Daily Los Angeles herald., 1883-07-20

Elsewhere we republish, from tho
Stockton Hcraid, Judge Terrys idea Of
leadership, as respects the Democratic
party. According to this able but inn
practicable and implacable gentleman,
who is emphatic in his demands for
special session Of the Legislature, only |
fourteen Of the forty Senators would
yoto for the removal Of the Messrs.
Humphreys and Carpenter. But,
added Judge Terry, 'if these reproson-
tatiyes are put upon record it will be
worth all that the entire session will
cost. Here we have an admission, |
whether intended or not, that certain |
element Of the Democratic party seek q
special session of the Legislature, in
order to make capital for the Republican
party. To put the matter syllogisti.
cally: Judge Terry assumes that the
Railway Commissioners are guilty OF
something or other; it is the duty of the
Democratic majority Of the Legislature
Of California to remove persons thus
guilty; therefore, its failure TO remove
them shows that the official representa-
tives of the Democratic party arc
derelict, and deserve to be repu.
dated by the people. 1t is difficult for
any one to conjure any other meaning
from Judge Teny's peculiar atterance
than this. He is quite free with the
peoples money, not uncommon apti-
tade with other politicians far less Pc
cuniarily honest than himself. For the
Democratic State Central Committee he
has no words but those OF distrust and
condemnation.
The HERALD claims the right to par
iicularize Judge Terry as very rash
and unsafe leader. We must regard il
either rs misfortune that he has
emerged from his long retirement or
that he has not thought fit TO be more
conservative and considerate in his ac-
ton. We fail to sec that he has been of
any special benefit to the party, Of late
years With every disposition to con
cede his pre-eminent abilities, we think
that they have not been put to the best
possible uses in a partzan sense. Not.
withstanding the fact that Mr.. Hayes
was counted in as President by manu-.
featured majority Of one in 1876, and
that the election Of 1880 was regarded
by both parties az perilously close,
Judge Terry permitted his name 10 go
upon the Democratic electoral ticket in
California, although he must have
known that, owing to n certain lamenta-
bic occurrence, of many years ago, he
thus jeopardized at least one of those
electoral votes--a vote which might
have been vital in determining the con.
test. As matter of fact, he thus lost
one electoral vote to Gen. Hancock 1t
is not necessary to enter into the details
of the Terry Broderiok episode of over
twenty years ago to prove that, out OF
regard for his party, Judge Terry ought
to have declined that nomination. We
know nothing and care nothing as to
the merits of that old-tme controversy,
and assume that, all through it, Judge
Terry acted the part of an honorable,
high-minded gentleman; and that, un-
der tho peculiar state of public senti.
ment as to the duello which then pre-.
vailed, he had no recourse but to do as
he did. But, admitting all that, he
nevertheless knew that he was the sub
iect OF many personal rancors, Just or
unjust, and that his candidacy as Pres
idential elector put in peril moment.
Gus issue. 1t seems to us that his latest
ntterance is in the same vein, and that
1t breathes the spirit of ruling or running
the Democratic party. Whenever any
Democrat, no matter how illustrious or
able he may be, clearly develops dis
position of that kind, his leadership
ought to end. Principles not men, have
always been the shibboleth OF the party,
at least theoretically, and it cannot do
better than TO return to this old and
wholesome tradition.
Whatever Judge Terry's wishes with
regard to an extra session may be, it is
tolerably apparent that they will not be
gratitied. The party has no intention OF
committing hari-kari by condemning aud
removing officials who have as yet com.
mitted no crime, nor do we believe that
Gov. Stoneman will be party to call
ing q session of the Legislature which
would accomplish nothing, and which
could only result in injury to the party
which has so highly honored him, be.
sides unnecessarily wasting the money of
the people.
a Need Of the Hour.