Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-04-29
APPEALING TO LAwLEssNEss.

This journal has the qualification of
knowing that it has been very roundly
abused by class of contemporaries whose
curses are more desirable than their COM
mendation. For nothing has this same
lawless, hemp-howling class INDUCED in
more bitter anethemas than our declara-
ton 4 year ago that bad pledge is better
broken than kept; that the man who has
the courage TO do right in the light of to-
day, regardless of the views he may have
entertained in the light of yesterday, is
more brave, honest and trustworthy than
the miserable fellow who skulls behind
a specific pledge, the making of which is
discreditable to intelligence and that puts
manacles upon his judgment.
This very proper sentiment, now so
strikingly illustrated in the fullness of its
truth, and which we believe no man OF
moral sensibility will gainsay, brought
about our ears the whole brood of vultures
who are to-day writing themselves down
as lawless, criminal and ignorant of the
processes of civilization, by shouting
hoarsely in their desperation for the upris-
ing of mob to do violence upon men who
choose to disagree with them as to the per-
formance of official duty, and who believe
that the highest forms of legislative sys-
TENS are those that secure the greatest in
dependence of judgment.
In the first place we have very little
respect-indeed, no measurable respect for
the man who will make specific pledge
to officially do that as an official which
he knows will call for the exercise
of cool Judgment after the examination of
testimonies. Nor can we have respectful
regard for any man who makes an inexor-
ably specific pledge concerning matters of
which he has but limited or no knowledge
Honest, self-respecting citizens generally
regard such men precisely as we have
written. Either this is true or there are no
honest men.
1t is fact that the whole trouble in
which this State is now involved by rea-
son of the extra session of the Legislature
is due TO the exaction and making of rash
pledges, the keeping of which is simply
matter of impossibility, since the pledge
makers did not measure promise by the
possibility of performance. Those who
exacted the pledges, equally to blame, did
so without pauSing to reflect upon the true
functions of legislative authority eau
cuses and conventions may declare in favor
of specific enactments with perfect safety
in their reeklessness, since they involve no
responsibility whatever and may be made
to serve partisan purpose, as well if
founded on error as if based in truth. But
the sworn official who at all reflects upon
his duty finds that there are only limited
number of directions in which action is
possible, and that the wiscst schemes are
those that proceed upon purely logical
grounds, and that result from hearing all
sides impartially, at times when passion is
not uppermost, and prejudice and antipa-
thies do not rule the Judgment.
While it is right enough to announce
adherence to principle, and to pledge ones
self to honest performance of duty and the
exercise of the best Judgment, there can be
no wise, jus, nor excusable legislation
where the specific pledge is binding. 1t
does not represent the will of the greatest
number to whom the greatest good is due.
Nor can there be any true legislation
where there is any coercive force or threat
menacing the legislator. There are mex
orable laws which, if thwarted by legisla
tion or otherwise will surely take their
revenge without pity" writes an author Of