National Republican., 1882-09-02
The California Republicans.

The Republican party of California has
adopted platform which contains
declaration nofindependence from railroad
control, and an enumeration of the rights,
powers, and duties of the State and ma
tional government, as against undue ex-
actions by the railroad power. The pop
ular will being thus voiced, it only re-
mains for the committee and the candi-
dates to so conduct the canvass as to
leave no room for doubt among the voters
of the State that Republican victory will
make the railroad companies subjects in
stead of masters That such will be the
tone of the campaign, and such its result
we have no doubt. 1t would be dis
aster if the State should in any
d. manner disregard the legal rights
Of the owners and managers of railroad
property, but in avoiding this it is not
necessary that the railroad companies
should be law unto themselves. Their
roads run over public property by gov
ernment consent, subject to govern
mental conditions. They will be wise if
they abandon the claim that their own
wish and the endurance of the people
are the only limits upon the rates of toll
that may be exacted by them from the
public.
The convention demanded the enforce
ment of the present or o similar Sunday
law providing for the suspension Of all
unnecessary labor on Sunday without at
tempting to dictate the manner i'll which
the citizen shall spend the day. The
mn
and troublesome one in California, and
it is extremely fortunate that the Repu b.
lcans have had the good sense to treat it
as one on which differences of opinion
should be tolerated. The platform avoids
both bigotry and liccntiousncss, and will
satisfy all reasonable people.
At the present writing we have not
learned who the nominees are, but judg-
ing from the declarations of the party
policy made by the convention, we
believe its work will be accepted and in
dorsed by the people.
In 1870 the Republican party in Cali
fornia was outvoted by its opponents by
24,0O0 majority, but prevailed by plural
ity because it had two tickets arrayed
against it. This year il meets an undi'
vided enemy. In 1879 it lost thousands
of votes because it was not in favor with
the people on the railroad question. This
year it will have the support Of all who
were that year disafleced, while tho
railroad interests can have no reason fol
preferring the Democratic candidates
who are their avowed enemies.
twill be a good day for California wher
its people shall agree upon the admins
traton of public affairs by a party free
from the control of the corporations o.
the sand-lots. 1t will be well for th'
great Central Pacific Railroad corpora
ton when it shall be as free from any
desire TO dictate in the selection of pub
lie officers as it is unwilling that pub
lie officers shall interfere with il
proper conduct of its own business
The political pendulum has swung t
and fro in that State between the ex
tremes of railroad destruction am
railroad rule. The railroad system
has been TO California what the Mis-
sissippi River is to the people of tn
Internationally blessing and
pcourge. 1t is the backbone Of the il
dustries Of the State, and the bearer
her products TO home and foreign markets
Ii is as Indispensable MS the rains whic
fertillzs her valleys, and has at time
been as relentless an enemy as the flood
they have caused. The railroad manager
and the people ought every year to com
toabetter understanding with each othe
and devote to the common welfare, o
mutual agreement the energies Whic
have 10 often been squandered in initial