Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-07-27
NEED FOR WISE ACTION.

NEED FOR WISE ACTION.
There draws near in California an i'm
portant political campaign. There will
enter into ii, besides the choice between
party men, other and diverting elements.
In selecting a new law-making body the
people will, by indirection, choose a
United States Senator to succeed the term
of the late General Miller, and they Will
determine directly the political complex
ion that shall distinguish that Senator
There will be injected into the campaign
the fine wisdom of choosing Railroad
Commissioners, who constitute a body of
phenomenal powers and extraordinary
duties, and should therefore be chosen in
the light of the broadcast and soberest
thought. There will enter into the cam
paign the question of irrigation, for we do
not entertain now the belief that the pres
ent session Of the Legislature will con-
clude the momentous suhject-it cannot,
indeed, be expected that it viii more than
make a beginning. There will be at least
one constitutional amendment to be voted
upon-regarding a method of taxation
and which involves only economic ques-
tions and has no political color whatever.
1t is possible that other and equally i'm
portant amendments may be submitted.
A new State Administration is to be Sc
lected, in the choosing of which we may
expect a good deal of campaign warmth
and friction. Already the precincts are
being agitated by the preparatory notes
for the selection of delegates to the party
Conventions. 1t is a truism that the
most serious danger in the politics of
free people is that of being led away from
the pursuit of practical beneficial courses
by the rhetorical tricks of selfish dema-
gogues. 1t is, therefore, especially neces-
sary that voters should consider well what
bearing their, intended action is to have
upon the future, and whether, above all,
1t will tend to remove any acknowledged
evils, to facilitate their removal, or the
taking of any advanced steps upon the
better planes of self-government. Cool
reflection upon the present political situa-
ton in California will convince the intel
ligent observer that only one course is
available which fairly and fully meets this
crucial test.
Beyond the choosing of wise admins
traitors for the Railroad Commission, the
railroad question cuts no figure in the
coming campaign. On the Chinese ques-
ton no issue can be joined, since we are
all of one mind regarding that subject.
The constitutional amendments can in
yolve no party policies, and we are there
fore brought to the simple question, "What
shall be the political complexion of Cali
fornia for the next few years ?" Putting
aside campaign rhetoric and turning our
backs upon all incorporate expression, we
are confronted with the choice of eontinu-
ing Democratic Administration that has
been distinguished by continuous conten-
ton, and the restoration to State position
Of the Republican party, the domestic
issues of which have not at least dragged
in the treasury of the State, or involved
demoralizing litigation
The affairs of the State have been sadly
mismanaged by the Democracy-they could
scarcely have been worse handled, nor the
State have taken greater harm from politi-
cal incapacity and party wrangling, at the
hands Of any political organization that
has had existence. 1t is unnecessary to 90
into details on this ,head the whole line
of laundering, hungling and stupidity is
open to the view of the people, and there
can be no concealment of it. If ever they
had righteous cause for changing political
dominance they hsge it now Party su-
premacy after january l, 1887, means
either projection into the next four years
OF State history OF the old Democratic
happy family, or the RELOCATION of the
warning factions and laundering leaders.
and the brigade of demsgogie bosses attach
ing, to political retiraey, or else the resto-
ration Of the Republican party. That
party has never yet faced an emergency to
which it has not been equal, For will il on
this occasion. In short, it is to be speedily
determined whether California is to be
henceforth genuine Republicans State. 0.
whether it is to be the bone-yasd for a
hungry pack of unsgreed Democrats, wrang-
ling for the spoils OF office.
The countersign Of the day for RepubIi-
cans, therefore, is unity They are about
to choose representatives to local and the
State conventions. With the democratic
record of laundering before them they
ought to make no mistakes. They should
have an eye single to party supremacy,
that means wise and economic |
State government, and the conservation of
all human rights according to the best
lights Of the highest political intelligence.