Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-08-14


California ran the st. Louis convention; it came
very near running the Chicago convention, and,
indeed. prevented that body from making any
nomination TIL Its wishes had been consulted;
and IL Is now taxing In hand the convention OF the
American party In this city, with what success re-
mains 10 be SEEN Men who have grown up In the
climate OF the Pacific coast are pushers, which
goes for something; but above all, they are Ameri-
can 70 the backbone. They have had their Chinese
problem on one hand ana their Kearney problem
on the other TO contend with, ami the result has
been feeling Of strong dislike for the practice
OK treating our country as a dumping-ground for
the refuse Of all other nations, either Aslatic or
european They have also a further ground OF
complaint against aliens In the fact that large
tracts OF the most valuable land In their state
have been goo0led up by English capitalists Their
spokesmen now here are Tree TO say that the vote
or the California delegation, and doubtless OF the
whole convention, would be Cast In a moment for
Abram 5. Hewitt presidential nominee If he
would consent 10 run. But II he should persist In
the refusal, with which he Is understood TO nave
met CERTAIN recent advances, the party Is at sra
In case there is a divided sentiment II the con-
vention concerning the composition OF the national
ticket resort might be had BY way OF novelty and
In the line OF a return to first principles TO the
original, cOnstituJ lonal plan OF selecting a Pres
dent II the party should 60 before the people
with a rull electoral ticket In each state, but no
candidates nominated for President and Vice.
President the candidates for electors being chosen
FROM among the men highest In the popular conf
dence In their respective communities, there
woulc be return the spirit and plan OF the
Constitution the fathers Trained il, which con-
tempiAted national nominating conventions.
The idea underlying the electoral ystem was that
Few wise, thoughtful patriotic men, gathered IN
the quiet OF q council chamber. undisl urDed BY
the rude clamor, or a political contest and un-
he dor of
would be much more discreet In their choice OF d
chief magistrate than the masses OF the people
who had deputed the task to them.
II Is not entirely clear, however, that is plan
with It's Justification OF the Institutions handed
down by Washington, Hamilton, Jefferson and
their associates would be Characteristic OF an
American party or to-day, though It involves de-
Tense OF the original Constitution and OF the
wisdom OF its trainers. Perhaps The true American
idea Of lSsS Is that no dlsITusJ OF the people
should Oe shown by foroidling them a direct
vote for their chief executive oficer, and
that the whole cumorous electoral coliege ma
chine-y. long perverted from its original pu poses
should be abolished. rather than De revived and
re-estaOlshed In ) former dignity and import
ance. The American party OF to-day renounceS
the une-nonOred theory that the republic Is the
asylum for the oppressed (and criminaD oil every
nation, and II II advocates measures Oh which the
fathers did Dot dream, 10 project the people from
foreign deteroratiDg influences, IL may also con-
sistently advocate the exhibition OF a confidence,
unknown 10 the fathers, in the wisdom OF direct
political action b. the people, thus protected.
Il had supposed that both Houses OF Congress
were Of oyl1lOl, as every other seaside person
ought 10 BE- thai tue erection VI overhead electric
wires 0. any klnd ~ tns city l"asnington) Was 10
De Stopped enIreIy."
great many people have shared with senator
Edmunds the Impression thus stated BY him In
The senate yesterday. The recent discussions
concerning the Dlstrics's overhead wires Ia both
House and senate justify Rim in his
supposition concerning the views OF Congress.
The policy or the District government
has been, until now, steadily In the
same direction and has been steadily sustained
oy public opinion Tue fact that Congress dis
unctly FOR babe the Commissioners 10 permit the
erection OF any overhead wires Whatever after
september 18th Is not In view OF the debate which
explains the legislation, a command 70 authorize
freely the erection OF new wires until that time
nor does the power given TO authorize the burial
OF existing wires foroid the burial OF new wires
especially when express authority for the neces-
sary excavation Is provided In the legislation
which permits the new wires 10 be useI. The
provisions of the recent APPROXIMATION
bill Tor the District clearly contemplate
burial Of all the wires In the near future, and a
Continuance OF the policy dscouraging as lar as
practicable the employment OF overhead wires,
until Inc time when they can safely be abolished
entirely through the construction OF general sys-
tenn OF underground conduitS The Commissioners
have heretofore endeayored 70 the full extent or
their power to decrease the lumber OF these wires
There Is notnlng Ia recent slation which lessons
their power In this respect, or dIsapproves their
former policy. or furnishes any excuse Tor adding
a new variety to the overhead wires which are
soon all 70 be buried In pursuance OF funeral ar
rangements 10 be reported by the Commissioners
IN rh.ab .sria
The House debate on the proposed survey OF the
Rock Creek valley, having In view the ultimate
conversion OF that region into a park, shows the
incapacity OF some Representatives TO view Con-
gress as the local legislature OF the District as well
a, the national legislature. Every proposition adj
vanced 70 them Is at once considered In It's bearing
upon thrir constituents OF Mississippi or California
and their constituents OF the District are forgotten
When great public Improvements are made I'm
the District, as IN other divisions OF the republic
as national concerns aud solely at the national
expense, then this style or thought and argument
may be excusaoe, and IL can only be viewed as the
Districts misfortune that IL has no special repre
sentauves In Congress 10 scramble with the agents
OF The other divisions OF the republic for national
BENEFITS and 70 trade influence with such benefit,
In view. But when matters OF local interest are
considered. In which the expenditure OF the money
OF tbs District taxpayers Is involved Representa-
of view OF their tnousand-miles-distantc onstitu
entA BY virtue OF It's property Interests here and by
virtue OF the national character OF the capital the
government Is a District tax payer but this fact
does not enttle Congress 10 ignore the other local
taxpayers and their wishes In the expenditure OF
the District revenues Congress Is the board of Al
dermen for " ashington and state legislature for
the District and wnea it acts In these Capacities
IL should regard the wishes OF It's District constltu
ents whose money Is spent, and not consider soeiy
what the views 10 the matter may be OF the Missis
sppian, for instance, In his distant swamp,
The Yankee half OF Mr.. PdrnelPs blood has As
serted Itself In the planning OF the shrewdest blow
yet ArucS In his behalf since the controversy over
the London Tines letter scandal began He has
sued the Times for libel In scotland, where that
paper does not wielo the tyrannica power over the
public mind which II does In England; where the
local influences, II not on the side OF home-rule
are nevertheless generally anti-tory, and where a
verdict can be rendered oy three-fourtns ma
tority OF jury. The time chosen for bringing the
suit Is wise, moreover as q delay until the govern
ment inquiry bill became a law would have blocked