Daily Los Angeles herald., 1883-06-27
A Mistake In Leadership.

Vsions OF great extent ana Dittefness.
Feuds of exceptional intensity have
grown up between men who at heart
acknowledged tho same cardinal prin-
eiplos Of government. Time and again
Democrats have waved wroth against
each other, and have exchanged cartels
OF defiance which have, very frequently,
resulted in bloody encounters on the So
called field of honor, in California, as In
other portions Of the United States
The spirit Of the party has always
been liberal. In some respects 1t has
resembled that sagacious policy of the
oldest Christian church, which pro-
claimed, as Its bond of union, Sin the
essentials of the faith unity, in non
essentials liberty. in all things charity y
Where the Demo cracy have failed has
been In the full adoption OF the last
clause. Democrats have too often made
fools Of themselves by squabbles which
were ns bitter and uncalled for rs they
were disgusting and destructive to any
hope Of permanent party ascendancy.
In this connection we cannot forbear
entering word of depreciation as to
the peculiar line OF policy Of our
esteemed San Francisco contemporary,
tho Examiner, Of late. For its trench
ant anti-monopoly fight during the late
campaign the HERALD has always ex-
pressed the most unstinted admiration.
We talso the liberty of holding our own
individual opinion as to its later perform.
ances, however.
The HFRAtp. in common with all
other Democrats, remembers the pro-
nounced utterances of the San Jose Con
vention on the railway question. We
remember, however, that that conven-
tion voted down the specific reduction
proposed by ex-senator Tom Fowler,
and simply proclaimed for material
reduction" Mr.. Fowlers resolutions
called for twenty per cont. lump reduc-
ton, and the Democracy of California
very wisely decided against any such
psremptory and arbitrary measure. This
journal has never disguised its belief
that the creation of railway Commits
sion was grave mistake. Events, since
the famous New Constitution canvass,
have only. served TO confirm us in our
original impression. Nevertheless, we
believe that, having elected Board of
Railway Commissioners, all of them, by
thor nntecedents gentlemen and good
Democrats, their own party should not
condemn them prematurely. II, as the
old adage runs, even the devil must be
given his due, we certainly think that
Democratic Railway Commission ought
to be accorded reasonable time to show
the stuff it is made of. We protest
against "snap" judgments.
What are the facts? Our esteemed
contemporary the San Francisco Er-
amiAer, seems TO have fallen into a trap
set for it by the Chronicle, which is at
all tinos the implacable foe of Demo-
cratic ascendancy. The Democratic or.
gan has assumed, and, under its guild
nuce, many Democratic mass meetings
and Democratic county committees have
assumed, that, in the persons OF the
Messrs. Carpenter and Humphreys, the
outcome of the San Jose Convention
was really q sort of orystalized fraud.
To these excited politicians and journal
ists. all who are not willing to join in an
ad captanaum judgment of men elected
to responsible trusts by their own party
are regarded as traitors, against whom
the lesser and the greater excommunica-
ton, tie anathema maranatha OF repro
baton, must be proclaimed instanter
and forthwith, If not sooner.
How silly all this is! How the ChronI-
Gle and It's Republican coadjutors must
laugh in their sleeves at the success of
their little stratagem, which, were it a
play, might appropriately be called the
''Grand Spectacular Drama of the Dem.
ocratic Give.Away; or Certain Aspir-
ing Demogogic Politicians making asses
OF Themselves That, in brief, is the
meaning of this asinine programme.
For our part, we believe that the
Democratic Railway Commission of Cali.
fornia will redeem its pledges, by max
lag material reductions in the rates of
ireights and fares in this State What
is more, we decline to surrender such
Of violation Of solemnly made pledges.
Thus far, We have not seen such evil
dences, nor do we believe our Republi-
eau opponents will be treated to any
such shameful display. The present
Railway Commission of California has
shown ten times the disposition to labor
and collect materials for deliberate
action OF any OF its predecessors, the
Examiner and Chronicle to the contrary
and Notwithstanding
But our esteemed contemporary, tho
san Francisco EnapiReT, has not been
content with prematHrely branding as
traitors the Railway Commissioners
elected by its party. 1t has gone fur
ther, and has branded as wearing the
railway collar representative Democrats
who are without fear md without re-
pyoach. This may be an enlightened
leadership. but we doubt it. In truth,
to our appreciation, it shows splenetic
inability to any kind Of leadership We
write the words rather in sorrow than
in anger. Such a programme on the
part of the metropolitan organ OF Dem.
oeratie opinion seems to us to be COM
pounded, in about equal parts OF inso-
lenco and imbecility. For the sake of
the Examiner, to which we wish well,
and OF the Democratic party, which
commands our unsel6sh and loyal nd.
nereuce, we hope this weak, feverish
and insulting policy will be abandoned
at once and forever. From every stand
point there is nothing in it but defeat
AMI modification.