The morning call., 1893-01-21
READ OUT OF THE PARTY.

The political world is eenvused by the
news that Kerns of Los Angeles has been
read out of the Populist party for voting
for Steve White for Senator instead of that
interesting fiibbertigibbet Gator. What is
The meaning of being read OUT? Is 1t
done with bell, book and candle? Is the
eulprit delivered over TO Satan for the
destruction Of his flesh" according to the
old canon law? Is the operation-as Ma
jor Pendennis anXiouslY inquired regard
ing "Dlucktng" at neutrality-suspicious.
corp0really in the presence OF bystandersf
These are questions which the public are
hungering and thirstiDg to have answered.
Mr.. KsrnS, so far as Is known, is worthy
old farmer in Les Angeles County. He
shares the belief. which is common south of
Tehaehipa, that the southern portion Of the
State is entitled to everything that is in
sight, and that Northern California is an
incumbrance that will be some day
sloughed of. Otherwise he seems to be
rational enough. 1t is sad TO think of a
well-meaning old gentlemen of this kind
being read out of a party. What will be-
come of him? When the Cid Campeador
was read out of CASTLE it was forbidden 10
furnish him with food. and be went hungry
through the land. Are we TO suppose that
if Mr. KerHs should order a breakfast at the
Golden Eagle the head waiter would sternly
refuse to serve him even with one of those
tough steaks for which the capital is
famous?
There is Marion Cannon. too. one of the
hOuestest and most wrong headed old ranch
ers in the State. who is accused of having
aided and abetted Kerns in bis treachery to
the Populists. His fate is almost as sad as
that of his accomplish. He met, in the lobby
Of hotel, the funny little gentleman named
Cater. who may be described as the mosquito
of State politics, and the mosquito BRAN
dishing his proboseis in the good old farm
er's face, trumpeted, Don't you ever speak
to me again" Few of us care to improve
our acquaintance with a mosquito, and Mr..
Cannon quickly retOTted that he would sub
NIT to the loss Of Mr. Gators society; but it
is harsh doom.
The Populist guillotine appears to be des-
tined TO long season of activity. Another
member of the party, Bretz Of Alameda.
also an honorable man. gave the Demo-
cratic committee Of his county before cleo
tion written stipulation that he would
vote for the Democratic candidate for Sena-
tor as soon as is was certain that the Popu-
list candidate could not be elected. AS
there was not the remotest chance of Pop
ulist Legislature, the covenant was equiva-
lent TO pledge that Brett would vote for
White. So a numberOf Democrats regarded
it, and they cast their ballots for Bretz.
Was not this such a bolt as would justify
the party in reading out Bretz?
Then comes IN Oakland attorney named
Chamberlain, who deposes that he offered
to a friend of Whites four Populist votes.
Il did offer." saws he, with engaging can
dor. ''to sell Gaffsy four PopuliSt votes for
White, and l asked him if White was buy
ing that kind of property" I; is hardly to
be supposed that the Oakland attorney
would have offered the votes for sale unless
he had some assurance that he could de-
liver the goods. 1t seems that the Populist
party, if it proposes TO be true TO the funda-
mental principles on which it was founded,
has o alternative bat to read out Chamber
lain and the four chattels whom he carried
rou3d in his pocket in the hope of finding a
purchaser. And when II has read out
kerns and Brett and old man Cannon and
Chamberlain. and the four gentlemen, two
Of whom had mortgages which they desired
to lift, and all Of whom we're open TO con-
viction, what viii be left of the party?
These third parties always end in the
same way. When the regular parties are
evenly balanced they cOntrye to hold the
balance of power, and then their leaders are
for sale. Every body remembers how it
was with the GroenbackeTs and with Gen.
eraI Malone Of Virginia. 1t is remarked as
a curious coincidence that another leading
Senator, who was elected as a Republican.
now declares that he can no longer stomach
the inIauilies Of party politics, and will
hencefOrth be a freelance. As old Horace
Hawes used TO say, wonder what he's
after. petty larceny or grand larceny ?'
Voters VIII better accomplish their duty as
citizens if they Try to reform abuses within
the ranks Of their party by defeating it
when it grows corrupt than by trying to
form new parties, which merely afford ad-
venturers a chance Of trading in the con-
science market