Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-04-07
THE POLITICAL. OUTLOOK.

State for the Democrats. We do not say
that the desire for an expression of the
just indignation which prevails is not per-
fectly natural and under the circumstances
warrantable. But we do say that there is
no difference of sentiment between the
two parties in California on the Chinese
question, and that therefore to punish Cal
ifornia Republicans for the course of East
ern Republicans would be sacrificing the
innocent instead of the guilty. If this
course could effect any change in the ma
willing to admit that it might be worth
while to adopt it, Notwithstanding the fact
that it would involve the reputation of
those who have labored most assiduously
for the passage of the Chinese bill. But
we assert that nothing can be gained by
such course, and that, on the other hand,
it is one which is calculated to render the
position OF this Coast still worse than at
present.
We affirm that the issue of greatest
moment here is the Chinese question. To
secure the legislation we need on that
issue is the foremost consideration, there
fore, and the first thing to be determined
Is, which of the two national parties can
best help US. The Democrats in Congress
have certainly shown more friendship to
California so far than the Republicans.
But the vital consideration is, whether the
Democratic party can carry the country
on an issue which, in the opinion of every
Eastern Republican, would put it once
more in line with its old record, az the ad-
vocate of race, prescription. And we do
not hesitate to assert that it cannot
succeed on such programme; for the
moment it came forward as the special
champion of Chinese exclusion the whole
Republican sentiment of the North would
accuse it of the Interior design Of attack.
ing the negro under cover of the China
man. The mere suggestion Of such a pur-
pose would rekindle the old Republican
fires all over the country. 1t would be
impossible for the Democrats to make
converts anywhere beyond the Pacific
Slope. They would find their new issue
milestone about their necks; and the
contest would result in their signal defeat,
leaving California tied to the tail of a
beaten party, and saddled with the op-
position of policy which would be re.
garded as only new form of the Southern
question.
The National Republican party would
thus be put beyond our influence. All the
standardization which we have had to
contend against in the past would be in
tensifed. We should obtain neither SYM
patty nor aid from Congress. And all we
should have gained would be the credit of
having degenerated in cur political faith.
1t is through the Republican party alone
that we can obtain relief in this Chinese
question. That is the only party which
can take up the Chinese question without
being suspected OF favoring race proscrip-
ton. That is the only party which can
carry the country on this issue. Those
who believe that the Chinese question Is
the dominant issue for the Pacific coast
cannot support the Democracy without
stultifying themselves, for it is perfectly
clear that the Democracy cannot reward
its supporters By securing for them the
legislation they require. For these rea-
sons it is nonsense to assert that the veto
has lost the State or the Coast to the Re-
publicans Nothing is lost go long as the
party is true to itself. Instead of lying
down and whining, it ia the duty of Re-
publicans at this time to address them
selves resolutely to the campaign before
them. Instead of abandoning the fight, it
is their duty to make it with greater spirit
and energy than ever. Instead of talking
about the nominations going abegging, it
is the duty of the best men of the party to
come forward and offer themselves as can
dida.es.
The Republicans of California have moth.
ing to reproach themselves with, and how
ever their Eastern friends have been led
sstray, it is an incontrovertible fact that
the Republican sentiment Of the North and
West is the predominating sentiment of
the Union, and that it is only by edu-
eating that sentiment we can hope to
win. The Democracy cannot help us. It
is willing to do all it can. 1t will take all
the Offices that may be offered it. 1t will
profess any principles the people may pro
TESS. But it does not possess the conf.
dence of the majority of the voters of the
whole country, and it is the last party in
the world to be able to make a special
issue of the Chinese question. In word,
nothing is to be gained by making Califor-
MIA Democratic, and everything is to be
gained by making her Republican. To
give the State over to the Democrats would
be to renounce all hope of the passage ofany
anti Chinese legislation, and that being the
fact, it is impossible to see where the at
tempted rebuke would fall. We have
indeed heard of people cutting off
their noses to spite their faces, but this
would be a practical illustration of that
eccentric mode of redress. The true course
of the Republicans is to organize at once,
and "nush things" They should create
clubs in every precinct and district and
township throughout the State. They
should seek out the strongest men for
nominations. They should realize the fact
that the outcome of the campaign depends
mainly upon themselves. Enough has
been said, and too much, in the despond-
ent vein. Difficulties were made to be
overcome, not to be retreated from. The
Presidents veto has been discouraging, no
doubt, but another bill may be passed