Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-10-03
CoNcEREINa TWO CANDIDATES MOT.
TOES

cPSSShSo 10 p9iaSNi 90 a iiiohto ~ -
creed-my religion-that the poor mans
"mite and the rich mans abundance shall
be equally protected by the Government,
"snd equally taxed to maintain the Gov
eminent; that before the law each mans
"right arm shall have an even chance in
1.-THE struggle for life." Taken altogether
by itself, this is entirely laudable, though
what significance it is supposed to have
when regarded in connection with the
platform upon which Mr.. Estce stands, it
would be difficult to determine. The cam
didate, however,. who proclaims this i'm
partial ideal of equity is easily recognizable
as the gallant defender of equal rights for
the corporations before the Constitutional
Convention. It is indeed evident that the
same love Of justice which induced Mr..
Estee to oppose the revenue system as
unfortunately adopted by the trainers of
the new Constitution, inspires him now,
and that his present sentiments are not at
all in accord with much that is in the plat
form of his party, even though he may,
through a mistaken and too fastidious sense
of duty, feel himself called upon to defend
the latter on the stump. In the quotation
we have given above, however, and which
Mr.. Estee may be presumed to have selected
himself, as representing his views most
fully and clearly, it is satisfactory to re.
cognize the most complete accordance with
the doctrines laid down by judges Field
and Sawyer in their recent decision in the
railroad tax cases.
Mr.. Estee holds that "the poor mans
Unite and the rich mans abundance "
should be equally taxed" That is pre-.
cisely what Judge Field and Judge Sawyer
also assert. The Republican candidate for
Governor would not have the rich man
taxed by a special system. He would com.
pei the poor man, from his mite, to pay as
much as the rich man from his abundance.
He holds that they should be equally pro.
tected and equally taxed. And nothing
can be more just than this proposition. No
doubt it is put thus prominently to the
front in order to indicate that it conveys
the real sentiments OF She candidate, and
that the platform is, as it were, superseded,
1t IS true that the speeches of Mr.. Estae
on the stump are more in accordance with
the platform than with the motto of his
party; but he did not make the platform,
and he did speak the motto, which, more.
over, very obviously represents his views
with fidelity. 1t is little, or perhaps
more than little, difficult, to account for
the discrepancy between the platform and
the motto, but it must be taken for granted
that those who adopted the motto thought
they knew what they were doing, while it
cannot be doubted for o moment that Nj.
Estee understood the meaning of his own
utterance. Il is really quite beautiful
sentiment, as we have already remarked,
and it is sirgularly in accord with the
opinion of Judge Field in the railroad tax
cases. If Mr. Essee intends to live up to
1t, he would make model Governor, No.
candidate, indeed, could have more con-
else and at the same time comprehensive
policy. equal taxation, says Mr.. Estee,
:" that is the solution of all difficulties
that is the method of government to
q" which 1 am pledged" Surely it would
not be possible for any candidat to adopt
a more satisfactory and reassuring platform
than he has in his beautiful motto!
And in juxtaposition with Mr. Estse's
beautiful motto we find one not so charm.
ing, but still full Of significance, attached
to the advertisements of the Democratic
campaign meetings. Il is as follows eff
" can't get reduction to three cents
mile, I'll take four. George Stoneman."
Quite practical, this motto il. Il has 10
flowers of rhetoric about it. The gal.
liant author has no eye to literary effect.
He simply desires it understood that, now
as always, he will take all 7he can get.
And it is interesting to observe how, Just
as in Mr.. Estee's case, this motto lights up
the character of the candidate. For eli
who are familiar with the career CT Gen.
eral Stoneman know that it has ever been
his practice to take all he could get. No
man can do more than this. If any man
declares himself willing to take more than
he can get he deserves to be regarded with
incredulity and suspicion. But General
Stoneman is not such reckless promise
maker He is content to take every
thing In sight, or within reach. II he can
not hold four Offices at the same time, he
will be content with three. If he cannot
draw treble mileage he will contentedly
pocket double mileage. No man can &C.
cuse him of ever having lost anything Tor
want of promptness in absorbing it;
save and except in one single instance. We
balieve it is said that he did once lose a
battle that he once surrendered the force
under his command TO the enemy. That,
however, is the only occasion on which he
was ever known to give anything up.
He has not taken the stump thus far,
which all his admirers must regret, for
they do say that pearls OF wisdom drop
from his lips when he speaks in public.
This indeed can be seen from his motto.
If l cannot get a reduction to three
cent?, I'll accept four" No doubt if he
could not have got four he would have
been equally ready 20 accept FIVE; and if he
could not have got six he would have
taken seven, and so or, at i1fnitum. His
beautiful readiness in accepting anything
and everything is, as we have before oh.
served, trait in his character which has
naturally endeared him TO the Democratic
politicians. They can understand and az.
preciate that amiable disposition Of his,
and they admire the greatness of his
receptivity VITA deep admiration. They
recognize the sterling qualities of the
veteran who has never declined an office or
failed to draw mileage at every oppor.
tunity, in this frank and genial aecepta.
ton of whatever turns up. And SO the
two candidates with their characteristic
notices are before the public, and the lat.
ter are at liberty to study them and their
sentiments. But we must remind DR..
the third party candidate.