
men sell themselves, why should not the
humble voter make market of his vote.
The standard of morals in politics is of
course neither higher nor lower than that
which obtains out of politics. 1t reflects
the spirit of the age. The amount of
venality to be found in the United States
to-day is undoubtedly very fair gauge of
the morality of the American people gen.
orally. We do not believe that it is really
so bad as might seem from the evidence
adduced, but we are very certain that some
of the most influential causes of political i'm
morality depend upon the spoils system,
and can be removed by abolishing that.
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-11-27

prospered SO greatly that he cannot con-
troll the finances of the empire without their
assistance. He wishes to be supreme, and
therefore he proposes to rid himself of these
obnoxious people; and the credulous Ger
mans have suffered themselves to be de-
luded into playing his game, not thinking
that they are helping to establish pre-
cedent which will be turned against them
the next time. Where is the boasted leu
tonic instinct for freedom, when such dis
graceful movements as this are possible in
Germany Is it to this pitiful and
wretehed conclusion that the much
Wanted educational system OF Germany
has brought her foremost thinkers and
scholars, her statesmen and her governors?
There is not another civilized country in
the world in which such spectacle would
he possible &c. day. Not even in Russia
would it be tolerated. But enlightened
Germany, Philosophic Germany, Germany
Of the Csltw-KamRf, Germany Of the
model educational system, appears to
have flung aside reason and dig
nifty aud sense of justice, in order to in-
dulge in an outbreak of bigotry which is
the more absurd when we reflect that
scarcely one of the foremost revilers OF
the Jews have any title to the name of
Christian. Taking it altogether it is
certainly most wonderful freak OF
national folly, aud it can scarcely have
other than mischievous results for the
German Empire, whatever end it brings to
the Jews.
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-11-27
TREATY RUMoas.

It Is curious that while the first reports
about the new Chinese treaty were partic-
ularly precise and full, as time passes the
attainsble information in regard to it be-
comes more and more slender and uncer-
tain. The State Department has received
intelligence, it is now stated, that two
Chinese treaties have been negotiated one
purely commercial, and the other dealing
with the question Of immigration only. As
to what the purpOrt of the latter may be,
nothing appears to be known certainly, but
it is vaguely intimated that it relegates
the whole matter to Congress. This is
equivalent to saying that we are to make
our own regulations in regard to Chinese
immigration, but it does not seem proba-
bic that such latitude would be accorded
by the Chinese Government without max
ing some reservation in the interest and for
the protection of its subjects. The whole
subject matter OF the treaty is, however,
thus far in doubt, and apparently it will be
necessary to await its arrival by mail be-
fore the actual work of the Commission
can be comprehended
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-11-27
The ELECTORAL SYSTEM.

The New York Tribune criticises the
electoral system on the strength of the In
diana blunder which is supposed to have
taken one electoral vote from Garfield and
transferred it to Hancock. Itsays while
"we still have the electoral system it
twill be well to bear this Incident in mind
- to poiut moral Of absolute accuracy in
future campaigns" The moral which
this incident points is that the present
electoral system ought to be abolished
That is the only rational conclusion TO be
reached, and that conclusion had been
adopted by nearly all thinking men long
before the late election. ALI experience
has shown the present system to be
clumsy, inefficient, and dangerous. It is
circuitous mode of doing that which
can be much more certainly and safely
effected without any such cumbrous ma
chinery. 1t was an experiment at the
first, and it has never been satisfactory
experiment. 1t subjects the election
OF Presidents to chance and accident
OF the most trivial and preposterols kind.
Il might at any time enable a careless or
corrupt clerk somewhere to reverse the
viii of the people. 1t might in fact under
given circumstances plunge the country
into civil war 1t has no compensations,
moreover. All its characteristics are Oh
jectionable, and IL is time the country
made up it's mind to be imperiled nc
longer by an arrangement which was never
intended to apply to the conditions which
have arisen since the Constitution was
drafted, and which becomes more untrust-
worthy every time it is used. The sensible,
the statesmanlike thing to do, is to get rid
of it altogether, and hereafter vote for
President and vice-President directly, and
let the actual majorities decide the event.
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-11-27
BRIBERY IN POLITICS.

