Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-07-05
MEN OF THE PACIFIC COAST.


There are men in the State capable of perform.
ing the duties of the most exalted Office but
such men do not play circus in the National
Conventions.
The American settlement of the Pacific
coast is in the fortieth year of its history.
Our civilization here is not growth of
our territory. 1t is a transportation of
older civilizations. liz its early history
California drained the Eastern States of
their best enterprise, their best brain and
their choicest energy. No greater dispar-
agement of the effect of that transplanta
tion could be made than to declare that we
have not one man west of the Rocky
Mountains fit to be mentioned in connec-
ton with the Presidential office. We had
thirty-five delegates representing the ter
ritory lying west of the Rocky Mountains,
and geographically distinguished as the
Pacific coast. 1t is not a little humiliating
to reflect that after forty years of trans
planted growth, we have no man deemed
worthy to be named by either Convention
in connection with the great Office of Pres
ident. To admit this is to declare a pro-
vincialism, to consent to an inferiority. to
lie under the imputation of having fallen
behind the rest of the country in growth,
of intelligence, enterprise, power and
wealth. Great commonwealth are not de-
void of great men. To declare that com
monwealth is devoid of men of distin-
guished ability is the equivalent of the de-
claration that they are not great Strong
and vigorous civilizing influences are found
Only where strong and vigorous intellects
abound We believe that the people Of
California are disappointed and chagrined
that the name Of Leland Stanford was not
mentioned in the Chicago Convention.
The State Convention of his own party was
restrained from passing resolution en-
dorsing him for the Office of President. A
resolution embodying such an Endorsement
would have passed the State Convention.
In substitution of such resolution, an IN
qualified Endorsement Of his personal and
political course was embodied in the plat
form. The State Convention and
the people OF the State de-
sired and believed that Governor
Stanford would receive a complimentary
vote at the hands of the Pacific coast dele
CATION. There was vastly more at stake in
this than the mere compliment to a dis
tinguished citizen. Commercially and po-
litically the Pacific States and Territories
have occupied to the great body of the
country the relation Of a conquered prov
ince. The Pacific coast view of any sub
Ject cannot be impressed upon the nation
until We have stronger voice in the ma
tional councils, and a more pronounced
leadership in the conduct of parties. As
the Gail very justly remarks, we have been
denied place in the Cabinet councils of
the Chief Executive of the nation. Such
an opportunity was indeed within reach
when President Arthur proposed the Sc
lection OF the Hon. Aaron Sargent Mr..
Sargent was a man Of unblemished purity,
both in public and private relations. He
possessed high executive ability He
served the State scoeptably in the House
OF Representatives and in the Senate; and
Yet the suggestion of his name was the sig
nal for torrent of abuse from Pacific
coast people and the Pacifc-ooast press.
A broader liberality would have allayed
personal enmity. The obvious sdvant-
ages to ensue by representation at the very
hearthstone of national councils should
have silenced political antagonism. The
presentation of the name of a Pacific-coast
man for the Office of President, and the
persistent support of that name in the
Convention would have done much to aue-
ment the general influence Of the coast in
the councils Of the nation and in the con-
troll of parties But, beyond all this, the
Pacific States and Territories have man
pre-eminently qualified by intellectual en-
dowment, by experience in public life, and
by every attribute Of greatness which dis
tinguishes citizen, and naturally suggests
his name for the Grst position in the ma
ton. Leland Stanford has impressed his
thought upon material things to 4 greater
extent than any man who has occupied
the Presidential chair since the dynasty
of great Presidents became extinct. He
has accomplished more for this section,
more for the nation and more for human
ity than any man whose name was brought
before the National Convention. not except
ing Mr.. Blaine.
1t cannot be said that his railroad record
precluded the possibility of naming him.
Who was Chauncey M. Depew, who re-
ceiyed more than one hundred votes and
the ardent support Of many thousands of
Republicans throughout the country? A
hired railroad President lie constructed
none of the great instrumentalities of trans
portation which he nominally manages.
None of the lines under his control were
the creation of his genius or the result of
his energy. There is sense in which
Governor Stanfords railroad career has
moved on the plane of high conquest. 1t
connects itself with the preservation Of the
Onion, aud the pages Of American history
which viii be devoted TO recording the
achievements of Governor Stanford and
his associates may he less crimson, but they
Will net be less luminous with true great
ness than those which will be devoted to
the perpetuation of the deeds of our mill
tary chieftains. Compare the life of Leland
Stanford and its grand successes with the
history Of the politician who found his
highest fitness in the office of Sheriff of
Erie county; compare Governor Stan
ford's career with that Of many who have
occupied the Presidential chair-Franklin
Pierce, James K. Polk, Rutherford B.
Hayes, Grover Cleveland compare the life
and services of Leland Stanford with the
life and services, either to the party, to the
nation, or to the material interests of the