Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-03-04
THE REPUBLICAN, PARTY IN sACRA-
MENTO.

THE REPUBLICAN, PARTY IN sACRA-
MEMO.
There is no fatboming the logic of the
men who are determined to see in political
duty-doing only selfish interest. The citi-
zen is told that all the evils of small poll
tics and disreputable bossism are due to
the fact that he does not attend bis party
primaries that he toasts his toes at home
and permits the bad elements to run
things" Thus prompted to duty the we'll
intending citizens resolve at last to take an
interest in the local affairs of their immedi-
a.e district, and manifest some activity in
resistance of obvious wrong. Accordingly
they set about to do what they can to in
terest their neighbors in ''the beginnings of
government" attend the party caucuses,
perhaps protesting against vicious party
bossism and making the protest open by
doing what each has the unquestioned
right to do-openly regulating the states
confront them. In their activity, to which
they have been spurred by the reproach
that they had before neglected duty and
were thus responsible for the political ills
affecting this community, they have played
fair, employed no methods not approved
by good conscience, the laws of the land
and the commentator of citizens who
command the respect of the community.
The reward of these men they find is not
such as to encourage them or others who
are charged with neglect of political duty
to make many efforts TO do what they can
OF good for the community in which they
live They find that their unselfsh action,
ths.r 'duty-doing,p even if it involved mis-
taTes and possible errors of judgment, is
N represented, that their motives are inn
pugned their intentions persistently falsi
fled and their activity calumniously inter
preted TO be an ambition to become 'tward
bosses" or office holders, POSITIONS in polit-
ical life that they could not be induced 10
occupy under any possible conditions.
II is very easy TO understand how a few
such experiences render neglect of dutyu
IN such men chronic they withdraw
themselves after a few failures, and let the
vicious political influences have full swing,
so .ar as they are concerned. In q recent
canvass among the people of small ward
precinct in this city, for the purpose of
aseeriaining why so many Republicans
reaiain away from the party caucuses and
primaries, over one-fourth of the voters
chargable with this neglect of duty gave
as reasons for their apparent lassitude in
political matters the causes set out in this
article-ip substance; one-balf the number
thus replying expressed their firm deter
m.nation never to undertake to become
active in political preliminary stages, for
the additional reason that the law, as ad-
ministered, affords no protection at the
primary polls to fair expression of the will
OF the party membership.
The truth was emphasized in this city on
Saturday, when the Republican party at
tempted TO hold primary under the law.
But where the vicious influences in politics
pleased to assert themselves, the law stood
aside, and the class of voters referred to
stood aside also. As a result. the few who
still dared to exercise their rights without
consulting the supreme pleasure of political
dietators were confronted at the polls, where
chief interest centered, by hired ruffians,
largely Democratic "hirelings," the off
sc5uiings of San Francisco and its suburbs.
wretches from the slums of our own city.
and the riff-raff that hangs about the Leg.
islaiure. These roughs, in the early hours
OF the election, spared no efforts to create
Dis urbsnces, they succeeded to their en-
tite satisfaction; not that they wanted to
el-Ase in fighting especially, but simply to
make things about the polls so turbulent
tina. voters would not venture near them
As to Illegal voting little of that was done,
as Sacramento is terror Just now to the
fraudulent voter. The result was that
scores Of citizens who came to vote, and to
vote against these very influences, waived
then right rather than engage in the struggle
absolutely necessary to reach the polls,
and which at times not only involved the
salrsy OF their limbs, but, if the threats Of
tbs rufiians were sincere, their lives, while
Any assertion of their rights or protest
against bulldozing invariably brought
u the unhappy voter shower of abuse
p rased in language of the vilest character,
in which be would be stigmatized as vii
liam, reprobate, degraded wretch, the
son of dog, and being too vile to breathe
the air of freedom. He would be pulled
here and there beaten, his clothing torn,
and his efforts to reach the polls COM
pleiely frustrated by repeaters. who kept
possession of the line" and yielded it only
to those who voted as they wished
Ne, despite these outrages-more intoler-
able than ever inflicted upon the negroes
of Georgia. and not iess benious than by
the bulldozers OF the worst Louisiana
parishes in the palmiest days OF the
ku-ktux = the rowdy element was
being steadily showed under" in the
ba iot-bor. Thereupon more drastic rem
edies We're resorted to by the imported ruff
fans of San Francisco, and the varied ele
ements Of wards foreign 10 the polling place
whore most of the outrages took place
1aS lC-A7 VIZ oSttt0tAi6i1 ouilOuDuto ny
compact body Of men. mainly roughs.
an bat few allowed 10 reach them who
were not youched for by the captains and
lieuienants and sergeanis Of the obstiuc-
tieniSts. As night drew on it became evil
de:.t hat element had full control of the
eiare vicinity of the polling place 1t
ccwei the police force--clesrly ready and
anxious 10 be cowed. with solitary excep-
tio or perhaps tso--it rotton-egged those
who made an effort to MAINTAIN their
rights; it beat others: 1t howled itself
hoarse; ii massed in front of the ballot.
box and detied voters TO sttempt 10 cxer.
else the rights of freemen; it drew and
horrished deadly weapons; IL knocked
down inof1ensive people; it abused and
tranpled upon all who opposed it, and
threatened with bodily punishment and
even with death every man who had the
temerity to protest against the infamies OF
the scene The entire region was put in
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