Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-09-04

ing over the provisions of the new charter,
but whichever side is right or wrong it is
to be feared that the new system OF gov
eminent must prove worse than that which
it supersedes; not because of any intrinsic
defect in the form, but because, as We have
here demonstrated, the isolation of the
city is fatal to its good government. Nor
is this the sole cause of objection to the
new scheme. 1t is injurious as well to the
State as to the city. For. in the first
place, the whole growth and development
of the body polite is checked and stunted
by this artificial separation between city
and State this setting up of an imperiuna
n imperio. And in the second place
the State is exposed to the dangers which
must arise from the tendency to corruption
so increasingly displayed in the character of
the legislative delegations from the me-
tropohs. OF late years San Francisco has
been choosing for legislators men utterly
unfit for such duties Many of them have
been too ignorant ever.to initiate legisla-
ton or take part in debates, but
they have nevertheless voted with
canine dociEty as their fuglemen directed,
and they have usually been found voting
with discreditable soIdity on behalf CT
bad measures. Under the new Constitu-
ton it must be expected that the quality
of the metropolitan members will still
further deteriorate. They will represent
the Sand Lot, or whatever local travesty
of politics and craftsmanship may be most
in favor. And as the numerical strength
OF the San Francisco delegation is very
great in proportion to the whole body they
will exercise a malign influence highly
preiudicial to the best interests OF the
State. In fact it is impossible for the mes
tropolis to be injured without injuring the
whole State, and bad government IN the
one must react upon the other. 1t is the
more unfortunate in this case because the
Constitution prohibits the State from in
terfering with the city, but so arranges
matters that the city shall constantly In
terfere with and influence the State. And
it is further to be observed that the nature
of the influence to be employed is peculiar.
The State cannot NEEDLE with the city for
good and the city can only do harm to the
State. This is the outcome OF the
labor of that homogeneous body called
the Constitutional Convention. 1t has
done its best to entangle San
Francisco in a network of bad local
government, under pretense of delivering
her from mischievous interference. The
good people of the city could not put up
with the rule Of King Log, and now they
are about to exchange it for that Of King
Stork. It needs no gift of prophesy to
foretell that neither the new charter nor
any other that can be framed Will save San
Francisco from the consequences of the
isolation imposed on her by the Constitu-
ton. That isolation alone is capable Of
counterbalancing all the ingenuity and all
the talent that may be bestowed upon such
instruments. In fact, if the metropolis is
to flourish in the future, and to enjoy
good government, we hold that it viii be
indispensable that the provisions of the
new Constitution regarding the municipal
government of large cities should be re-
pealed or radically amended. AS it is the
city is about to be separated from the
State, and handed over to the tender
mercies OF majority which has thus far
shown neither intelligence nor public
spirit nor honesty nor respect for law and
order