The herald., 1894-10-11
ARTHUR M'ENEN'S VIEWS.
An Analysis of the Conditions
Now Pending.
Public Opinion and the Southern
Pacific Railway.
The Situation Appears to Be Very Com
plex, but There Is but One
lssue-thc Rail-
ways.

California Just now is in q state OF
mind that explains tbs ease with which
those who know what they want. and
have no scruples, may get it. There is
not the least doubt that 90 in 80 OF the
citizens detest the Southern Pacific Rail
road company. The company is alive to
This, and knows that il the people could
get fair chance at it with their ballots
the result would be repetition of the
vote against Chinese immigration in
1879. 1t ia naturally, therefore, the
policy OF the Southern Pacific to prevent
an expression OF public opinion at the
polls, and with that expression the elec-
ton of officials who would serve the
public by bringing the corportion under
tho control OF the laws which the indi-
vidual cisizsn, and less opulent corpora
tions, must obey. Observe how it pro-
ceeds. For several weeks past the
newspapers have been distended with
the proceedings and environing contests
and quarrels OF many conventions.
There mas seemed to be no end of the
fighting between bosses, cabals and can
dldates. Three state conventions and
hall dozen municipal conventions have
put forward tickets. The speakers
are on the stump everywhere, the
party newspapers are overhowing with
political news and editorials, and the
candidates are numbered by the hun
dred-the thousand. The ordinary citi-
zen is confused by the situation. TO
him it eeems hopelessly complex, and
the tax of selecting the best men to vote
for appears beyond his power OF dis
elimination. On the average, the be-
wildered citizen feels disposed to take
the lire OF least resistance, go with his
party and scratch only in behalf OF
personal friend or two, or some psrticu-
larly well known candidate on the other
tickets. OF fcourse the Southern Pacific
is not wholly responsible ior this state
of things. Men always divide in poll
tics, and political side shows are in
evitable weeds. But all the power Of
the Southern Pacific has been, and is
being, exerted to complicate the aitua-
alton, and SO bewilder the voter who
would like nothing better than to get
the opportunity to let out straight !
blow at the hated monopoly.
As a matter OF fact the political situa-
tion is not complex at all but perfectly |
L
underlying all the noise and apparent
confusion in both city and state. The
discerning do not permit sham battles
over pretended principles, or real ekirm.
ishes among candidates, or calculated
tumults about nothing in particular. to
withdraw their minds from the truth,
which is that there are but two forces in
the field. One of them 10 the Southern
Pacific Railroad company and the other
is the people OF California. The first ia
q small ard very intelligent, compact
force, while the people are many, but in
capable of organization in their own in
terest, and as easily led TO destruction as
were the children by the magic huting
OF the Pied Piper OF Hamelin.
One can't feel much respect for the
heads of the people while taking a look
at San Francisco and California ss they
permit themselves to be placed
on view at the moment. The
readiness with which whosoever
wills may stir their emotions, to the
suspension of their power of reflection
and the eclipse of their common sense,
moves one to the belief that the Al
mighty must be fond OF fools, on the
principle which induced Lincoln to be-
lieve that the Lord loves common men
because He makes go many OF them.
Honest men are not over plentiful in
any walk ollie. ae every one acquainted
with the world is conscious, put it is
not want of honsoty in the maeses that
is the bane of California. 1t is want of
sense. There are far more than enough
votes-yhether they be oil honest or
MOTTO down the Southern Pacific in
fair fight. The blighting truth is that
the average citizen. rich or poor, edu-
Gated or uneducstsd. hasn't the brains
to detect the common enemy under his
many dieguises. These DISCUSSES are
poor enough to constitute an insult to
Californian intelligence-bu the insult
is deserved. | point to the states his.
tory since thu Central Pacific was
built.