The record-union., 1893-03-11
SHAMELESS METHODS DENOUNCED.


Let decent voters note the fact that
neither Mr.. Steinman nor his friends, nor
the press supporting the Republican
ticket, have INDUCED in any abuse of Mr..
We'll or Mr.. Harrison. Their characters
have not been assailed, their motives i'm
pugned, or their sincerity questioned.
They have been treated as honest men
and good citizens by those whose convic-
tions lead them to oppose either or both
of them.
How has it been, however, on the side
of Mr.. We'll? His mouthpieces appear to
revel in the very mire and muck of foul
language, unmitigated falsehood and con-
temptible inuendo concerning Mr.. Stein
man and the Republicans who placed
him in nomination. The motives of the
candidate have been assailed; his frank
declaration of policy for the city sneered
at; his character assaulted his lifelong
career as boy and man in Sacramento
condemned and misrepresented; his best
traits of character contorted into faults;
his business skill turned into charges of
extortion and cruelty-in fact, nothing
too low, vulgar and mean has been spared
in the mud-throwing INDUCED in.
Let men who despise these methods of
campaigning reflect, if in all their expert
ence it has not proved true that such as
saults emanate from weak and unworthy
causes. Caluminous attacks did not de-
feat Mr.. Cleveland in 1884; the attempt to
rip up and blacken did not defeat General
Garfield; ridicule, lying and mud fling
ing were repudiated by the people in both
the elections of Abraham Lincoln. In
this city the same order of abuse and in
decency was Ineffective against John @.
Brown for the mayoralty; it has failed
completely in all cases of elections in this
city. The whole line of record shows
that the people abhor such campaigning.
So they will continue to do, and the re-
suit will be as it always has been. If we
cannot select First Trustee without rip
ping up character, tearing down one
mans honest life to lift another UP; if we
cannot discuss city policy and what is
best for city government without assault
ing Mr.. We'll and Mr.. Harrison, as Mr..
Steinman is assaulted by the self-consti-
tuted mouthpieces of the former, then we
prefer to tako no part in the election, but
to let blackguardism, filth, slander and
envenomed falsehood, which cannot pro-
ceed from honorable sources, rule the
roost, confident that if they do the people
will not be greatly older before they will
regret it.
But when it comes to treating of the
J low-level politicians and schemers, trick
sters and ward bosses, who are shouting
against Mr.. Steinman, and prating of
purity, white-robed cleanliness and good
administration, to which they and their
kind are strangers, we believe in calling
a spade spade. The clique of the un-
washed that is masking behind John
We'll cause that gentleman's honest
cheeks to tingle with shame. In his lat
ter years he has been brought to blush at
last for the scrubs who have indorsed
him. He is fully aware that if he should
by any mishap be elected these fellows
will have placed him under obligation to
them.
We believe B. Z. Steinman is the bet
ter man for the First Trusteeship because
he is a better business man than either
Mr.. Harrison or Mr.. We'll; because he is
a man of ideas of the progressive and
economic order; because he is fired by an
honorable ambition, in the prime of life, to
deserve still warmer commendation; be-
cause he has been eminently successful in
the conduct of private and public busi-
ness. and because he utterly refuses to
solicit or canvass for votes without open
statement and distinct announcement of
what he believes is the best policy for the
economic administration of city affairs.
There is no assault upon John We'll in
this; his supporters cannot find in it any
excuse for the vilification which they
permit against Mr.. Steinman. Let the
few days of the campaign left go on de-
Gently. and for the sake of the reputation