Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-01-13
FEE NEVADA sENAroRIAL EIgcFIoN.

a reporter at New York, coollY discussed
this assumption as matter of fact, and
simply declined to commit himself to an
estimate of the sum Mr.. Fair had ex-
pended While. therefore, it cannot be
alleged that the public POSSESS any posi-
tive knowledge on the subject, it is evil
dent that the universal belief is as we have
stated. namely, that this high office has
been put up to sale in Nevada. and quite
literally knocked down to the highest
bidder. 1t is said that the Nevada Demo-
Gratis chose Mr.. Fair for their candidate
mainly because they thought he could help
the Presidential contest. Such an arrange
ment would no doubt have been completely
in harmony with the Democratic conduct
of the national canvass, but unfortu-
nately it cannot be said that as re-
CARDS Nevada one party has acted more
acrupulously than the other. It must in
fact be admitted that if Mr.. Fair bought
his seat in the Senate, he did not inau-
gurate the, practice of buying seats in the
Senate. That practice is believed to have
obtained in Nevada for several years,
and neither party has any right to pretend
to much superiority over the other in con-
nection with it. Venality of the grossest
and most open kind has been the rule in
the politics of that State, If we are to be-
lieve its own press, nor have we at any
time encountered a serious attempt to deny
the habitual employment of corruption on
both sides. The State has thus acquired
the discreditable reputation of a rotten
borough, and at this day the country has
become so accustomed to these scandals
that it scarcely thinks it worth while to do
anything else than laugh at their fagrancy
and audacity. But it is nevertheless
true that such state of things can
not become established in one State
of the Union without exerting reflex
action upon ali the other States. 1t would
no doubt be going too far to assume that
political corruption has at any time been
indigenous in Nevada. 1t must have &C
quired strong hold elsewhere before it
could be Haunted so shamelessly as it has
been there. The Nevada politicians are not
phenomenal examples of total depravity.
If they were we should not be hearing
such complaints of corruption as have
been made in New York, for instance since
the Presidential election. 1t would be the
folly of Pharisaism to hold up Nevada as
shocking example, and to argue that
nothing ike her venahty had ever been
heard of in the country before. Every
man who has had any experience in politics
knows better than that, and therefore it is
only realizing existing facts to admit
that what is alone peculiar in Nevada poll
tics is the indifference to public opinion
which its carelessness of disguise indicates.
If we wish to derive any useful results
from this open purchase of Senatorial pc
sitions we must compel ourselves to per.
ceive that it isafter all only an exaggerated
and aggravated illustration of the de-
moralizing influence of the spoils system
in politics throughout the country. That
system has gradually deteriorated public
opinion. 1t has taught the people to be
familiar with great variety of political
intrigues for Office, all having for basis the
principle of bargain and sale. It has en-
ahlnd astute ire-pullers to gather about
them little parties of shrewd fuglemep,
whose special business it is to control the
local nominating machinery, and to or.
range matters in accordance with the will
of the "Boss. 1t has given complete
control of political power in several of the
most wealthy and thickly- populated States
to these " Bosses" 1t has made them
so independent of public opinion that
they have repeatedly defed and scoffed
at it in the most open way,
and have put and kept their
creatures in office despite the
most convincing public demonstration of
their unftness. It has abolished the test
of merit as a qualification for high Office,
and has made control OF the machine
the great and indispensable desideratum.
| 1t has thus lowered the tone of Congress
at the same time that it has deadened the
sensibilities of the people. In Nevada
they are downright and plainspoken folk,
and they have, as they think, improved
upon the methods OF the older States. In
stead of spending time in intriguing and
beating around the bush, they go to can
didate and find out precisely what he is
willing to pay for seat in the Senate.
The arrangement is made easier for both
sides in this way, for all that is necessary
is the production and transfer of the coin.
This may seem shocking to those who are
unfamiliar with politics. but we are
very sure that it cannot horrify the advo-
Gates and supporters of the spoils
system, for it involves no real difference
of principle, and only comparatively un-
important difference of method. We
believe that the election of General Miller
to the United States Senate from this
State has been accomplished without re-
sort to the practices which have been so
common elsewhere, and we regard it as an
exceptional case. Bat the Nevada Senator
ship is only more openly bought and sold
than many others have been and are and
unit! this is realized no good can be ex-
pected from any holding-up of hands
over the Carson business, or any pretense
of disgust at the methods employed therein
The spoils system leads to just such
bargains, and while it lasts they will con-
| tinue to be made.
CANNoN's NATURALIZATION.
Governor Murray's explanation OF his
reasons for refusing certificate to Cannon
is really astonishing. From beginning to
| end he makes the mistake of treating HIM