The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-07-31
BY THE WAY.
Being a RamhlGr'S Observations on THINGS
in General,
Politics and the Ballot - The Treatment Q
Criminals-Jokes on stanleY-salis-
bury's Blunders.
Written for HE MORNING CALL.

Politics are nothing IL not practical.
Hence arises the value of General Chips
mans speech at Sacramento, when he re-
ferred to the sacred trust imposed upon the
Republican party by itself of keeping pure
toe ballot-box and allowing every voter to
deposit his ballot untrammeled aud unin-
fiuenced by fear or favor. This is the ideal
OF the elevated statesman, which is always
inculeated eIoquently upon a public plat
form and applauded as if it were the guild
ing rule of conduct But somehow when a
primary is held, ana especially in cities,
the maxim is conveniently but shame
lessly ignored. True citizenship then
depends upon stuffing the ballot boxes,
upon PRESERVATION, intimidation. rock-rolling.
and bruising. and the first effort Is 10 cap
ture the polls and install corrupt judges
and Inspectors. and should the aim nf the
bosses not be attained by these means Ene
next effort is to influence the counting. AL
of these practices have been in vogue un-
blushingly and fearlessIy in San francisco
ever siace IL was city, and during the last
~ years the Central and Southern Pacific
magnates have been the leaders ~ DoEFup-
ton, and have impartaliy corrupted both
sides IN The game of politics. ne nl sior-
tune is that the primaries are the pivot OF
everything else in the machine of govern
ment Our Judges, Senator'S Representa-
tives, and Office holders of every kind, all
emerge from the mre of primaries.
Could the patriotic mind of General Chin
man have had in view the delightful pri-
mary held In San Francisco this year under
which his friends and fellow-laborers for the
Southern Pacific led their flock to victory {?
That primary was beautiful spectacle of
purity, fairness and representative CON-
loft
uated by the kodak in order to show the
KIND OF men who are the props of State and
Federal Government. Some OF the generals
listeners who took hand in that primary
may have smiled as they looked back upon
the events of the day, but it is more prob
able they discreetly applauded and would
not have objected TO deliver eulogium
themselves on the subject Of pure ballot
box and the protection of every one who
wants 10 vote. When IL comes to the turn
Of the Democrats the same elevated appeals
to virtue will no doubt be heard in language
OF equal fervOr.
Down il Mexico they deal with robbers
very summarily-when they catch them.
That is an event which seldom happens,
although the species is numerous and not
one-tenth part as brave as some of our train
robbers, most of whom would rather be shot
than arrested. In Mexico they prefer ar
soldiers of paternal Government accom-
modate them TO the letter Six of these
Greaser marauders who tried TO rob an
American at Eagle Pass had the misfo time
To fall into the hands of soldiers, and al
though they had not secured any booty and
had not killed anybody, they were promptly
shot on general principles. under the pious
belief. no doubt. that they would be most
useful to themselves and society in the next
world. The bodies of the defunct thieves
were left TO the crows for inierment.
The murderer ana robber are much more
considerably dealt with in the United
States, aud especially in California, where
murderer who has money rarely dies on
the gallows. and if that fate should over
take him. is at least grac0usly allowed FIVE
or SIX years TO repent and study polite liter
AZURE, and has all the comforts that maudlin
admirers who hope 10 know him hereafter
can supply BIN with. murderer becomes
famous when he has any mystery or COM
plications surrounding his case. He gets TO
know so much about the law and its
subtleties that should he get clear few
months OF preparation would enable him to
begin practice before the judges who have
tried him. Nor are the Judges altogether
to blame. Our jury system is so beautifully
adjusted that one or two men can always be
put on the panel who would not agree that
two and two make four. Disagreements
nave become CerIalnties.
Hence. there is little wonder that lynch
ing parties sometimes save the State ex-
pense and criminals suspense by taking
them out Of the hands of the Sheriff and
suspending them. There was a pretty ex-
ample of that the other morning, when the
Rugges brothers were unsparingly strung
up at Redding They had recovered from
their wounds and were In fair way to re-
cover their liberty. it being said that
pull existed somewhere. A ''pulr' needs
no definition. There have been many ex
empliheations. 1t is a means of doing wrong
aud defeating justice, with the forms of
justice all mpled with. In addition. the
Ruggles brothers fell victims 10 the wiles
OF ministering angels. Some women of a
foolishly sympathetic nature like nothing
better than the preparation of frst-cIass
murderer Tor salvation. Sush men natur-
ally ike TO be reformed, especially il the
con- forters are pretty and bring them delights
LOT the stomach, such as roast chicken. pate
de fole gras, chateaubriand steak. choice
wines ana aromatic cigars. with entertain
ing BOOKS thrown In to while away the dull
hours OF solitary confinement. OF these
Joys the Ruggles brothers and many other
equally eminent scoundrels have freely
partaken, and to such an extent has this
Idioey been carried that there is almost
need OF law cOnnning the diet of first
degree criminals TO mush, soup, pork and
beans, fried potatoes AID moderate allow
ance of meat to keep their teeth from grow
ing too fast Evaporation gets the better
this foclery in the name of law, justice and
marcy Uoinp IN md Ia resutf 10 Shnrt . riff