Eureka weekly sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1887-1902, 1891-03-28

Hon. Chas. N. FELTON, has been elected
by the California Legislature TO succeed
the late George Hearst in the United
States Senate. As usual there was Doodle
in the contest and . great scandal grow.
ing out Of il is now the subject Of leg
i~slstive investigation. The evidence is
conclusive that large sums were used,
and presumably in the interest Of both
of the leading candidates, FELTON, and
Estee. II has come TO be the rule in
pretty much all Of the Northern States
that none but rich men can 60 to the
Senate. Brains, nor the absence Of them,
have anything whatever TO do with de-
termining the result Of q Senatorial cleo
tion. II is Doodle from first TO last. First,
Doodle to secure q Legislature Of the de-
sired political complexion, and then
Doodle direct TO the members Of the Leg
i~slature to induce them to vote for the
Doodle candidate. There is no more dis.
graceful chapter in the political history
Of the country than the recent Senate
rial auction at Sacramento. We are glad
that the Democratic members Of the Cal.
ifornia Legislature to Q man refrained
from voting for either Of the Republican
Doodle candidates. They have preserved
their own self-respect, and deserve that
Of the people also.
The Senators from the Southern States
are ell poor men. In that Democratic
quarter Of the Union character and abil-
ity are still permitted TO count for some
thing. As . matter Of fact the ablest
men in public life come from the South.
The South has Q habit Of stsnding behind
. man who shows conspicuous fitness in
the halls Of Congress. But then the
South is not ridden by corporations and
trusts and m~onopolies like the North 10.
The time may come when the South with
its new prosperity will also succumb to
"the sack" but that period has not YET
been reached.
A reform in our system Of electing Sen.
ators by referring the choice to q direct
vote Of the people might improve the
situation o very little. but it would not
wholly eradicate the evils which now OBJ.
tain. The boodlers would simply have
to corrupt the people. which they now
do, and save the money expended on the
Legislature. Money would be corruptly
used in any event. Like mar like mas
ter" is one Of the Oldest and wisest Of
the proverbs. A stream will not rise
above its source. If legislators are cor
rupt so are the people behind them. The
wrong in our system is deep and funda-
mental. Frugality in government and
special privileges to none is the only safe
rule in q Republic. We have been max.
ing too many rich men by our class leg
islation. "The masses be i'd" say the
privileged few. Who ever heard Of a
professional lobbyist hanging around q
State Legislature or the Congress OF the
Nation to promote any measure of gen.
eral interest or benefit to the people
They are to be found invariably on the
other side. to Cypress the people while
fattening their masters. This govern.
ment will stand il all as long as we shall
have any personal use for it, but every
thoughtful man must have serious appre'
tensions for the future.
The new Senator from California is as
good and as acceptable as any of the po-
litical school to which he belongs. He
is q genial, clever man socially, and has
industry and some ability of q certain
order. No person ever dreamed OF him
as q statesman. But he has cords OF
money. That qualification suited the
California Legislature, and seems to suit
most Of the newspapers over there. CAL
ifornians should now be supremely happy
and content. They have now their two
richest men in the United States Senate
Stamford and FELTON,. Neither OF them
can make . thres-minute off hand speech
on any subject under the sun.