Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-02-06
Senator Stanford.

Stockton independently
Leland Stanford's administration as Gov
ernor of California was clean, able and pop
ular. When railroad monopoly had turned
half the people of the State into a mob
bowling for Stanford's humiliation, there
was no man to find in his record at the
capital any excuse for calumny or reproach.
As railroad owner he was abused with as
much yehemence, virulence and vicious
ness as could be stimulated over the mon
opoly issue by political party, but that
Stanford made good Governor" was not
at any time disputed. In his railroad bust
ness his energy and executive ability COM
manded admiration, his foes conceding the
largeness of intellectual power required to
support him in operations for which he had
become their target. To his friends he was
known as the first member in his firm in
point of intellectual strength of the higher
order, liberality and refinement of
thought, and great breadth and depth of
investigating habit and capacity surmount-
ing the forces applied to the mere machin-
cry of business. 1t was not remarkable
that he should be chosen United States
Senator from California. 1t is not
remarkable that his name has been
suggested for the next Presidential
nomination. The Democratic press
cried almost deliriously that Stanfords
election had wrecked the Republican party
in this State, but before Stanford reached
Washington the shout died. Since then
no Democratic paper has found occasion to
grow joyful over any blunder, or to shrek
for vengeance for any outrage committed
by Senator Stanford. The Democratic party
is dumb, and Stanford is busy in behalf of
the State. His university endowment was
the first great token of his affection for the
State and his care for its future, and his
enemies could do no less than give praise.
His seat in the Senate was scarcely filled
when he was called upon to vote on rail
road measure. To the disappointment of
Democrats he voted against the corporation
The silver question came up, and national
banks and capitalists were against silver
coinage. Stanford declared himself for
silver because it was the money of the
people" On Monday he was interviewed
in Washington and declared himself to be
against the Mormon practice of polygamy
decidedly in favor of silver coinage; and
in favor of spending money literally for
seacoast and harbor defenses.
What is TO become of the Democracy?
Stanford votes against railroad corpora
ton refuses to join the gold-bugs, is not a
Mormon, and even goes so far as to advo-
cate naval improvements, for the sugges-
ton of which the great party of the I'M
Wdsneu - sun HOIsIllplIlS before tne HI
den idol of Gramercy Park. II looks as
if this particular Senator from California
were proving to be bigger and better
man than the Democracy put him up to
be.
The truth is, Stanford is one of the ablest
men California has ever sent to the United
States Senate He does not want money.
but is anxious to conclude his life in a
manner to render him deserving of lasting
gratitude from the people of this State.
His public life is aimed to be for the bene-
hit of the people he represents, and the OPP
position cannot pull him down. There is
less probability in the success of any
movement to destroy his usefulness and
credit to California, that in the suggestion
to make him the next President