Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-06-05
WALKING THE POLITICAL r1GHrRoPE

campaign in this State would test the
adroitness and tact of candidates very
severely. The debris question and the
Sunday law are both exceedingly difficult
to handle, inasmuch as they divide the
voters sharply, and create very emoar-
RAISING position for the unfortunate per-
sons whose main object it Is to conclllate
as many people as possible, and who dare
no. take decided ground upon these
burning" questions, lest they should
cause fatal antagonisms. But since the
Aforesaid Issues are very serious ones to a
large number of the voters, it follows that
they are not content to accept equivocal |
statements from ofice-seekers. On the |
contrary, both sides are determined that |
the men for whom they vote shall occupy
thoroughly explicit positions. They demand
unconditional Endorsement Of the views
they hold, and the consequence is that the
poor candidates are compelled to walk the
political tight-rope under the most difficult
circumstance. One candidate for the ex-
ecutiye Office has already essayed this feat
in response to an inquiry from the Anti
Debris Association as to his attitude on
that question. Mr.. James a. johnson is
not neophyte in politics, but his expert
ence has not been Of much use to him in
this matter. He has thought it necessary
to say something yet it is perfectly evil
dent in every line of his letter that ne
would much rather not have spoken, and
the extreme embarrassment of his situation
is reflected in his cautious and by no means
unambiguous utterances.
He begins by saying that he had intend.
ed delaying any expression Of opinion
upon this very important question until
"called before the Convention at San
Jose, but fearing that his silence Knight
"be construed as meaning evasion Of the
subject" he will briefly state his opin-
ion. He evidently discovers at the outset
that this is not an easy thing to do, how
ever for he finds it necessary to set out
with an expression Of goodwill towards the
hydraulic miners. He says, 81 do not
"wish to cripple the great industry of
hydraulic mining in California, and as a
private citizen or as a public official l
"shall to the utmost Of my ability protect
"that interest" That looks like toler-
ably thoroughg Observation-Disclosures
mining, as far as it goes. II as an official
Mr.. johnson would protect it "to the
utmost Of his ability" it is difficult to
see how he could countenance any move
ment hostile to it. But he proceeds;
"Our prosperity and our permanence as
"a commonwealth depend in q great
measure upon the successful cultivation
"of the soil; this being an indisputsble
fact, we would be criminally negligent to
"ailow the best part of our State to be
"ruined by debris, even saying nothing
"of the duty of the Government to pro-
"tect private property. This brings me
"to the Endorsement Of the ancient legal
proposition That every man must so
"use his own as not to injure his neigh
"bor.' The citizen, official or party who,
refuses an unequivocal Endorsement of this
principle will hardly become prominent in
"California. This looks very like
thorough going Endorsement of the Anti.
Debris platform, though when taken in
connection with the preceding remarks it
may be calculated to engender some con-
fusion of mind in the average reader.
But having thus forcibly and "unequiv-
ocally" declared himself in favor of both
sides "to the utmost extent of his ability"
Mr.. johnson goes on to observe 81 view
the coming danger with as much alarm
Gas can be felt by any one )" (which is
to say. that he will not yield to any man
in his capacity for being frightened y "but
81 am unable to offer solution of the
"great problem-how to save to the people
"the good fruits of both the hills and the
valleys" This is discouraging, because
if Mr.. Johnson had been able to propose
solution of the problem, all the other can.
didates would have been spared the funam-
bulistic performance which now awaits
them. But, he adds, in burst of op-
timism, THAT it may be done l have
emo doubt" On reflection he seems to
have thought that perhaps this expression
of confidence was too strong, so he proceeds /:
However, to be understood as l mean,
1.-the owners of the mines must find their
own methods for the use and enjoyment
"of their property, subject to settled prin.
ciples of law, and admitted principles of
right and justice" This again looks
like 8 too prominent leaning towards the
Anti Debris side, go he winds up by say.
ing 8: 4" l would deprecAte as much as any
lone the failure of hydraulic mining in
"California, and do not think it will fail,
but the rivers and valleys, and the prop
"erty right of individuals, must be pro-
Elected"
We are not surprised that the Marysville
Appeal should think that "the letter ap
"pears somewhat equivocal in its construc-
"tion." II it had not SO appeared the
writer would have altogether failed in his
purpose, which obviously was to hold his
balance-pole as evenly as possible. 1t is
quite possible by careful analysis to make
out distinct Endorsement of both sides
of the question, but taking the letter as
whole it is not possible to say what Mr..
johnson really means. What his ultimate
meaning in the premises is, of'course every.
body understands. He is a candidate,
and he wants to secure as many votes as
possible That is the desire of all candi.
dates, and therefore it is hardly to be ex.
pected that this class should welcome
the opportunity of putting themselves
"on record" in connection with issues
which divide the community. The candi.
dates view is that if he takes sides strongly
he destroys his prospects, and there is un.
doubtedly much to be said for that view.
He wants to be elected, and if he cannot
be elected on a one-sided programme he
will not accept that programme. More.
over, as neither of the parties has thus
far taken sides on these issues, and as it is
conceivable, to say the least, that they
may feel very much as the candidates do
in regard to them, the fierce insistance
of the various partisans of Debris and
Anti. Debris, Sunday Law and Anti.Sunday
Law, is calculated to infict cruel torture
| 81, uaaHorc Nd A0