A correspondent of the Nation, writing
from one of the interior counties of New
York, recounts his experience as a &C work
er" in politics during the late campaign.
He was Republican, of liberal principles
and advanced ideas, and he says
81 have had full faith in the
&c success of the Republican cause
81 believing that the majority OF the
Z" voters, especially in the rural districts,
g when fully aroused, would vote from
:" conviction with the Republican party ?"
Believing this be went to the polls early
and stayed all day, peddling tickets, talk
ing to voters, and watching the progress
"of tbs voters and the methods of the
:" workers and poll-drivers. And what
he discovered was that upwards of twenty
SO per cent. of the voters were openly for
" sale. | learn that more than sixty were
bought by the Republican workers at
" prices varying from 81 to IS each. How
many the Democratic workers secured
6 by the same means do not know, but
" probably nearly an equal number 1
g have since learned that the towns in our
Z" county each require on an average at
90 least $3.50 for the sole purpose of buying
" votes on election day, and that this is
Z" the usual sum expended in this manner. !"
The discovery of these facts set this Re-
publican on the track OF further infor-
nation, and his researches were rewarded.
He says 60 am informed that it cost our
g candidate for Congress in a district natu-
orally (!) Republican, and who was elected
by large majority, not less than S25, coo
to pay his election expenses within the
" past sixty days. I find that it would be
% folly for anyone to aspire TO Office In this
" county or neighborhood who was not
' wealthy and willing to pay literally for
60 the honor-that wealth is almost the sole
requisite in candidate for any Office of
Importance. Finally, l find that this
I" state of things is by no means excep-
IS tional, but that it is precisely the same
in the adjacent counties and Congress
Sc sional districts" Is the experience of
this young politician local and peculiar ?
Is it paralleled in other and even in most
parts of the country7 And if it is, what
conclusions are to be derived from such
evidences of the prevalence of venality in
politics, not only among ofice-holders and
seekers, but among the masses-the soy.
ereign people, above whose standard Of
morality neither parties nor governments
can be expected to rise? In the first place
| it must be realized that there always has
been and always will be a certain amount
of pubic venality. This is as natural as
| immortality OF any other kind, and to sup.
pose that any form of government
can be free from it Is to suppose
that under some forms of govern.
ment human nature ceases to be human
nature. Ignorance is a prolific mother
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-11-27
A HERETO PUgIsHED.

1t seems that the enemies of Professor
Robertson Smith in the Free Church OF
Scotland have at last hunted down their
quarry. When he was arraigned in the
Ecclesiastical Court year ago, in connec-
ton with his article on the Bible in the
&c Encyclopedia Britannica, y he succeeded
in battling his prosecutors. Subsequently
another volume of the Encyclopedia was
issued, containing an article by Professor
Smith on the Hebrew language and ltera-
ture, and this afforded the basis for Sec
ond attack upon him. A Commission was
accordingly appointed to examine this
article, and it has made reporS finding
him guilty of irreyerence in his treat
"ment of the Scriptures of speaking of
"them in such a manner as to give the
impression that God is not the author Of
"them, that their narrative portion is not
authentic, and that their prophetic por-
tons were untrue" The special and
particular offanses of the Professor are
pointed out in the report. He has had
the audacity to characterize Ezra and
Nehemiah as being "singularly destitute
% of literary merit he alleges that two
chapters of Isaiah - seem TO have been
Z" first published as literary broadsides !"
he speaks of the Song of Solomon as a
Lyric drama, and OF the story of Jonah as
ga parable" OF course the Commission
did not bring forward any evidence that
Professor Smiths Characterization were
erroneous. That was impossible. They
could not compete with him in learning
but they could distance him altogether in
bigotry and Blind superstition. So they
agreed that his conclusions, based upon
learned research in the origin of the So
called sacred writings, were heretical, and
notwithstanding an eloquent and mastery
defense by theProfessor himself, the Assem-
bly, suspended him from his Professorship
for six months This is a triumph of
organized imbecility over superior intelli-
gence, and that is the light in which it will
be regarded Professor Smith has been
punished for discovering and declaring the
truth, and for nothing else. The General
Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland
has shown itself to be no whit more ad-
vanced than was the Papal Government
which condemned Calico. Evidently if
the Assembly had the power it would fol-
low the example of the Papacy and impose
silence upon Professor Smith, and would
condemn the {" Encyclopedia Britannica " to
be confscated AID destroyed because it
contains his heretical exposure of the true
character of the canouical books. Such
manifestations OF bigotry, intolerance and
stupidity are among the most powerful
agencies which are operating to destroy
human regard for ecclesiastical systems.
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-11-27

