Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-04-25
TIE UNITED STATES SENATE And THE
"REccRE-JNIoN."

and indorse everything that Republicans
do. But if the position of a journal which
thinks oritself, which steadily endeavors to
sustain the highest level of political ethics,
and which is more concerned for the honor
than for the successofthe Republican party;
is worth consideration, then the fact that
the RECORD UNION is not subservient
party organ ought to render It's utterances
all the more significant on an occasion like
the present.
Senator Brown was right in his general
intention. He was endeavoring to show
that the Malone Bargain was disapproved
by journals which have been, if not
slavishly Republican, yet none the less
necessary to Republican success. Senator
Farley observed during the discussion on
Friday that he had never before heard the
RECORD UNION described as an indie
pendent journal As fact it has found it
necessary in the majority OF cases to sup
port the Republican ticket, and it has
certainly taught none other than Republi-
can doctrine. But the Republicans in the
Senate will do well to reflect upon the
implications of their present course when
they perceive that journals like the
RECORD. UNION are unable to go along
with them. 1t may appear to them that
they are occupying a defensible position,
but we assure them that there are tens of
thousands of sound Republicans all over
the country who strongly disapprove the
Malone bargain, and who are resolved to
condemn it in whatever ways are open to
them. And it is precisely the independent
journals whose attitude in this case should
be studied most carefully, for they alone
can be relied upon to reflect faithfully the
sentiment of the masses of the party the
sentiment of that great element of voters
which is dependent in no way upon polit.
ical favor, which has nothing to seek from
politicians, and which forms its judgment
independently.
And whatever Senators may think of the
tendency of public opinion, it is necessary
for them to recognize the fact that there is
no mistake made by the country as to the
true inwardness of the Malone bargain.
Senator Burnside has denied that any such
bargain exists. We regret that any Sen
ator should have made so positive a state
ment on the subject, for we know that the
denial is not justified by the facts. We
know, to speak plainly, that most ex-
plicit and specific bargain was made with
Malone that it involved the nomination
by him OF Republican candidate for Sec
rotary of the Senate, and Democrat for
Sergeant lat Arms that to the dismay of
the majority of the Republican caucus
Malone named George C. Gorham for
Secretary Of the Senate, the said majority
not desiring the appointment of that per-
son; but That because of the bargain with
Malone they were obliged to swallow their
disgust, and to accept Gorham and Riddle
berger. These are facts. and they are facts
which no member of the Senatorial caucus
can deny without violating the truth. And
it IS because these facts have been
known to us, and because we have not for
moment been in Ignorance of the real na-
ture of the bargain made with Malone,
that we have denounced the whole arrange
ment as alike discreditable and fatuous.
SIT is not, and it cannot come to, good.
The Republican Senators do not want Cor
ham for Secretary. They know his his
tory. They know that he is renegade
and turncoat. and political adventurer Of
the most interruptions kind They know
that his appointment viii be resented as
special insult by every Republican in Cali
forlia. They know that it will be used as
precedent for the conformation and justi-
fication of treason and desertion. They know
that as Stalwarts they are cutting the
ground from under their own feet by put
ting this man into office. Yet they are
tied hand and foot by their bargain with
Malone, and that bargain alone compels
them to follow course which is certainly,
as regards the identity Of their candidate,
not of their own choosing.
They have made very serious mistake
in this matter. They have thought to d.
vide the solid South through Malone.
Even should this programme be carried
out they viii find that whatever Southern
advantages they gain are counterbalanced
by losses in the West. The appointment
Of Gorham means the loss of the Pacific
States to the Republican party. This is
prediction which We shall recur to at the
proper time. Senator's do not appear to
understand the significance of their pres
ent course, but they viii discover when it
IS too late that they have blundered fatally.
Let them take their advice and their
ideas of what the people are thinking, from
Stalwart organs alone, and the usual re-
suit when the blind lead the blind will fol-
low. The independent press, which, is
ever the bulwark of an honorable Re-
publcanv policy, cannot berelied upon to
support or to excuse the party policy
10 this case, nor will it raise a finger to
avert the punishment which the Malone