The morning call., 1891-03-04
THE NEW SENATOR.

Tho representatives of the Republican
nortv AT Sacramento are confronted with a
serious responsibility, both as patriotic clti-
Gems and as members of n political party. 1t
deyolyes upon them to choose Senator who
shall in part represent this State in the
United States Senate throughout the Fifty
second Congress. And it chances that the
duty has been rendered especially grave
from the fact that California's representa-
ton in that bgdy during the past few years
has not been a source of exuitation 10 Cali-
fornians, and has not commanded aohilfa-
ton in other States
The Legislature ought, now thau IL mas "
chance, to SEND some one TO W'o'iiue yn
who shall be a fair averaseECiiioI ~, Il"n ~
point OF intellect and cilarac'et' -
not be able to pick out q oe"hiu - "a
star Int we certainly should De aole 10 hiiu
so,,,o ona who shall compare not unfayor-
Ill. viii, the rank and file of Senators. He
"ta,,,d he n man familiar with public affairs
ar5 acquainted with the principles OF pollti-
col science and political economy. lie shouio
no competent to form judicious opinion on
the nnblic questions of the day. 1t is not
vital that he should be an orator, but ne
| should be able to form sound views ana 10
EXPRESS them clearly. 1t would DC thou-
sand pities if the Legislatures choice shouid
| fall on one whose ignorance IS notorious
/ and in whom the reasoning faculty appears
TO be lacking.
Intelligence, however, comes second to
character among the requisites for Sen
| ator. No man should be chosen IN any
event whose honesty is matter OF question:
! Ii would be public disgrace If the honor
| fell to one whose integrity is common jest
| who is popularity believed to have acquired
wealth by corrupt practices, and to be III
terly unconscious that knayery deserves re-
| buke Rogues get along in lie so long as
they keep themselves in the background. In
the economy OF the world there appears tn
he n place for them as there is for other
noxious animals But that place is not a
place of honor, and any one who tries to To-
cate them there debases himself, and is an
enemy to the wealth. The new
Senator from California should be above
suspicion: he should be one whose word mas
never been doubted, ard who has never
been accused Of de grading acts; he should
enjoy the respect of his fellow men and
should command the personal regard OF all
who know him intimately. To bestow the
Senatorship on one who is respected by no
one, who has not q friend who has not an
associate that is not paid TO keep him conf
pany, and who is not trusted by single
hu;nau being, would indeed be a humiliation.
This is matter which Republicans should
view from a party standpoint as we'll as
from the standpoint Of good citizens. Parti es
are oftener Judged by their choice Of Sena-
tors than by other acts. For bad law, it Is
hard to say which party is wholly response
bic; each OF the two may be shown to have
contributed to the wrong. But in choosing
: a Senator the dominant party has an undi-
vdcd responsibility. The choice, moreover.
is conspicuous ac,, which is open TO TIE
observation of every one and is within thI
understanding of every capacity. Where
the representatives Of party, either through
2 corruption or through intrigue, confer thu
Senatorship on one who is unworthy, tina
party must answer to the people, who vii
listen to no excuses. States have, perhaps
been more frequently lost BY parties through
5 bad selections Of senators than through any
! other errors of policy. The example of Oht
is in point
Several gentlemen are candidates for Mr.
? | Hearts seat and among them it is possible
to choose one whose selection will not dis
honor the State nor damage the party. Blu
) ii the Legislatures choice should fall upon
one who has declared that the post WAS fol-
sale for $500 GEO. ii will be difficult to escape
} tie conclusion that he disbursed that sun
and that his supporters in the joint caucus
! ,7I--jd o1