Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1884-05-02
CALIFORNIA

Rnrns. ex.Secretary of State. and his
sbortape is said to be in the vicinity OF
500. COO, and the proof Of it conclusive
When Mr.. Burns vas in office he was
n of the j%olliest fellows at Sacramento
He spent his money freely and kept his
end mn with Perkins pretty well for Q
man who did not have great wealth tt
hack him. He was one OF the boys
What is he nowf
If Controller Dunn keeps his lick az
he will gather in enough stolen money
from Republican ex.ofhcials 70 pay tns
cost of the extra session, and where VII
the Republican thunder come IN then :
Stockton Herald.
This paragraph, incidentally picked
mr. from our Stockton contemporary
suggests a conversation had by a SESTI'
MEL reporter with a gentleman OF Eu'
reka recently returned from San Fran
cisco. The subject discussed was the
probable action of the California Legis
lature, now in special session, and the
political effect of the record made by II
upon the politics of that State. He dis
claimed any interest in party politics
and stated as his belief that the Legisla-
ture will do nothing satisfactory in the
way of such law making in railroad
affairs as the people clamor for; and that
the result of the predicted failure will
be the death Of Democracy in u neigh
boring Commonwealth. The people of
the State viii certainly hold the Demo-
cractic party responsible, said he, for
any shortcomings of the special Legisla-
ture. He gave this as his impression
from what he heard generally as the SEN
timent of the people. They would over
look the Republican representation in
the Legislature entirely, and act in the
next election, as though the Republicans
had had no power to shape law-making-
as though, in fact, the Republican mem
bers of the Legislature had been helpless
and utterly irresponsible in the premises.
He stated that, although the logic OF the
situation shows at least a divided respon-
sibility between the Republicans and
Democrats, as to what may or may not
be done, still, in a political compaign,
there is devilsh little logic that can reach
the public mind; that when disappointed,
and angry, the people are often
apt to take a surface view of things; and
that. blinded by passion, they first at
tack and pull down those who appear
most conspicuously as their enemies. In
other words, whenever they feel wronged,
hold the majority party-the party
.nominally in power-responsible. They
20 it on general principles, act on the
rule and ignore exceptions. They rush
over and embrace the minority because
they feel outraged at the behavior of the
majority-or rather at the behavior Of
a portion of the responsible" ma
The gentleman interviewed may have
the right OF it. The masses some
act as. though reflection and
logic are superiuous. But we believe
that the people of California are intelli-
gent and thoughtful. We are confident
that, having been put in possession Of all
the facts of legislation at Sacramento
have a political bearing for and
they have digested them. Rail-
road legislation is of extreme interest to
them as we'll as to the people of Nevada,
and having been made familiar with the
men and questions involved, it does not
seem likely they will be either so excited
over an old issue, or SO stupid, as to 60
off half cooked.
We have sufficient faith in the judg-
ment Of the people Of California to think
that they see that a substantial majority
Of representative Democrats in the Sacra-
mento Legislature are earnest and honest
in their endeavors to comply with the
demand, and to live squarely up
to their pledges. The principle that the
majority are responsible is applicable log
ically at this point, and not logically
applicable at any other point in this con-
troversy. 1t is patent to everybody that.
some Democratic legislators are
recreant to their obligations, a big, clear
majority stand u~nimpeached in their in
and loyalty to their constituency
Of both parties in the State. Hence then,
in reason, the Democracy of California,
through their representatives in the Leg
stature, do no deserve censure but are
to praise; and the Democratic
party should, for this reason, never mind
what may be the outcome at Sacramento,
continue to be regarded as the friend of
he people and the defender Of popular
lights.
Who then is it that block the wheels
# legislation There is no difficulty in
your finger on them. 1t is a