their interest to divide her territory among
them than to unite IN guaranteeing her
neutrality, and her own sordidness seems
to be helping On some such catastrophe.
Several times in the past she has sold the
right of crossing her territory to foreign
armies, and even to rival foreign armies at
the same time. At present she Is building
two great cross-railroad systems which are
to facilitate communication with her
neighbors, and for the construction of these
lines, that is, for the st. Gothard tunnel
and for the Mount Gents tunnel, she has
sought subsidies from Italy and
France. OF course in so doing she
has paved the way for future claims and
complications of the most serious kind
More than this, France has for ten years
been extending the Notifications of her
frontier against German aggression, anu
in doing so she has obviously prepared to
carry the war into her enemy's territory
by invading South Germany through
Switzerland. Germany of course will not
sit quiet and allow such arrangements to
be completed, and the result must be dan
gerous if not fatal to Swiss independence.
The Cantsns, however, appear to have lost
their patriotic instincts of late years, and
to be absorbed in money getting. They
are also playing with fire by allowing So
cialists, Nihilists, Communists and all
kinds Of revolutionary cattle. not only to
harbor at Geneva, but to publish the most
incendiary journals there This license
may not always be submitted to patiently
by the Governments whose heads are
threatened with assassination from Swiss
territory, and on the whole the little re-
public appears to be drifting towards very
serious perila, which its people do not
realize.
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-11-27
TIE FUTURE OF SWITZERLAND.

The Fortnightly Revie,0 has an article by
Fritz Cunlife- Owen on the future of
Switzerland, which is more than usually
suggestive and interesting. It's concerned
with the question whether the independ-
ence of Switzerland is likely TO be main
tanned in the future. and it shows that this
is extremely doubtful. Surrounded by four
powerful nations, Germany, France, Italy
and Austria, Switzerland has hitherto
owed the preservation of her independence
to the fears and jealousies of her great
neighbors. Blu. there are indications that
in the near future it may become more to
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-11-27
SAN FRANCISCO ITEMS.


From san Franoiseo exchanges of November 2etb.l
The steamer Colima, from Panama,
brought Al cabin passengers and Sc in the
steerage.
From November lst to the 25th, both
dates inclusive, 10 wheat vessels were
cleared from San Francisco.
Interest in the Haskell manslaughter
case SEEING to augment as the trial wears
on, for the Courtroom is crowded daily.
The merchandise exports OF the week
were valued at 81 406, 500, and increase of
$50, $40 from those of the previous week.
Six coast steamers arrived at this port
yesterday with full cargoes Of produce.
One OF them brought $50 tons Of British
Columbia coal.
The real estate tax collections up to this
morning amounted to S233,425, and at
noon SIS, 600 had been paid in, making a
total OF S25S, 425.
DR.. James P. Whitney, one of the best
known physicians OF the city, died yester-
day afternoon at his residence, No. lC0T
Suffer street, of paralysis.
George A. Fisher, native of New York,
aged 30 years, waiter az Lukin's saloon,
No. 446 California street, dropped dead at
the northwest corner of Pine and Sansome
streets about o'clock this morning. de
leaves a family at No. S35 Geary street
The crush to hear Moody and Sankey
last night was, if possible, greater than on
the opening nights, and whether the
masses came from curiosity, or with a de-
sire to be converted, it is certain that pub
lie interest in their ministrati0Hs is not IN
the least on the wane.
Els expected that the third section OF
! 900 feet of the new sea-wall will be fin
ishcd next month. Work on the sea-wall
will probably cease after the completion OF
section four. owing to the legislative enact
ment prohibiting the Harbor Commls'
sioners from anticipating their appropFia-
tions more than one year.
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-11-27
THE WEEKLY UNION.

The WEEKLY UyIcs for 1881 will be by far The
most desirable paper published in the State. 1t
now the superior OF any. 1t is the only weekly
which goes to its readers twice week; the only
one which will give Photographic legislative re
ports the only one to publish original serial
prize romance, founded on modern Californian
history 1t is the paper among weekliss OF all
Others Tor home, farm, shop Office, street. market
and eountin room. 1t is sent post paid for year
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-11-27
a COMBINATION BLOCKED.

Mr.. Eyarts appears to have got the bet
ter of the cable companies. The latter
have apparently been thinking of com,
bination for the purpose of raising the
price of dispatches, but the astute Secre-
tary points out that their concessions con-
tain express provisions prohibiting any
combination for such purposes, and there
fore the scheme will have to be relinquished
on the threshold.
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-11-27
THREE ORIGINAL STORIES.

