Daily Los Angeles herald., 1884-04-05
1emst thing or California Politics.

Tho best Office q Democratic journal
can do to Its party is to counsel it in
NE line Of unity and consequent success.
II California, to notable degree, the
Democratic party has suffered from dis.
Sonsions. In that memorable year
which ushered in the war both Douglas
ard Breckinridge ran very nearly even
With Mr.. Lincoln in this State. Ii the
tWo factions had been combined in Cali
1ogniA In 1850 Mr.. Lincoln would simply
hAva found himself showed in under q
Democratic majority of 80, But
/. May were not united; and, as q result,
Mr. Lincoln received tho electoral vote
: u the Golden State because he had q
&)arallty of III votes over Stephen A.
Douglas, who only succeeded in leading
8eeckinridge, the other Democratic
. tondidate for President, by some four
housand votes. One of the most
1harming characteristics of the Demo
trAtic party is that it is ready, whenever
; q feels like it, to start a regular Kill
&ehny fight in its own ranks. Provi-
40se, which tempers the wind to the
horn lamb, has so arranged matters in
this golden land that the Republican
party also very frequently shares this
] aensrous infrmity Of kicking over the
1acket just about the time it is millked
3all. Thus, when Gorbam, in 1867, had
nuccesded in laying out Bidwell in the
Gabernatorial race, your honest Repub-
Mean buoked and declined to vote for
Ccolls George, with the result of the tri-
uophant election of Governor Haight.
The California voter, however, main
>aiued his traditional reputation as
political high kicker by electing Booth
over Haight at the next gubernatorial
slsotion. The political history of this
commoAwealth would not have been
complete If, at the next gubernatorial
election, there had not been two Repub-
lican candidates, the Messrs. Phelps aud
Bidwell, who thus assured to Gov
ernor Irwin an easy walk.over. To
give the Corinthian capital polish
aud finish to the whole business, the
Democracy, not to be outdone in cour.
tesy by its Republican opponent, re-
turned the compliment by dividing its
forces between the Messrs. Glenn and
White, at the next gubernatorial cleo
ton, thus guaranteeing George C. Per.
kins precisely such walk over as VIM.
Irwin had had four years earlier.
The people of California, who are always
at their best when caprioious and titful,
Immediately turned round aud elected
Stoneman as the successor of Perkins ~
the largest plurality and majority ever
knowp-in California-
What will come next? This is query
of great interest to Democrats. 1t be
hooves the party, in view Of the very
capricious people with whom they have
to deal, to aim at harmony and to pre-.
sent to the masses a sagacious and honest
outcome of the extra session. Unless
this is done the latent element OF dissen-
sion in the Democratic party which
has also shown itself to be 50 domi-
nant in the Republican party
will be productive OF political disaster to
the party i'll power. A commonwealth
which showed itself capable of repudiat-
ing Haight fer Booth may do almost
anything. In the cultivation of spirit
of harmony, and in laborious and skill
masses, is success to be sought A very
protractsd special session, or special
session which shall fail to do Just and
moderate work-especially special ses.
sion which shall create animosities with
in the Democratic party, would be very
disastrous thing. The HERALD has no
hesitation in saying to the ovefwu.l LINING
majority of its party which now holds
the boards in the Legislature at Sacra.
mento, 'Gentlemen, do short, quick and
decisive work, without OVERRIDING it, and
adjourn Unless such programme is
carried out, we shall not be free from
forebodings as to the immediate political
future of California. We have already
been treated to the painful spectacle Of
a very unseemly wrangle, characterized
ON one side ut least by terms of sensa.
tional bitterness, between the two lead
ing Democratic State officials. Let us
hope that this spirit will not spread 1t
would not be auspicious Of a happy issue
in the next election, for the Democracy,