Los Angeles herald., 1891-10-11
HER PuRRsr AND BEST.

When we said, few days ago, that
the respectable class, the professional
men and merchants, Of San FrapcissccSS
exhibited nointerest in Kidding that city
of political boodlers and corruptionists,
or they would have made themselves
conspicuous at the Indignation mass
meeting at Metropolitan temple, the
Chronicle assured us that there was an
other view to take OF the matter, and
that was that the respectable class
looked upon the whole business as an
attempt of one faction OF Democrats to
get the best of another. This is perhaps
very satisfactory way for rank Re-
publican paper to treat the subject; but
even that method of dismissal will not
do, for all the boodlers and corruption
lists who have so far been cited to appear
before the grand jury are Republicans.
But to return to the Chronicles reason
for the apathy OF the respectable BUSH
ness and professional elements of San
Francisco, we have come across another
and perhaps all-sufficient reason for their
indisposition to NEEDLE in any reform
movement.
Mr.. Arthur McEwen writes syndicate
letters from San Francisco to groups OF
interior papers. He discusses the po-
litical, social and other matters OF that
city with freedom and pungency that
is quite interesting and sometimes
rather startling. He undoubtedly has
very little respect for the society of that
city which sets itself up as the creme de
la creme, and ne often delivers very
severe boxes in the ears Of the ROu-
veaur riches which must make their
hearing organs smart and Jingle. Speak
ing of this grand jury episode McEwen
gives us to understand that San Fran
cisco's respectable element has no stom-
ach for taking part in any reform
movement. Indeed it is SO rot
ten itself that it might,
in setting trap for thieves, deseryedly
meet the fate intended for its victims.
1t was notorious, during vigilance COM
mittee times in 1856, that nearly every
off-color political trickster that had
escaped deportation, fastened to join
the committee as a measure OF safety.
Those first citizens would give the pres
ent movement their countenance if it
had shown itself to be overwhelmingly
popular; but they will take no risks in
helping to inaugurate it as long as its
success is in doubt.
If San Francisco must depend upon
that kind OF people to clean out its
Augean stable, the stable will continue
for many long day to tester in its
slime and rottenness. Here is Me
Ewen's pen picture of those "best peo-
ple":
l don't know how it may be elsewhere,
but in San Francisco "our best people -
professional men, merchants (particu-
larly merchants), capitalists and the
well-to-do generally-are, from a patri-
otto point of view, as detestable and
| dangerous a class of people as any
modern city has been cursed with.
There is prevalent among them no
moral standard higher than a fierce
selfishness, no public spirit, no horror
of dishonesty. These are hard things to
say, but they are true. Our society is
strictly plutocratic. One of the most
conspicuous figures in our drawing
rooms is man whom every one save
our best citizens despises for his mean
ness, for his vile private life, his base
ness and cruelty to work-seeking women,
whose poverty he makes their ruin.
This old scoundrel has millions, and is
gathering more. The business commu-
nifty knows all about him, yet bows
deferentially; society knows his charac-
ter, yet is eager for his recognition.
If that is a fair picture of San Fran
cisco's best society, and we were asked
whether such an element were fit to
rule, we should answer, in the words OF
Macduff, when Malcolm gave him list
of his secret vices: eft to rule? no
not fit to live!" The Chronicle said
there were only 'workingmen" present
at the indignation meeting. There was
decency there at least, and that is more
than could have been said of it if the
"best citizens" McEwen describes had
been there.