, 1882-06-09
The Argonaut Man,

Frank Pixley is pungent writer
and politician of much force OF
character But lately his editorial
labors have resulted in nothing but
dismal fault finding, During the en-
ergetic agitation of the Chinese qucs-
tion before Congress this summer,
Pixley was in the thickest of the
light. and his lance cleaned with un-
usual brightness. When the Presi-
dents veto seemed likely to prevent
or at least postpone the coveted legis-
lation the AryOndm openly counsel
ed violence as the next resort after
failure in Legislative effort. When
the contest was finally over, and vic
tory perched upon the banners of
the anti Chinese element, the country
expected to hear rejoicing from that
quarter; and popular expectation was
not disappointed except as to Pixley.
Instead of congratulating Pacific
coasters upon the splendid victory he
helped to win, that gentleman
walls louder than over at eastern peo-
pie for not looking at the case from a
Pacific coast standpoint, and uses
whole columns in going over the rela-
tive positions of the two great polit-
ical parties upon this question and
their claims for support per conse-
quence. He seems to be laboring
under cloud, and to be in transi-
tory state, liable to come out cater
pillar or a butterfly, he hardly knows
which. In one column he slowly
comes to the conclusion that the re-
publican party has betrayed him,
and is no longer worthy of suppost,
and that he will leave it to utter de-
struction while he graciously con-
sents to lift the democratic party out
Of the mire of its past degradation
and place it upon the sure road to vic
tory; then veers off in another direc-
ton and suddenly remembers that
the republican members of Congress
from the Pacific coast We're on his
side of the Chinese question, while
at the same time he gravely discusses
the unsavory past of the democratic
party, his prediction for the repub-
lican side, &c, until it really seems as
if the fate of the two parties hung
in balance where trihes light as air
might decide the fate of either or
both.
The truth is that Frank Pixley has
not been as sincere in this whole mat
ter as he might. He was actually dis
appointed when the result of the re-
cent agitation knocked the bottom
out of his calculations and left him
no longer any political capital to
work upon. 1t was his first and only
opportunity to achieve real political
eminence, and to lose it so soon un-
settled him, He wanted to be the po-
litical Moses to lead the Pacific coast
out OF the wilderness of Chinese in
vasion wanted both existing politi-
cal parties to fail in successfully
graphing with the question, and then
to organize, equip and lead third
party to magnificent victory. 1t is
hard to judge a man thus, but his
strained efforts the past few weeks to
hatch up sufficient excuse for organ
izing a new party compel one to that
conclusion. He has had some little
success as a politician in the republi-
can ranks, and it has spoiled him.
He thirsts for new fields to conquer.
He was not shrewd enough to recog-
nize the fact that the Chinese contro-
versy was purely sectional, and not a
political issue between the two par
ties; that Pacific coast politicians
stood shoulder to shoulder in
the fight, regardless of politi-
cal creed, and that eastern leaders
did the same as a rule on the oppo-
site side of the question. He forgets
that all has been accomplished that
could be asked for, and that the Chi
naman cannot be made to figure in
politics for the very obvious reason
that both parties occupy substanti-
ally the same position with reference
to the great race and labor question.
No, our friend may shrek himself
hoarse but he will never be able to
make this great, living political is
sue, for the reason that it is dead and
disposed of. He may desert the re-
publican ranks, but the old party will
Try to get along after some sort of a
fashion without him. He may refuse
to rescue the democratic party from
oblivion, but that organization will
persist in living all the same.