Los Angeles herald. [volume] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1890-1893, 1890-10-13
COMEDY VERSUS COMMON SENSE.

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The comic element in politics has
never been better ILLUSTRATED than by
the present campaign. No more con-
spicuous "boss" nomination was ever
made in this or any other state than
that of Markham. He was, in fact,
jobbed off on the up country people as
the proprietor of mine of magnetism,
craftsmanship and oratory that could be
exploited to greater depths than have
yet been attained on the Comstock
lode, or in Cornwall, and without ex-
hausting the pay ore. To continue the
smile, the leaders of the Republican
party soon found that in Markham they
had struck porphyry 'horse" of for
midable dimensions. Up at the head
quarters in San Francisco this fact is
freely admitted. For time his sup
porters were paralyzed. But the word
was soon passed along to assume a
cheerfulness if they felt it not. The
newspapers were instructed to dwell up
on his inane speeches as exemplars OF
a candid and unpretentious oratory
captivating from its very simplicity.
The San Francisco Chronicle and Post
led off in this new departure, and gave
the keynote to the country press. 1t
was pretty programme, and the only
drawback to it all is that it came too
late. The measure. of the Republican
candidate for governor had been taken
before the plan had been arranged.
The next thing in this political COM
edy of errors was to impress the people
of the north with the overwhelming
popularity of Markham at the south,
and vice versa. In Hangtown and Mil
pitas the voter was told that the Repub-
lican standard bearer would cross the
Tehachepi with 5000 majority. In this
"demnition total" as Mainline would
say, Los Angeles county was put down,
on the authority OF Markham himself,
for 5000 majority. The Republican of
the central and northern counties is
hugging such delusive figures to his
breast now. He knows that Markham
is weak where these roorbacks are cir
culated, but the northern Republican
looks with an eye of eager expectancy
towards the south.
About week ago one OF the most noted
Republican politicians Of the bay coun-
ties came down to Los Angeles on
visit of pleasure and business. He ex-
pected to see some sort of a materializa-
ton of Markham's strength here, and to
find enthusiasm for the Republican
standard-bearer effervescing like pop
ping champagne. His surprise was
extreme, as he expressed it, to find that
Markham was scarcely mentioned, and
to learn that many of the staunchest
Republicans of Los Angeles had an
nounced it to be their purpose to vote
for Mayor Pond. His dependency as
to the outcome was something positively
dismal.
Just now we are being treated here
abouts to stories Of Markham's strength
up north. The word has been passed to
put stiff upper lip on the situation,
and to paint it as to all other portions of
California in rosy hues. The Hon. H.
V. Morehouse is the distributor of this
consolatory pabulum. 1t will be echoed
and re-echoed. Hank Waggoner," in
the Times, is writing ecstatic letters de-
scriptive Of the enthusiasm with which
Markham is being received in the north
ern citrus belt. The order is for cheer
fulness at any price and at any sacrifice
of truth.
Meanwhile, the facts remain that
Markham is waning daily in his own
home, that his most ardent supporters
here will be content if he receives a ma
jority of 800 in Los Angeles, instead OF
the 5000 claimed by the Republican
nominee himself, that many judicious
Democrats do not concede him over a
1000 majority, that the Democrats have
nominated the best county ticket in
years, with an excellent prospect OF sue
cess all along the line, and with no ele-
ment of resurrection discoyerable any
where for the Republicans.
| We have thus entered upon cam
paign of comedy versus common sense
Level-headed people take in the true
situation and only billiards will be de-
ceived by 1.-The Republican programme
of brag, buster and pretense.
We admit that the Democrats have
had some difficulty in getting good men