Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-03-19
DAILY RECORD-UNION
A USEFUL LESSON.

1t has been constantly preached that
most Of our political ills can be traced to
the neglect of duty by citizens whose in
stincts are right, and whose tendencies are
all towards fair play. In the recent city
election in Sacramento the truth of the
preaching was made wildly manifest. A
very large congregation of the bad ele-
ments in society, mainly importations
from the slams of other cities,wss ON hard
at the poHing places IL was indeed an
unusually strong rally of roBghs. They
came together on purpose to vote Illegally,
or to aid Others to do so, and to browbeat
and COW voters opposed to them, te keep
them from the polls, and to carry the cleo
ton TO the liking of the vicious class, by
fraud and by force. But these elements
were rendered comparatively harmless,
and were completely defeated in the ends
they sought to accomplish. 1t was done
by the simplest and yet most effective of
methods Some two hundred citizens of
good standing, clean characters, whose
homes are in Sacramento and whose in
terests are promoted by order and the OBJ
servanee of the law, quietly posted them
selves at the polls to give moral, and If
need be, physical support to the chal-
lengers. They had nothing to do but to
be present and mingle with the crowds
their simple, inactive presence proved a
complete and invincible bulwark to the
ballot-boxes. The rough elements dared
not attempt violence while these citizens
stood their ground. The representative
of the Sums were completely overawed by
decency, cowed by courageous bearing, and
whipped back without blow being struck
except in a few instances by officers who
we're resisted in making arrests for illegal
voting. There never was in the whole his.
tory ofSacramento such a wonderful revela.
ton of the power of good citizenship when
once it asserts itself. In its manifestation
there was no party politics; it was simply
the irresistible strength of the American
sentiment of "fair play; an evidence o.
the overwhelming power of the people
when they do political duty. There is nc
man in the State to-day, probably, who ha:
not heard of what our esteemed contempo
rary, the San Francisco Gail, denominates
"The Heroism of Sacramento, and there
can be no question that the example thus
set to the people of the State will operate
powerfully in the direction of reform in
election processes in all sections where
abuses have prevailed. The people of Sac
ramento, irrespective Of party, simply and
only did that which the people everywhere
should do on the occasion of every election
they went to the polls and stayed there
and as result lawleSsness was cowed into
fairly decent behavior, outrages upon the
ballot-box were prevented, and those who
attempted or accomplished crime were
promptly arrested. The moral of all thi.
is, that if citizens will do their duty at the
party caucus, the primary and the polls
they will presently have nothing OF which
to complain. 1t has been established be
yond all possibility of denial, that elections
in California can be fairly and honestly
conducted, and frauds upon the ballot-boz
prevented by very little sacrifice of tim,
and output of energy on the part of thos,
who stand for the law, for order and fol
cleanliness. It is sincerely hoped that tn,
people of every precinct in California vii
improve upon the lesson taught here, anC
that however partisans may divide upor
party issues, they viii be unit for clear
elections.