The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-11-03
A THOUGHT FOR DEMOCRATS.

Democrats who are hesitating between
The support of the Sullivan and Dwyer
ticket and the transfer of their allegiance
to the Non-Partisaus. so far RS the NUM-
cipal and legislative officers are concerned,
will do we'll to ponder a sentence in the
speech Of ex-President Cleveland delivered
in Nav York on Tuesday. Mr.. Cleveland
said:
The time has surely come when those who see
the beginning OF the prevailing corruption should
look beyond 1t and beneath IL In an endeavor to
discover the forces which give 1t deadly strength
1t reduces on Government TO the mere sem.
blance OF Government, the weakest and most
defoimed plan OF rule that ever deluded man.
kind.
1t would not be easy to describe the work
ing OF boss rule in San Francisco in apter
terms than "the weakest and most deformed
plan OF rule that ever deluded mankind"
ms is no rhetorical picture. 1t is sober
TACT by systematic packing of the prima-
rles and Of the nominating conventions, by
stufhng the register aud by manipulating
the voting returns. a gang of professional
politicians under the lead of bosses and
railroad money have absolutely disfran-
chised honest citizens and transferred the
administration of municipal business to the
worst class in the community. Democrats
have suffered from the usurpation as keenly
as Republicans. 1t has injured men Of
every political faith. 1t has retarded the
growth OF the city 1t has smoothed the
way for railroad domination. 1t has set the
example of accomplishing results not by
square dealing, but by corruption and fraud.
1t has generated the "pull'' at the courts
and encouraged the highest officers Of JUS
tice to violate their oaths in favor of power
ful individuals and omnipOtent corporations.
1t has debauehed society all through and
taught young men that the way to get on in
life is TO lie and TO cheat and TO steal. and
that honor and integrity are old-fashioned
Sunday-school nonsense.
An opportunity is now offered TO check
the growth of this monstrous demoraliza-
tion by RELOCATING both bosses into the
background and setting up in their place
officials who were the choice Of no packed
convention. who wear the collar of no boss,
who neither sought nor paid for their nomi-
nations and who were selected simply be-
cause of their record and their efficiency
The Democratic bosses appeal TO the rank
and file Of their party to stand by the party
ticket and 10 oppose this effort at purifica-
ton. Why should they do so? What has
any man to gain by prolOngng the life of
system which nobody undertakes 10 de-
fend? The Democrats profess to be shocked
at the tuIpitude of Buckley. 1t is not easy
to see why his successors, who graduated
under his teachings. served as his lieu
tenants, copied his tactics, fought under his
flag. obeyed his orders with the alacriiy of
disciplined soldiers, should be any improve
ment on him. 1t would be an astonishing
miracle if Democratic success at this coming
election should set the city back precisely
where 1t was under Buckley.
Democrats should make no mistake. The
Non Partisan movement has come to stay.
IL it should he defeated next Tuesday. which
is not probable, it will renew the fight with
fresh strength and vigor. Wars against cor
ruption never end till corruptionists are
crushed. The present war will overrun the
State before the next Governor is elected.
and simultaneously the uprising again 81
fraud snd venality viii probably spread to
the States on the other side OF the noun
tains. There as here the pressure of raseals
exeTted through bosses is sitting the breath
OF the people. There as here the work of
publication is biudered by the blind sub
serviency ofvoters to their respective parties
But the people will presently discover that
government is a matter Of business, and that
il can he no more conducted By knavish
bosses than a mercantile business can be
conducted where the cashier is robbing the
safe and the salesman is stealing goods
The peril of a suffrage d bauched through
the tricks Of professional politicians is too
real and too grave TO be ignored. AS mat
tiers stand the experiment Of a Government
by the people and Ter the people is put In
jeopardy by voters who do not perceive
that these politicians are using party or
CARNATIONS 10 cover up corrupt jobs. II the
railroad had not been able TO pit the two
parties against each other and to hold the
balance of power between them IL never
would have attained its present power The
danger in which we stand Is worth the con-
sderation of every thinking Democrat