Los Angeles herald., 1890-08-02
TWO TYPES OF GOVERNOR.

One of the most striking efforts of the
animated eloquence of Lord Bolingbroke
was that in which he drew the picture
of a "patriot king" Since Bolingbroke
lived, in America, at least, all men have
become sovereigns, and it is only possi-
BILE to draw the outlines of patriot
chief magistrate, and he may be either
the first citizen Of the republic or of one
of the sovereign states of the American
union.
We would like to try our feeble hand
on citizen who is fit to be the governor
of great state like California. In the
first place, he should be a man of fair
abilities, and whatsoever he might lack
in brilliancy should be made up in SOL
idity of intellect. He should be man
of fair character, with no namby-pamby
goodness about him, but with record
as good as gold. He ought to be
broad-gauge, and above the little
pettiness of blue-law regime.
AS our ideal governor would
of course be Democrat, he should be
thoroughly imbued with ideas of per-
sonal liberty which would leave the citi-
zen, under reasonable police regulations,
to dress, eat and drink as he pleased.
AS governor OF California, he ought to
have kindly sympathy With that in
evitable destiny which is sure at some
not remote day to make California the
rival of the wine-producing countries of
Europe. He ought to be many-sided
and capable. Above all, he ought to
realize that it is the fate Of the many to
toll with but an insufficient share of the
usufruct of their labor, and that it is
the duty of the chief magistrate of the
commonwealth of California to make the
burden upon the taxpayer as light as
possible. Such an assumption of duty
necessarily suggests a man experienced
in affairs, of approved business habits
and conversance with the concerns of
the people. 1t is needless to say that no
Tiotous crowd could gather round such a
man. His very character would repel
them. There would be no more danger
of their coming together in his entour
age than there would be of the meeting
of the poles, of the joining of two paral
lei lines or the fusion of the centripetal
and centrifugal forces of attraction in
the emblazoned heavens.
Such man would disdain to 90 out
and logroll for the Office. He would feel
that it was a high and roble trust,
neither to be sought after nor declined
He would think that he was sacrificing
too much that was essential to his own
self-respect if he permitted himself to
philander through the state, seeking a
strength that did not come spontaneously
from the people.
First look upon this picture and on that,
The counterfeit presentment of two brothers
Turning from this picture of man
who would deserve to be governor of
California, we come to its most repulslve
antithesis. This is the person for whom
NO call from the people emanates. He
has either imagined that the people pine
for him and children cry for him; or,
blinded by the possession of "sack,"
perhaps inherited and not accumulated,
he fancies, in the insolence of his heart,
he can eajole, buy or compel the people
to vote for him through prostituted
primaries and other agencies, innocent
in themselves, but capable of being
made nefarious beyond expression in
the eyes of freemen. Such man is in
deed to be pitied. He is probably him
self not aware of the deep and almost
INCAPABLE insult he pays to the popular
intelligence. Such insults are rarely
forgiven. Failure in such ambitious
and indefensible programmes generally
leads TO perpetual obscurity. Even
should success crown his plans, the
fruit would prove to be but a Dead-sea
apple, and would turn to ashes on his
lips.
We think we have drawn striking
picture.
First we have governor chosen in re-
sponse to popular demand, fitted for
the post by character, abilities, expert
ence and prolonged training,
knowing perfectly what is expected of
him, and under no obligations which
could tempt him to jeopardize the pub
lie interests-a man trusted by the peo-
pie, and devoted to their well-being, and
= public servant perfectly equipped to