During the coming year, and commencing De
cember LIST, the WEE ,LY UNION IcH publish three
Prize Stories Of California. The first, the pub
LEGATION Of uelich ,ciH commence in the first toeek
of December tClI be entitled, THE Ventures ana
A drenturss of Charlie Gould" This is an in
tensely interesting story Of the Stock-Gan'btiag
period Of California, and tcrittea By Edlpdrd
r. Cal.tll Of Los angeles The price Of the WEEKLY
UNION scit be 81 50, per annuH.
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-11-27
x,en,g CO.'S Coca Beef Tonic.

sit has more than realized my expecta-
tons SAYS Professor DUNCAN CAMP.
BELL, Nj. D., Ill D., President Royal
College Physicians and Surgeons; Member
General Council University Of Edinburgh,
etc. Invaluable for debility, weak lungs,
biliousness. dyspepsia and female complaints.
Beware of cheap, worthless limitations under
our and sisaiisr names. Ask scr Coca Beef
Tonic.
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-11-27

The Duchess of Edinburgh is the men,
Der of the royal family who is the least
well known to the world of fashion and
the people OF England generally.
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-11-27
think it treason to put any but abject par.
tisans in office, and who think the unpar-
donahle sin consists in appointing Demo.

think it treason to put any but abject par.
tisans in Office, and who think the unpar-
donable sin consists in appointing Demo
GRAFT to office under Republican Admins
tration, or vice versa. So much, however,
has been gained that the facts of the spoils
system are now freely listened TO and
their force admitted. 1t is indeed quite
impossible to deny these facts, and there.
fore the hide bound partisan usually falls
back upon some vague generalities about
practical politics" which it seems are
supposed to necessitate the abandonment
of honesty, justice and common sense.
The need of civil service reform, however,
cannot be made so clear that it will supply
itself, until there is a more positive i'm
pulse given 10 it than has yet appeared
President Hayes made good beginning,
but yielded to Congressional hostility and
public indifference. Nevertheless, he has
effected far more than is generally ad.
mitted. He has made the cause of reform
familiar to the country. He has shown
how greatly even a tentative and very par
tial application of reform principles can
benefit and elevate the civil service. He
has given US contrast between the spoils
system in its most pronounced form, and
something better.
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-11-27

This is much to be thankful for, but it
is of the utmost Importance that the in
coming Administration should take up the
work where President Hayes has left it,
and carry it forward. That General Gar
field has the ability to comprehend the
need of political reform, and the courage
to undertake it, we cannot doubt. Nor
can he on reflection hesitate as to the
course which is most for his own honor
and interest. It is said that he is an
ambitious man. If that be so, his am
bition must lead him to desire high
place in the esteem of his countrymen, and
in no way can he gain this more surely
than by advancing the great cause OF re-
form which has hitherto been urged against
such formidable and persistent distractions.
There are but two courses for him. On
the one hand there is reform and all that
it involves. On the other hand is the
spoils system, with its political boss y
Interpretation, and all that that implies.
General Garfield knows already to what
the advocacy of the latter leads. General
Grant gave the policy a full trial, and
when his second term expired the Republi-
can party was almost destroyed. 1t has,
therefore, been made apparent that the peo-
pie will not tolerate the apotheosis of the
spoils system. When it is tried they vote
against the responsible party, and this with
out any reference to the possibility OF
change for the better. 1t cannot be too dis
tinctly pointed out that the administration
of President Hayes has been In every
thing worth having much more success
full one than that which preceded it. Presi-
dent Hayes has pursued course which
mas made it possible to elect General
Garfield Had the rule of the bosses"
been permitted through this administra-
ton, General Hancock would undoubt-
edly have been the President elect.
This is the simple truth, and its
lessons are obvious. Ii General Garfield
desires success, and reputation, and en-
during honor and fame, he must walk in
the direction indicated by his immediate
predecessor, and he must carefully eschew
all policies calculated to encourage or give
prominence TO the sinister influences which
arise out of the spoils system, and which
have already once threatened to bring that
system and the Republic to an end at one
and the same time. Reform is the only
possible policy for a man OF Mir. Garlield's
intellectual and moral caliber. Any other,
any second course, would lower him from
the position he has already gained. There
is no going backward for such man, and
with him forward of necessity means up
ward