The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-09-26
TIE TRICKsTER FOILED.

Men without principle constantly make
the mistake of believing that they are
types OF mankind. They know that they
would themselves do dishonest things, and
they assume that everybody would do the
like. 1t is only when they put their philos-
ophy to the test that they discover the world
is inhabited, as a rule, By pretty honest
people.
Here is man in this State who proposes
TO buy and intrigue his way into the United
States Senate. He knows that he has no
claim 10 the post. He must be aware that
his intelligence is meager, that his reputa-
tiCn is tainted, that he is odious to people at
large. There is probably no pending politi-
cal issue on which be has opinions or is CON-
petent to form any. If he had opinions he
is not competent to express them. He has
tackled himself TO the tail Of q respectable
political party, and has periodically depleted
its campaign fund as the price OF his sup
port. He now imagines that he can secure
the highest reward which that party can be-
stow, in spite of his unftness. by threaten
ing to bolt the party ticket if the guerdon is
denied him, and that, by judicious mixture
of bribery and bulidOZiog. he can coerce the
Legislative districts into electing Senators
and Representatives who are willing to be-
tray their constituents by voting for him for
Senator.
He begins with Alameda. He fills it with
strikers from this city. who are to seize the
voting-places at the primaries. He sends
over n man with a sack to scatter double
eagles at the groggeries. He threatens that
his paper will burn every one up who op-
poses him. But what is the result? He is
beaten. horse, foot and dragons; so over
whelmingly showed under that presently
he will deny that he ever interfered in TIE
contest. The gorge Of decent people at Ala
media rose at the idea Of tue degradation he
invited them to indulge in. They joined
hands with the surviving friends Of Sar-
gent-men with long memories and sharp
blades-and they buried the wOuld-be Sen
atOr so deep under the alluVium that old
Dr. Hardness will presently go digging for
his remains. What has happened in Ala
media will happen elsewhere. California
has much to deDlore in the past. But 1t will
not have to blush for the ignominy of send
ing Mr. de Young to the Senate.
1t is delusiOn to suppose that masses of
men can be seduced into choosing Senators
by corruption and threats. Money will do
much; and much may sometimes be effected
by trading on public cowardice. But these
alone will not accomplish results. There
must be foundation of merit and fitness to
build upon. When two men equally ct and
able are rivals for a Senatorship, victory
will be apt to 60 to the one who has the
longest purse and the widest influence.
But the fitness and ability are prerequisites.
Senator Stanford would probably never
have been chosen Senator if he had had no
money to spend in a way it ought not to
have been spent; but again, his money
would perhaps have failed to secure the
prize had he not been able to point to a
former career as War Governor. For man
who is neither shrewd nor clear headed,
whose record has to be kept in the back
ground by his friends. and whose character
for probity will not bear examination. to
fancy that he can get to be Senator by buy
ing delegates to conventions and threaten
ing politicians with the vengeance of his
newspaper is the widest delusion.
Mr.. de Young and others who have been
s,ung by the political bee will do well to I'M
derstand, once and for always. that the
mass of CalifornIans are neither towards
nor knayes. A few. of them may be bought,