Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-09-14
TIE TEST OF EXPERIENCE.

! and Hurt1ul. w ME tIS cause 10 pehuihS
mems judgments are always influenced by
other considerations than those which be-
long naturally to the subject. They are
prejudiced for or against the new measure
by the character of some of its advocates
or opponents. They arc biased by sus-
picions, often iil.founded, that some
class or clique interest is concerned in the
matter. Frequently these prejudices prove
far more influential than the most power
full arguments, and SO the final vote may
be determined by ideas having no connec-
ton with the actual subject-matter. Dur
ing this period Of discussion, however, it
is impossible to demonstrate, with any
approach to conclusiveness, the real ten
denotes and character of the pending legls- !
lation. Whether its advocates or oppo-
nents are right is question which can
only be determined by experience, and SO,
if the measure is carried, It's friends jump
to the conclusion that they have achieved
victory which will continue to do them
credit, and to testify to the soundness of
their judgment. But presently, when
| time enough has elapsed to show the opera
ton of the new law, second adjudication
becomes unavoidable. Then it is no longer
possible for prejudice and passion to OBJ
! scure the truth Then the actual tendon
cies of the law are apparent to all, and the
least intelligent are capable of deducing
accurate conclusions from the facts before
them And such sober second thought
appears to be forcing itself upon public at
tention in this State in regard to the
new Constitution. That instrument was
adopted in the midst of a great
excitement and clamor. Its advo
Gates maintained that it was fraught
with incalculable benefits to the
State. They sought to weaken the
force of the arguments which were adj
vanced against it by charging its opponents |
with selfish or impure motives. They |
even endeavored to arouse class hatred |
by declaring that it was in some especial
sense poor mans Constitution, and that
it was opposed by the rich because it would
compel them to contribute more fairly to
the expenses of the Government The |
people were assured that it would usher in |
new era of prosperity and progress; that |
it would attract immigration to our shores !; |
| that it would relieve the debtor class ; |
that it would make justice more at
tainable that it would secure econ
omy and efficiency in the public service,
and so forth. It was adopted by |
the majority vote of those who
out any of the promises with which it was
commended to the people? Whoever has
studied its workings knows that it has
disappointed every one of the expectations
which were based upon it. Ithas fastened
upon us a revenue system which is
flagrantly and iniuriously inequitable. 1t
has driven capital out of a score of employ
ments which provided wages for labor. 1t
has stopped improvements. 1t has demon
allied the penal administration of the
commonwealth. It has introduced pro-
visions so glaringly in conflict with the
rational organic law that the Courts have
decided them invalid the moment the test |
8as applied. It has brought depression
and stagnation upon the State, and it has
wrought mischief especially to the classes
who were deluded into voting for it,
Have the farmers experienced thai re-
lief from The mortgage tax which they
were led to expect? On the contrary,
they End that in many instances they are
worse situated than before. Have the
workingmen experienced any benefit from
the provisions which they were assured
would secure prosperity for them: On the
contrary, times have never been hardsr
than since the new Constitution went into
effect In fact no man or class of men can
to-day point out any material advantage
which has been secured by the adop-
ton of this instrument, while the
instances in which it has done
positive harm are in the mouths
and in the experience Of all. It is there
fore proper for those who, while the meas
ure was under discussion, pointed out all
the objections to it which experience has
shown TO be real, to call attention to this
vindication of their judgment, and this
proof that their position at that time was
governed by sincere desire for the vel
fare of the community, and not, as was
alleged in the campaign, by selfish or
sinister considerations. Whether it is
necessary to endure the evils the
new Constitution has imposed upon the
State, or whether it is possible to obtain
relief from the worst Of them by a
modification of the instrument, it is equally
desirable that the honesty, good faith, and
sound judgment of those who strove to
prevent its adoption, should now be recog
nized and appreciated. There can be no
binding partisan or class prejudice con-
nected with this subject, and men can ad-
nit what they never would concede while I
the matter was in controversy. And it
must he remembered that if no other good
comes of this experiment, the one good
may be derived from it OF perceiving who
the really trustworthy advisers of the
people are. Ii the new Constitution
had to be voted upon again this
year there can be no question that
it would be rejected by an immense ma
jority, for it is thoroughly discredited.
The defeat of the charter in San Francisco
no doubt partly grew out Of the prevailing
hostility to the Constitution, whose BAN
ting it was thought to be. Those who
opposed the change in the organic Law can
not be held responsible for any of the evils
it has brought in its train, but they should
be credited by the people with sincere
endeavor to save the State from this de-
pressing legislation, and with clear per-
ception of the mischief it was certain to
produce ii adopted.
TIE GREEgBAcKERs FROM AN EASTERN