The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-10-31
THE FEELING IN THE COUNTRY.

The Record Union of Sacramento con-
siders il indicate to eatechise candidate
for the Legislature too closely as TO the
course he will pursue on the railroad ques-
tons which will arise, and on the candi-
dacy Of De Young for the Senate. The
Record Union has no objection to eandi-
dates being asked generally whether they
consider virtue commendabIe and vice rep
rehensible, but this thing OF going into
details and asking them definitely in black
and white what they would do in case they
had to vote on bill abolishing the Railroad
Commission or for or against De Young 1t
regards as an invasion of their private rights.
In the philosophy of the Record Union
every man ought to be left room TO fall
down if he chooses.
Our Sacramento contemporary does not
seem 10 be in harmony With other country
papers in this particular. Such sheets as
the Contra Costa Democrat, the Marin
County journal, the San Jose Herald the
Los Angeles Herald, the San Mateo Leader.
the Dixon Tribune and others which might
be named are clear that a candidate ought
to explain where he stands before he asks
for votes. This view seems to commend
itself to lovers of honest politics Where a
man eQuiY0Cates or beats about the bush he
either means to vote contrary to the Opin-
ions of his constituents or be proposes TO
keep himself in the market as one who is
open TO conviction. 1t is unsafe for any
district TO send such a man to the Assembly.
He is sure TO disappoint those who elect
him. If he can get elected by keeping dark
on his purpose 10 vote as the railroad bids
and to give De Young his support he will
lie fin Of CT q {
them what they propose TO do about it..
The time TO deal with equlvocators and
non-committal candidates is before election,
not afterWard.
Citizens of the rural districts will re-
member that they nave a solemn duty to
perform on election day. Upon their votes
will depend the choice Of a successor to
such men as Gwin, Fremont, Broderick,
Latham. McDougall, CONFESS. Casserly,
Sargent, Booth and Miller, as honorable
a galaxy of statesmen as any State pro-
duced during the same period. These were
men not only Of the highest intelligence,
but also of the most unimpeachable in
tegrity. They reflected honor on the State
which sent them to Washington. and COM
manded the respect of the highest legisla-
tive body in the world. Their word was
never qu estioned nor their motives sus-
peeted. They were large broad men who
rose above party when occasion required,
and whose devotion to principle never
faltered. The question for voters in the rural
dstricts-fOr the decision will rest with
them-is whether they desire to send TO
Washington q Senator who shall be the
peer Of these illustrious dead, or whether
they will take the risk Of having them sue
ceeded by one who is so deseryedly odious
that if he were in the Senate CslifoTnians
would visit Washington incognto for very
shame; and if they elect TO adopt the
former alternative, whether they will not
serve their State best by voting for a Demo-
crat rather than for a non-conmittal boss
Republican of the Record. Union stripe.
And again. The railroad has already one
representative in the United States Senate.
Is il best that ii should have another. so
that Mr.. Frye or some other corporation
Senator should be able 10 say that the
unanimity of the California Senators indi-
Gates that popular feeling in this State IS
all in favor # the railroad and against the
advocates of cheaper ansportati-n? When
tile question of the subsidy bonds comes
up, as it must at the next session, the
utterances of the California Senators will
command attention. II they say that the
bonds ought to be extended on the terms
offered by Mr.. Huntington, it will be
assumed that such is the opinion of the
people Of this State, and that large class of
citizens who do not see the gain Of the State
in any extension OF tie bends viii have no
hearing. That does not seem fair The
railroad has IFS champion in Mr.. Stanford.
" no will set forth his side of the case with
his accustomed eloquenee. Ought not the
people 10 have chance Of being heard?
They viii not, if a majority Of Republicans
more or less secretly committed TO De
Young, in requital for railroad money ex-
pended in their canvass. are sent &c the
Legislature. This is a matter which ought
to receive the maturest consideration from
Republicans of the interior. for they are
really more interested in promoting the
growth OF the State by liberal tariffs for
transportation than the people Of the city