Daily Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1876-1884, 1881-07-06
QUIZ DRAWBACKS.


Assuming for arguments sake that
we are ruled by wisdom, 1t cannot
be denied that many things FREE
quentIy occur among as which are
extremely reprehensible. The re-
cords of our jaiIs, houses of coFrec-
ton, the calendars OF our Courts
all contribute to afford very strik-
ing aud convincing proof OF this.
When our elections come around
aud certain classes Of our citizens
-toO numerous aIas-put their
SURFACES and manhood up for sale
and barter away their votes and
their honors to the highest bidder
for cash; when our Congress and
our Legislatures contain memb ers
who betray their constituents and
damn their souls for q few paltry
dollars; when an outraged public
is thus often apd ruthlessIy de-
ceived 1t would be- the most frigid
Impotence on my part to an
nou, ce, even on the Fourth of
July, that we ale absolutely and
universally pure. We have often
been tainted with the remark
that as
THE STREAM CANNOT RISE ABOVE
IT'S SURFACE,
So public servants will not 0rdln.
srily be better than those who
choose them. This may be true.
but even II it's accuracy be conceded
1t does not follow that the office
holder may not be the inferior Of
many o. those by whose votes be
was elected. 1t 10 quite notorious
that our Legislative seats-State
and National--are, 10 numerous in
stances, filed with the most or
binary material. The American
citiz n. in times of high political
esc,tement, will readily vote for o
man to whom he would not trust
the keys of his safe or the honor Of
his family. Or If. perchance, his
candidate ia honest he may be of
such inferior capacity as to win the
voters sympathy on charitable
grounds. These are cold facts. I
do not say that the remarks are
universally, nor even generally APP
plicable, but that such examples
are cop1 mon is the dictate of each
one's observation. For these rea-
sons 1t may be proper, on this
Fourth of July, to turn to these
phases of our condition to blend a
annull aut0unt NJ
SOBER REFLECTION
With the briIliancy of surrounding
display. That there is remedy
for the ills of which I speak, there
can be no doubt. AS to whether 1t
will ever be applied is quite an
other question. We place too low
an estimate upon the honor of Of
fee. While we are scrupuiously
careful concerning our private busi-
ness matters, we are Indifferent as
to the character of our public serv-
ants. We OF California are pecu-
iisrly to blame. In the council
halls of the nation we have never
been represented by our ablest and
best men. Our weight In the sis
terhoOd Of States is, per cOnse-
queDce, much less than 1t ought to
he. We have combined talent and
honesty enough to furnish repre-
sentatives who might successfully
Of the nation. Yet no advantage
lie taken of the opportunity. Jeal-
Ousy. drmsgngisr1, or some other
equally obnoxious agent aliures US
from our duty. It Is to be hoped
that further experience, aided by
the practical lessons which have
already been inculcated, will in.
duce us to fulfil our obligations 10
a more patriotic manner.
The speaker then made an ex.
tended comparison of the condition
of our country with that of other
iesding governments, concluding
that, notwithstanding the evils
which beset US, ours Ia altogether
the most desirable. Concluding
his address, he said:
THE CALAMITY WE DEPLoRE.
Fellow citizens, under ordinary
circumstances, ia view Of The pres
ent condition Of the atmosphere. ]
would close my address at this
point. But the events of the las,
forty-eight hours demand come
notice. For two days, and even ur
to this very moment. 1t has been o
question whether we were to veal
the garland Insignia of rejoicing
or whether. our dwellings and oul
persons should be draped in the
habilments Of woe. The fact thai
the Chief Magistrate Of this Repub'
lie has been stricken down by thu
assassin has reused popular indig
nation as 1t has moved the univer'
sal heart. I have not, nor hav,
any of you, met Que man, be hi
Democrat or r. publican, who doe
not regret from the source of hi
divinest emo lon, this lamentabl'
transaction. Some give more reas
ons for their regret than others
but all are emphatic in the dec
laration that when the bullet wa
directed at the President, o blow
was aimed ut the whole Amer
lean people. I have hear,
a fear expressed that tn,
oowardly act might be fonDt
to contain some of the same char
aoteristics which have been exhih
tied In the violent deaths of othe
rulers. But this Ia claerly mil
take. / attach
i NO MORE SIGNIFICANCE
To the attack made upon our Pres
dent than I would II his Injuries
had resulted rom railroad acci
dent or other casualty. 1t is tru,
that the one contains an elemen
OF malice not observable ia tn
other. But at the same time tn
assai laut did not act as the agen
of any faction, any party, or an,
| craan Tn he ia not ahsOlutelv In