Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-06-08
ATTEND THE CONVENTION.

There ought to be large attendance of
Sacramanto's citizens at the Pathological
Convention to be held at the Capitol to
day When the late Irrigation Conven-
lion was held in San rincisco one of the
causes Of bitter feeling was the almost to-
tai absence from its sessions of The citizens
Of san Francisco The complaint was
m5;3!e, and apparently with justice, that the
people OF that city, though deeply inter
ested in the deliberations of the Conven-
ton, would not find time from the weigh
ing Of sugar and the shaving of notes to
honor the delegates with their presence,
and give them at least the encouragement
of listeners. Now, so far as to-day's Con-
vention is concerned, it touches only indi-
recty any political question; it is not for
The purpose of booming" any particular
idea or scheme, or of advancing the claims
of any particular industry, Yet it has
direct relation to the most important ques-
tons OF social science, Indeed, the topics
to be discussed relate closely to trade, are
of kin to order and economic government
have special relation to taxation, and
the amount the citizen contributes for the
support Of The government has intimate
connection with the safety of life and of
property, and to all who have the concern
Of society at heart, the prevention of
crime and the saving of youth from Grim
inal ways, the consultation will possess the
liyeliest possible interest 1t is to be the
first general consultation of the people
held in California on this subject. Prison
reform will date from to-day in this State,
no matter what is done at the Convention.
Our people ought to take time from store,
shop and street, to give the Convention a
large, intelligent and encouraging body of
auditors More than this, our citizens
ought to be heard on the floor. 1t is to be
a free conference, and there will be no
limitation, we take it, placed upon any
person expressing his ideas concisely. The
hope is, that out of n multiplicity of views
much wisdom may be evolved. When the
servants of the State ask the people
to meet with and advise them in the way
they should go, the people cannot afford
to decline the duty There is no man in
Sacramento of ordinary intelligence who
has n9t-some idea of prison management,
reform, and of the prevention and punish
ment OF crime. These are popular topics
on which all have some information. No
man should feel that his views on public
questions are unimportant. Public opin-
ion IS the aggregation OF the units of opin-
ions o. individuals. It exists only because
men have personal views, and it grows out
OF the eomingling and unifying of personal
IDEAS We trust that there will be a great
many personal views advanced at the Con-
yentiou to-day. Such as are erroneous
will be combatted and their errors pointed
out; such as are sound will be approved |
by the good judgment of the majority, and
serve as the texts for future development
Of plans OF action. Legislation is to be
asked for on this subject next winter, and |
the people ought to be intelligent on the
su6lests.to be presented prior to the selec-
toa OF representatives The truth is, if |
on I'll public matters likely to come before
the legislative body people would first hold
free conferences, and find out Just what is
the pablic need and just what public
thought is, we would have great deal
mere Of wise legislation and great deal
les Of foolish law-making. BY all means |
lie; there be good attendance at to-day's
Convention. Let not the reproach visited
on san Francisco few weeks ago |
be nierited by Sacramento. She is not to
have the political conventions this year,
but sac Is to have what is vastly more i'm
portart, the first convention ever called on
the Pacific coast on the overshadowing |
subject OF how best to protect society from |
criminal classes. and how best to prevent
the growth of crime. 1t is altogether
probable that the inaugural step of great |
social reform viii be made from the Can
ital City, and to-day.