Los Angeles herald., 1890-05-22
THE POLITICAL 0UTLOoK--A RETRO
SPECT.

about the approaching campaign is that
the republicans practically give it up in
advance. The republican newspapers,
of course, try to keep up stiff upper
lip, but even in them the practiced eye
can see that it is struggle without
hope. In personal conversations repub-
hcans have no hesitation in admitting,
in all quarters of California, a coming
democratic victory. Nine out of ten OF
the republican leaders of Los Angeles
county will concede privately that they
believe the democrats will elect their
state ticket and carry the city, although
they have hopes of carrying the county
and congressional elections. 1t isa long
time since there was such a feeling as
this in California on a square party
issue, with no considerable side shows.
In the campaign in which Irwin was
elected governor, the result was ex-
pected because the republican party was
split in the middle, Timothy Guy Phelps
heading the regular republicans and
Gen. John Bidwell the bolters. In the
next campaign the result was equally
clear in advance, because the working
mems detection carried off great many
democrats, and democratic dissen-
sion was nearly as great as the
republican had been in the pre-
ceding election. Yet when it came
to the election of 1882, in which
Stoneman, democrat, was elected by the
largest majority ever received by any
man for governor, the republicans by no
means gave up all hope OF electing their
ticket. Mr.. Estee, the worst defeated
man that ever ran for governor, conf
IDENTIFY expected to be elected, He held
this view up to the day of the election
and unreservedly proclaimed such to be
his belief in Platt's hall the night be-
fore. In the Swift-Bartlett contest the
republicans not only did not give up all
hope but they were confident of success.
Their belief had pretty solid founda-
ton, as Governor Bartlett was elected
by scratch, and was only saved by
Swift's peculiar passages with Pixley.
What, then, are we to expect when
the republican leaders in conversations
amongst themselves, and in private in-
timations to their opponents, practically
give up the fight, as in the present case -?
In the light of the universal disgust with
Harrison and with the Mckinley tinker
ing with the tariff, which prevails on
this coast, we are warranted in
looking for sweeping victory
and it would not be surprising
if the tremendous figures of the
Stoneman campaign should be repro
duced. George Stoneman got nearly
three times as large majority as Haight
received, and the Haight figures ex-
pressed the largest democratic majority
which had been given in this state since
the war. The enormous plurality oI
$4,000 received by Stoneman could
scarcely be called democratic demon
stration, pure and simple. The people
had been excited over the railway ques-
ton, and Gen. Stoneman was accepted
by them as the representative of this
addition, the republicans had been un-
wise enough to incorporate a plank in
their platform which demanded the re-
enactment of an obsolete Sunday law and
on that issue nearly every German, Ital-
ian, Frenchman, and all other citizens OF
foreign birth, voted with the democracy,
who placed themselves on record as in
favor of personal liberty. Strangely
enough, however, what special local
issues did for the democratic party OF
California national issues did for the
democracy throughout the country at
large. That was the year in which
President Arthur very unwisely sought
to foist Judge Folger on the republicans
of the empire state, which resulted in
the election of Grover Cleveland for gov.
ernor by 1872, 900 and of Hill for lieuten
ant governor by a plurality OF 1877 900
1t was year of political surprises, in
which the unexpected happened at ev
cry turn.
All the circumstances are notably
favorable for the democracy this year
The people are resentful at Stanford's
attempt to force his way second time
into the senate of the United States
If he remains in the field he will make
the defeat OF his party monumental
one. The indications all point to the
hosts of the democracy being led by mer
OF conspicuous popularity and force. Il
the suggestion of the democratic county
central committee that the Hon. S. M
White should be invited to stump the
state on the senatorial issue be adopted
a new and inspiriting element will be
projected into the campaign which can
not fail to have very gratifying results.
On the whole, it would be very hare
indeed to enter upon campaign will
more auspices of success than those
which illuminate the pathway of the
California democracy just now.
The lightning changes introduced by
Mr.. Huntington since his assumption o
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