Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-09-22
A WASTED CAMPAIGN.


and candid observer, for it is evidently and
VIGOROUSLY campaign of false issues. The
results will only serve to illustrate the
Glow AID tedious progress of political en-.
lightenment. There is in the sham issues
being discussed on the stump absolutely
nothing new. The same platitudes and
pretenses have been employed many times
for the same end. If the voters of Cali.
fornia had memories they would recog.
nize this at once. They would perceive
that they were being cheated with false
pretenses, and that there was literally
nothing at the bottom of all this clamor
but the desire for office and what it will
bring. Experience proves that popular
governments are incapable of framing and
pursuing farsighted policies. Where
themassesrule, impulsiveness and credulisy,
passion and prejudice, are the most potent
political influences. The question with
the politicians in democracies is never, what
is the best policy, but, what policy is most
likely to tickle the ears OF the populace.
In order to commend new issues to the
voters the latter are credited with a iudg-
ment and intelligence which they do not
possess. They are fattered by being con-
tinually reminded of their sovereignty"
they are urged to support this or that fac.
ton upon the most shallow and fallacious
grounds; and they are persuaded that what.
ever course is proposed to them will surely
result in The most extended benefits to
them.
The most strange and at the same time
humiliating spectacle in this connection is
the repeated success OF this fragrant dema-
gogism. The promised benefits never ap.
pear. The hot campaign ends only to
usher in period of profound forgetfulness
on the part of the victors. Pledges are
broken always and rywhere. Campaign
promises are ignored. Every thing falls
into the familiar grooves the moment the
contest is over And yet whenever dema.
gogues want Office they have but to bring
out and furnish up the old fraudulent pro.
LESSONS, and the people accept them as
eagerly as though they were brand new
and wholly untried. The present State
campaign is case of the kind referred to.
AS matter of fact there are no issues be.
fore the people. Both parties hold the
same positions on what they pretend to be
the main question, namely, the railroad
issue; and both are equally insincere and
dishonest in regard to it. Tho railroad has
nothing to fear from either of them. It
has nothing to fear from anyt hing that can
be done in this way. 1t is the people alone
WHO are being hoodwinked md deluded,
The other day so-called formers organ
congratulated its readers upon the political
situation. Whatever party wins, it said
IN effect, " the monopoly element will be
destroyed. Ii there are in the State
any real enemies OF the people they must
laugh in their sleeves when they see such
evidences OF simplicity and credulity. The
truth, familiar to every politician at least,
is, that whichever party wins the railroad
will be safe.
Nor does it matter if half dozen fresh
tickets should be put in the field. There
is truth which the people will have to
learn, despite the attractions of demagog.
ism, despite the fattery which demagogues
address to their dupes. Thatstruth is that
nothing can ever be settled until it is
settled right. The foundation principle
upon which alone stable popular govern.
ment can ever rest, is equal and exact
justice 10 all men. The tendency of dema
gogism is always against this, and therefore
whenever the people follow demagoeues
they merely waste their energies, and have
all the work to do over again. The history
OF anti-railroad agitation in this ountry
has been monotonous repetition of this
lesson, and yet it has not been mastered by
the voters. For years they have allowed
themselves to be deceived by political i'm.
posters who have proposed all manner of
anu uUsLT uIHs al
legged evils Every one of these nostrums
has failed In its turn, and yet they are
brought forward again and again, and the
masses accept them blindly and confident
ly, and think every time that at last they
have reached the contamination of their
wishes. Nothing is mora discouraging
than observation of this popular stupidity,
for it shows that the growth of the
capacity to govern well and wisely is ex.
asperstingiy slow and interrupted.
There are plenty of people who can see
plainly enough the folly of the working.
men In striking upon falling markets, and
who think that they themselves would
never be so silly. Yet these same people
cJtHGsN- equal absurdisies every time
political campaign opens. Instead of
thinking for themselves they allow small
number of interested and INSCRIPTIONS
otfce-seekers TO frame issues for them.
They 60 ont and hear fl ,rid stump speeches,
and they accept the speakers at their
own estimate. The consequence is that all
their political enthusiasm is much worse
than thrown away, for it helps to put in
power insincere and dishonest men, who
never had the least intention of carving
out their pledges, and who could not carry
them out in any case, because they have
promised impossible things. But the
voters allow themselves to be deceived a.
every step. First, they are deluded as to
the alleged facts of the situation. Second,
they are fooled as to the conclusions drawn
from these alleged facts. Third, they are
gulled as to the possibilities of legislation.
Fourth, they are hoodwinked as to the
character and integrity of the men they
follow. They are constantly setting up
idols OF brass With feet of clay, in fact,
and yet they are surprised whes these idols
tumble down.
At present political campaign is on
foot which has in it no popular benefits
whatever. Two demagogue fac.ions are
confronted. aad it is impossible to tell
which is the least honest. The whole con.
test is at bottom fight over the spoils.
No principles or convictions are involved.
But the general absence of honor and pro.
bity in both parties is conspicuously shown
by the cowardly promptness and supple
unscrupuiousless with which all the can.
didates have pledged themselves to propo.
sitions which every one Of them lacvs to
be fallacious, unjust, wrong and impracti.
-osbis. Men of real public spirit can have
no sympathy vith either side in such
strnunle IL isiits.,ilr 81 "a ......