Los Angeles herald., 1892-12-07
LOW GRADE OF ARGUMENT.

the United States upon TWO Issues, Dotn
essentially selfish and lacking in dig
nifty. One is that If man from South
ern California is elected he will devote
his exclusive energies to advancing the
interests of his own section. This idea
is SO ridiculous as to trend ON the line of
imbecility. Southern California has got
along pretty we'll notwithstanding the
fact that she has never had United
States senator. We are fighting rather
for our rights than our material interests
in this matter. A punctilio often weighs
more with q man. section or a nation
than substantial concern. Why should
Southern California continue to wear
the badge of inferiority in the distribu-
ton OF senatorial honors? No extent of
past invidious discrimination can
blot out the fact that the
people OF the southern counties
are the peers OF those of any portion
OF California, or of any state in the
union. Where there is no considers-
ton of overwhelming merit or eminent
party service, all sections of the state
are entitled to recognition in the selec-
tion of the senator. 1t go happens that,
in the case OF Stephen NJ. White, the
sectional recommendation is only part
OF his strength. He stands on level
with any public man of any party in
this state, and, as we have shown, his
party services have been of the highest
order. When, at the invitation OF the
Democratic state central committee he
met Mr.. Estee in formal debate, it was
taeitly conceded that if the Democracy
won White should be the United States
senator. While there was no formal
compact to that effect, the people of
California so understood it, and today
the masses sre disposed to ratify it.
If Stephen NJ. White should be
chosen United States senator we may be
assured that, while he will work heart
and soul, tooth and toe nail, for the in
terests of the section in which he lives,
no effort OF his will be lacking to ad-
vance the welfare of every portion of
the state from which he will hail. Or
dinary good sense as we'll as sense of
duty would guarantee this action on his
part.
Another form OF the opposition to Mr..
White is embodied in an article from a
recent issue of the Fresno Expositor,
which we append:
About the most sordid argument used
IN i'm ha rf 70 Co
delegation to vote against Stephen NJ.
White is one now being used. 1t is
that San Francisco man ought to be
elected senator so that the federal pat
ronage OF the state shall be mainly Sc
cured for that city. This shabby argu-
ment is based upon wholly erroneous
notion. The idea thai whoever is elected
senator will practically dictate federal
misplaced. Mr.. Cleveland will not per-
nit any such thing, much lese will be
abdicate his appointive function and
will use it to buy the senatorship with
federal appointments. And then San
Francisco only has 20 Democratic mem
bers OF the Legislature, while it requires
81 to elect. If the city should propose
V
gobbing up of the federal Offices, what
is to hinder the interior from doing the
same thing? Two.thirds OF the mem
bers elect are from the interior, and 40
can usually outvote 20 on every propo-
sition.
But such mean and greedy consider.
ations should have no place in the cleo
ton of a senator. The qualifications
o,, ab ota Of no oh ha he
only things on which the choice should
be made to hinge. The effort to turn
the senatorial contest into scramble
for federal patronage is degrading and
disgusting, and it should be rebuked
White should be reduced to such straits
as the resort to this appeal to greed and
selfshness would indicate, is a conclus-
i've proof OF its absolute lack of popular
backing.
In truth. if there is one thing more
than another that has distinguished
Mr.. Cleveland it is his perfect freedom
from dictetion of any kind. Should Mr..
White be chosen to the United States
senate it may be assumed with perfect
safety that he will be guided by good
taste and good sense in such advice as
he may be called upon to give the pres
ident. The idea that he would descend
to the role OF an Office broker is utterly
at variance with the character of the
man. The day OF political relationships
has passed, at least es respects the Dem
ocratc party, and no man has done
more to bring this great political desid-
eratum about than Mr.. Cleveland him
self. There is neither force nor dignity
in such an argument.