The record-union., 1894-08-14
VOICE OF THE PRESS.
Expressions On Current Topics and
Events.
Home and Foreign Comment on
American Questions and
Activities.
rOakland Times

Oakland Times
The San Jose Record has enlisted ''apt
aliteration's artful aid" in the cause of
Populism. It says: Patriotism, Popu-
lism and prosperity go together" 1t is
just as easy to say that poltroonery, Popu-
llsm and poverty go together. The quail
ity of the patriotism that attempts to ex-
alt itself by inferentially impeaching that
OF all who do not subscribe 10 its dlcta is
generally open to suspicion, and the hon.
esty Of politicians who proclaim their
own worthiness by denouncing the in
| tegrity of all who disagree with them is
more apt to pass muster in a street har-
angue than it is at the grocery store or
the butcher shop. 1t is the fashion OF
| Populist orators to refer to the Demo-
cratic and Republican parties as the two
old thieves" and to stigmatlZe every
prominent man of either party as traitor
Gus and dishonest. A great deal OF this
is due to ignorance and fanaticiSm, but
its inspiration comes mainly from old
political hacks with shady regulations
and seedy credit. who have been dis
carded by one or the other or both the
1.-TWO old thieves for dishonesty, incom-
potency or general worthlessness. There
are men daily repeating the accusation OF
dishonesty against our public men col
lectively who are known by the political
managers of both the Republican and
of merchandise as any ware displayed in
a shop window.
THE PURPOSE OF GOVERNMENT.
Tacoma Ledger.l
The courts at this time, as often in the
past, are doing most valuable service
by declaring the law In matters OF every
day interest and concern to the people.
They are teaching not only the purpose
of Government to protect the liberty and
property of citizens, but the restraints
which the law imposes upon liberty in
order to protect it. When men enter into
society, says Locke. They give up the
liberty, equality and executive power
they had in the state OF nature into the
hands OF society, to be so far disposed OF
by the Legislature as the good OF society
shall require''-the Intention in every
one being ''the better TO preserve him
SELF his liberty and property 1t
has been contended that the first and
controlling purpose OF Government, cre-
ated by the voluntary union OF men in
political society, is the preservation of
their property. This was the view of
Locke, and Daniel Webster broadly as
serted III his great Grafton on the settle
ment of New England that Govern
ment is founded upon property" Web
ster took great pains not to be misunder-
stood, as he was, perversely SO, IN
measure doubtless, by the abolitlOnists,
and there is now no respectable dissent
from his view. Without property, actual
Or potential in labor, there can be no in
dependence, and where there is no
money slavery is the only possible basis
of relations among men.
AN UNECONONIC PROPOSITION.
Santa Barbara Independent.
The assumption that Government can
operate vast railroad enterprise as eco
| nomical or more so, as a company, can
not be entertained by anyone conversant
with the Government postal system; be-
cause that vast ana very perfect system
conducted by corporate bodies would, in-
stead of yearly deficit of from six to
eight millions to the Government, prove
perhaps twice as much of profit to them.
AS nearly as can be ascertained the Pa
citic roads from Omaha to San Francisco
or San Jose owe to the United States, all
told, somewhere about S125, ,000,0 600, Sc
cured by second mortgage. 1t appea<s