The record-union., 1891-03-05
THE SENATORIAL CONTEST.

In pursuing many rumorS concerning
the position of corporations and persons
in the current Senatorial contest, we en-
counter with great frequency assurances
on the part of the friends of candidates,
persons in the lobby and citizens gener-
ally, that the Southern Pacific Company
is for or against certain candidates whose
names are given. We wish to state once
and for all, and upon the best authority,
that the Southern Pacific Company has
no candidate for the Office of United
States Senator, and we hold such authen-
tication of this assertion as will put to
shame any man who controyerts it. Coils
P. Huntington, the President of the
Southern Pacific Company, has declared
that the corporation will not take part in
political contests in the State of Califor-
nia-that the company is not factor in
any political contest whatever. He has
also stated in a most authoritative way
that in the pending Senatorial contest the
company will take no part, and that no
one authorized to speak for it will be au-
thorized to exert on its behalf or in its
name the slightest influence to COM
pass the election of any candidate,
or compass the defeat of any. Any
statement therefore made from any
source that the company desires the de-
feat of candidate and intends to COM
pass that result, or desires the election of
any individual candidate and intends to
promote that result, will be wholly
the most perfect candor and will be veri-
fed to the fullest extent. The prefer
ences of the railroad company is usually
made one of the pieces on the chess-board
of political manipulation. If it is placed
there in the current instance, it will be by
people who are not authorized to speak
for it, or give it position. We have assur-
ances from the very best authority, and
are amply able to make those assurances
good in a manner so unmistakable as TO
leave no doubt of their perfect candor,
SlIlt thClO iS 1lO IlSbCISC diii llc iAiSiii-
cerity in the determination of the Presi-
dent of the Southern Pacific Company to
eliminate that corporation as a factor
from the politics of California. If any
have other information, they may rest
assured of its complete unreliahility.
There are many rumors coupling the
names of candidates with practices in this
connection as black as treason to human
liberty. The corruption of member of
q Legislature under democratic institu-
tions is a conspiracy against the perpetual
progress in that direction worse than any
treason ever attempted, and more insidi-
GUS and dangerous in its effects than all
the opposition which imperialism has
brought to bear. The man who has pur-
chased the vote of a member of the Legis-
lature, or the man who has sold his vote,
may deem themselves respectable citi-
zens, but their responsibility is main
tanned only by concealment of their con-
duct. They are respectable only be-
cause they have been pursuing a
course of undetected crime; and there
is no difference whatever between
the moral quality of him who buys
and him who sells this species of
sin. Nor will the people of this country
long tolerate practices of this character.
For the past twenty-five years, corrup-
ton in high places has augmented until
the very verge of public patience has been
reached. The great canons of thought on
the subject of official purity have not.
however, changed. Those elements of
virtue in national existence upon
which this country must depend
for the perpetuity of its institutions,
the preservation of civil liberty
and the progress of civilization among
mankind, have not been debauched or
not enter the political arena to engage in
the struggle for the spoils of Office, or the
empty honor of political distinction, alb
stain chiefly because they are Indifferent
to the political course of the country so
long as it is kept within certain limit of
reasonably good government. But if the
Office of United States Senator in the
present instance, or any future instance,
is to be placed at auction, we believe it to
be the full determination of the people of
California to prevent the successful
bidder from enjoying the fruits of his
crime. That result can be very easily
accomplished, because exposure will be
certain. There is no idle bravado, nor
meaningless threat in these expressions.
We are rejoiced to know that they are
justified by unmistakable indications of
which we have ample evidence.
THE FISH COMMISSION.