Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-03-15
AN ASSAULT UPON BRAINS.

It has been generally supposed by men
of sufficient intelligence to comprehend the
scheme of our government, that the coun-
try is best served in legislative capacities
by the highest ability. While it is no
concern of ours further than the concern
ment all citizens should have in the choice
Of Legislatures, we cannot hesitate to enter
our emphatic protest against vicious doc
trine promulgated by the San Francisco
Chronicle. 1t objects to brains being rep
resented in the extra session of the Legis.
lature. It therefore finds fault with the
San Francisco Democracy for nominating
Judge w. T. Wallace to fill a vacancy in
the Assembly. 1t points out that Judge
Wallace is a man of larger intellectual cal
iber and broader intelligence than general
" presents for legislative honors. 1t dwells
on the fact that as an able lawyer of ex.
tended personal practice in the best realm
of the law having served long terms of
years as a Justice, and finally as Chief
Justice OF our highest tribunal as a man
Of undoubted ability. acknowledged public
spirit, and OF unquestioned high standing
aud as a citizen of sense and brains, he is
more than head and shoulders above the
average run of men San Francisco selects
ss lawmakers. 1t would seem, therefore,
that Chief Justice Wallace's consent to en-
l. l.. q bn YpAa 10
of his fellow. citizens, though partisan of
She Democracy, the course of which is
open to every sort of objection, should be
hailed by the San Francisco press with &C.
clsmation, and the honesty of his motive
Sc respected.
The point is weakly made that it is q
descent for such man to consent to take
\ legislative office. If it were not true that
the position Of a lawmaker is one of the
loftiest, and involves sacred trusts of which
any man may be proud, there would be
warrant enough in the illustrious example
Of John Quincy Adams, who came down
from the high seat Of Chief Magistrate OF
The Republic, and entering the lowest
house of Congress, never left his post for
seventeen years of arduous labor, and won
the proud title of 1.-the model legislator, !"
It would seem that, however much may
bs deprecated the insane policy OF the
party to be dominant in the Legis-
lature, that intelligence, ability, schol-
arly attainments and craftsmanship should
be preferred, by all not given to the meth
DDS OF logic characteristic of the Chronicle,
20 subseryisnt ignorance and political
slavery. The aim of the extra session
will be to injure corporate transportation
interests, and array the people against
them, as we believe for purposes wholly
political, and dictated by a rascally set OF
bosses. But. in the name of humanity,
common intelligence must protest that it
is better for the State that the body which
Is to do this work should be lesvened by
some brains. This element in legislation
is not yet so common that the proposal to
introduce it should not excite feelings OF
qualification. Not so, however, with the
ungracious journal referred to, for its own
coarse instincts lead 1t to suspect really
soonest and able men of Interior purposes
= they consent to enter into a contest
n which 1t concerns itself. 1t becomes very
soG>itous for the reputation of Judge Wal.
lSoe, and leads up to the conclusion that
hts admitted abilities lay him open to the
suspicion of bad motives In oonsenting to
stand for the Assembly,
It is scarcely necessary to recall the ab,