The herald., 1894-10-29
CONSISTENCY. THOU ART
JEWEL,


its attitude towards Mr.. Estee and Mr..
McLacblan. Mr.. Estee is an amable
gentleman, and one of remarkably
virtuous tendencies; but his better i'm
pulses have been so frequently and re-
morsefnliy checked that they have al
ways been sooner or later abandoned.
Many years ago he left the Republican
party on account OF its alleged corrup-
ton, and in his own language, burnt
his bridges bshind him." HiS course
in this respect and his ardent support
of the Democratic candidate, Horace
Greeley. were Indications OF virtue that
cannot be too highly commended, but
unfortunately that virtue could not en-
dure the stress Of defsst. Afterwards
We find him among that class of poll
tioians that may be remembered by old
residents as "Dolly Vardens;" whose
professional raison d'etre was hostility
to the domination of the railroad COM
pany, but whoas sole achievement was
the election of Mr.. Booth to the senate.
This move having also failed. we find
him next back in the Republican party,
but still claiming to preserve at least the
virtue Of determined opposition to the
railroad company. This sentiment was
then as now, congsnial to the
masses OF the Republican, as to
those of the Democratic party, and the
result was that for once, in the course OF
the history OF the Republican party. the
sentiments of the Republican masses
upon the railroad issue were, despite the
Opposition Of the railroad company. en-
bodied in its platform, and Mr.. Estee
himself was nominated for governor.
But here he received the most fearful
lesson OF his life, and one which he has
never forgotten. He was defeated by an
enormous majority. Next we fiud him,
four year ., giving earnest of his re-
pentance, Al srdently supporting the
president OF the Southern Pacific com.
pany for the position of senator OF the
United States, an open and emphatic
profession OF allegiance to that COM
pany, of which he has never repentsd,
explain. This itself is decisive of his
position, and that OF the man
ayers Of his party upon this
question. He and they knew that
during the term of Mr.. Stanford the
great question of the indebtedness of
the Pacific Railroad companies. and of
the policy OF the governme-S with ref.
erence thereto, would come up for de-
cision. and this was undoubtedly the
motive of those who nominated, sup
ported and elected him. He now de-
clares himself in favor OF the foreclosure
of the government mortgages and of the
ownership of the Southern Pacific and
the Union Pacific railroads by the gov
ernment; but in view of his previous
career. and especially the last four or
fiveyears OF it, his nomination by the
influence OF Burns, and the earnest sup
port given to him by the railroad COM
panies, we may doubt the sincerity and
earnestness of his professions, and at
ell events we may be assured of their
lack of endurance. There was man
once who had but single postage stamp
which he had carried in his pocket
until the mucilagc was worn off. He
stuck it on his letter with q pin. and
wrote underneath: paid if the--thing
will stick" The story is not without
its application to Mr.. Estee.
With regard to Mr.. McLachlan the
same consideration, in the main, seems
to apply. He was nominated by the
same powers that nominated Mr.. Estee,
and he ia also warmly and ardently sup
ported by the railroad company and its
organs. And, though the great ques-
tions pending between the people of the
state OF California and the railroad com.
pany were burning questions in the
hearts of the masses OF the people,
Democratic and Republican, the plat
form of the Republican party was silent
with reference to them. This fact,
under the circumstances existing, was in
fact an endorsements OF the railroad pol
icy with reference to the Reilly bill and
other matters in which the railroad com.
pany was interested. 1t ia also more than
suspected that he owes his nomination,
in large measure. to the influence of
we'll known local politicians whose con-
nection with the railroad company is
beyond dispute. 1t may, therefore, be
said OF him, that he is condemned by
the company he keeps. and that, what.
ever may be his personal opinions and
sentiments. he cannot be depended upon
to make very resolue opposition to
the great power to which, if elected, he
will owe his election. II is also siRnif-
cant that, swhen callsd up before the
convention that nominated him, to de.
clare bis sentiments with reference to
the location of the deep sea harbor at
San Pedro, he gave an evasive and am
biguous reply. He was in favor.
he said, of that location or any
other location that might be re-
ported by the United States engineers.
In view OF the unam biguous and unmis-
taxable position With reference to the
San Pedro harbor taken bv his rival for
the nomination, Mr.. Hazard, this dec
laration of his was altogether non-com-
INITIAL, and amounted to nothing more
than clever evasion. Since then. under
the pressure of unmistakable public
opinion, he has advanced somewhat
and now declares that he is in favor OF
San Pedro. but his preference for that