Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-03-11
PRINCIPLE VS.. PERSONALITY

Three years ego the RECORD UNION ad-
vocated the election of the Hon. John
Q. Brown 10 the Office OF First Trustee.
It did this because MIR. Brown
stood as the exponent of the princi-
pies in municipal government go essen.
tiaI TO the welfare Of this city that
his election was local necessity. It also
found that the candidates opposing Mr..
Brown no. only did moi represent the prin-
oiples best calculated 60 promote the prog
psrity OF Saorsmsnto, but stood committed
III opposi.ion to them. Il recognized then
and declares now that John Q. Brown was
and is a high-minded gentleman, whose
honesty IS above reprosca or suspicion,
and whose abilities make him the peer of
any citizen Of whom Sacramento may
boast. Mr.. Browns election at that time
had no other significance than the triumph
OF certain local issues. We were not then
on the eve of national campaign. We
were not at that time in the presence of q
national political battle as broad as the
foundations OF RepubIcanism, and as far
reaching as the most profound questions of
modern craftsmanship. II in the election
to-day Mr.. Brown should secure q majority
Of the voters OF this city, the functions of
the Office 10 which he aapives VIII be dis
charged with fidelity, ability and efficiency.
I'VE believe Tins to-day as much az we did
three years ago, ana for MIR. Brown as a
citizen, as an officer. and as . gentleman,
we entertain nothing but sentiments Of
the highest respect and admiration. His
election to.dsy, if lie d elected, viii be by
Che votes o! republicans; but the Demo
cratic party, and this Democratic press of
the State, and even Of the nation, will claim
and herald Il as "a Democratic victory
chat is, as . victory Of the heresies the
errors, yea, even the crimes Of the Demo-
cratic party. In an exact ratio its encour-
agement TO the Democracy, both State and
nstiona,, viii operate as encouragement
TO Republicans.
Tae Republicans present candidate op.
posing Mr. Brown equally well qualified to
discharge the duties Of the Office to which
he has been nominated, and representing
as fully 5ae local Issues which have made
The Democratic candidate q st and efficient
Mayor. In this situation personality is
lost in oveTshadowing and enduring ma.
tional principle. There ia therefore 10
Justification FOR the Republican VINO votes
for the hesd Of the Democratic ticket to.
day, any more than the same Republican
can ind justification or consistency in vot.
ing for The head Of the national Demo-
cratic tieke. next fall. Every voter owes
it TO his convictions aud to his consistency
to ascertain intelSgently to which party he
belongs, and n all elections which have
direct bearing upon the domination in ma
tionsl life ard national history of the prin-
ciplss which he believes should triumph 10
Government, 20 cast bis vote directly and
Indirectly fer the triumph of those prin-
ciples.
The contest to-day IS a sl,ir1nish into
duciug the great political battle Of the
year. It Is unreasonable. even absurd, to
surrender the skirmish line TO the enemy
when victory is within easy reach. Mr..
Browns election will not be a local calam-
ity. We are not contending it will be
national calamity. We would not be IN
derstood SIS saying that it will even be a
harbinger Of Democratic victory. What
we do maintain is the equal eligibility of
She Republican candidate, and the absurd.
ity Of the Republican psrty defeating Itself
in one Of lie own traditional strongholds.