Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-08-17
SENATOR sTANFoRn,s VIEWS.

We publish this morning some express
sions of Opinios on public questions by
Senator Leland Stanford, as reported in a
San Francisco Journal. The position of
Mr.. Stanford as United States Sen
ator, his broad knowledge of the country,
his patriotic devotion to the principles
and practice of free government, and his
well-known conservatism and calm of
mind, render his expressions of more than
usual interest. OF course such man
knows that every word he utters on public
questions will be keenly criticised We
may, therefore, conclude that his sentences
were chosen to express precisely the
thought he entertains, and 50 as to prevent
any misconception Of his views. He ex-
plains the failure Of the sweet wine BILL
and expresses the hope of its early passage
next session. On the subject of irrigation,
it will be seen that he takes broad view,
and recognizes the necessity Of an irrigation
system that will accomplish the greatest
good for California without infringement
of vested rights. Deprecating haste,
which generally results in i'll, he
nevertheless favors vigorous consid-
Grafton Of the subject and the
speediest possible attainment of ends
that the beat wisdom of the people may
resolve upon. He rather favors State
control, but believes that the present
Legislature should set on foot inquiry for
the development of all the factors of the
problem, that final action may be intelli-
gently taken. He is certainly correct in
stating that more information is needed on
the subject. On the question of the
recent agitation, he reiterates his
belief that every human right must be re-
garded in every progressive step taken by
the country. His views on the labor ques-
ton are in consonance with his previously
expressed opinion on that subject, and are
full of tex is for thoughtful reflection. He
does not fail to reiterate his opinion that
the good of the country is best conserved
by the enlargement of the intelligence of
the people. The keystones of the arches
of our governmental structure are the in
alienable rights of the citizen, and their
preservation from any and all trespass.
Other Governments exist by force behind
them, and antagonistic to the ruled ours by
the consent of the governed, who are thus
their own rulers. As the intelligence OF
the masses is enlarged we must expect
broader views of free government, deeper
appreciation of the truths of democracy,
and consequent greater strength and COM
pactness and security in government. As
property is the fruit of labor, the laboring
man is most deeply interested in throwing
about it all guards necessary to its acquisi-
ton and preservation. As the value of
labor depends on the greater ability to sup
ply mans wants, the chief consideration
should be to educate, and to increase the
intellectual power of the laborer, that his
effort may be applied in the best direction
and to the production of the best results.
These are briefly, the views of great
employer, broad observer, and sincere
patriot. They are truths with which issue
cannot be taken. 1t is not an age of Drawn,
but an era of brain and Drawn. The physi-
cal effort directed by the best developed
intellectually will produce the most and
the best, and the results of the production
will thus be best applied to the strengthen
ing of free government and the conserva.
ton of peace and content.