Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-10-27
The Weak Point.

lSaH franclScO Call.
The fire of Republican politicians is now
directed to the admitted aspirations of Mr.
Hearst for the Senate. They are scattering
documents about the State showing I'D the
ridiculous figure Mr.. Hearst cut while in
the Senate. In a campaign of this nature
the Republicans do not need to draw upon
their imagination for their facts That Mr.
Hearst did cut a ridiculous figure while
Senator is conceded by the thoughtful men
OF his own party. The regret is everywhere
expressed that the conditions are such that
Mr. Hearst will impose himself upon the
party in the same capacity again. When
Mr.. Hearst was appointed Senator the word
went round that the people of the State
could hardly be held responsible. He was
appointed by a Governor who had in other
ways demonstrated his unftness for the po-
sition he held. But if Mr.. Hearst returns
to the Senate as the choice of Legislature
elected after the exhibition he has made OF
himself in the Senate, there will be no ex-
cuse for the people. They will have to adj
NIT either that Mr.. Hearst is their choice or
that they have not influence enough over
the political machine 10 make their choice
effective. A few days ago the city and State
were charmed by an Grafton upon the life
and services of Samuel J. Tilden. This
memorial discourse had the dignity of a
sermon and the force of political speech.
1t revealed two minds travelling on the same
plane, the one having gone before the
other remaining to see that justice was
done the first in the final summing up.
OF the many diSccurSeS that will be pro-
nounced on the same subject none can
hope to excel this, either as an analysis of
character and motives or in the beauty
of the language in which the thoughts
were clothed. 1t is, perhaps, unfor-
tunate that this intellectual display
should have been made at a time
when the especial unfitness of Mr.. Hearst
for the Senate was the theme of every po-
litical circle. The contrast offered is al
most binding. And yet every one knows
that Mr.. Wilson, if he desired to enter the
Senate, would have no show in the Legis-
lature should the Democrats control it.
Wilson would not stoop to the practices
by which Mr.. Hearst has secured his hold
upon the machine. Consequently Mr..
Hearst viii be Senator in the event of
Democratic success, and Mr.. Wilson will
not. California will be the loser by the
triumph of money over brains. We are in
a young State, far from the center of popu-
lation, and need our best men in the SEN
ate. We have great and peculiar interests,
which capable men may promote and in
capable men retard. The character of our
people is judged by the character of the
men we send abroad as our representa-
tives. For many reasons peculiar to our
selves, we should exercise care in the selec-
ton of our Senators. Small States have
become great and historical through the
WORK of one dominent mind in the Senate.
Henry Clay made Kentucky one of the
three States best known abroad. Massa-
chusetts and South Carolina were the other
two, Webster and Calhoun being the lights
in which their names were reflected Per-
haps California has not yet produced a
Webster or Clay or a Calhoun, but if it
had the world would not know it. Where
would Webster have been when he made
his mastery speech in reply to Hayne if
Massachusetts had given the Office of Sem
ator TO the man who would make the most
liberal contribution TO the campaign fund
of the old Wing party? A party which
persists in putting forward the sack when
the head is wanted will find it difficult to
retain its place as the dominant party in
California