The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-08-26
THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION.

1t is impossible to deny that the Demo-
. cratic convention did some good work.
Some OF its nominations are good and
some Of the plaDks 10 It's platform can be
approved by honest men. It's attitude on
the railroad question is in line with that of
the people. It is beyond a question that
majority of the voting population of Cali
1oT1ia agree with its views on the funding
bill. on the question of freights and fares,
and on the Railroad Commissioners. So
much may at any rate be inferred from the
independence with which Mr.. Estee as
serts his own sovereignty in the absence
of any platform provision by his party.
But in off-year elections voters are more
g apt to be governed by their personal con-
siderations than by abstract questions
: of principle. 1t has long been political
adage that in off years the most popular
candidates will win, even though their
party be in minority. 1t is by neglecting
that adage that the State Democracy has
demonstrated its fidelity to the law of its
existence-the law which declares that. all
other things being equal, Democrats may
be relied upon to blunder.
The convention was offered as q candi-
date for Governor a gentleman of great
personal popularity. He is not only pio-
neer, but the son Of apioneer. Martin Muir
ply came to this State when it was Next
can territory and knew every one in it and
was beloved by every one. A year or two
before his death he proposed to celebrate
his birthday by gathering of his friends.
There were so many of them that 1t was
impossible to write letters to all. He
simply put a not ice in the papers saying
that he would be glad to see his friends on
such day at his ranch. Between seven
and eight Thousand persons called. The
son Of this Martin. who is better known
by his sobriquet of Barney than by his
real name, Bernard, is one of the purest,
bonestest and kindest men in the State
He was chosen over and over again Mayor
of San Jose, andSenator from Santa Clara
until he had 10 threaten to club those who
visited him with the offers of renomina-
tlon. He could have had the nomination
for Governor any time these twelve years.
If he had been willing TO accept. He only
consented this time to let his name 60 be-
fore the convention because be was told
that nothing could save the ticket but his
personal popularity. he yielded, and was
knitted in the house of his friends.
The candidate for whom he was set
aside is James 81. Budd Of Stockton. The
number of Californians who remember
that he served long ago a term in Congress
Is small. Outside of his own town of
Stockton hardly anybody knows him. 1t
will be difficult to raise sympathy, not to
say enthusiasm, for his canvass, His only
chance of success depends on the railroad
plank of the platform on which he stands.
But for that his vote would be so small
that few years after the election he
would be apt to forget that he had ever
run.
AS il is, his nomination has done for Mr..
Estee that which the literary efforts of
the Republican convention are not likely
to DO. 1t has made his election not only
possible but probable. Mr.. Estee can al
all events appeal 10 long career of public
usefulness. during which he had CON-
mitted no conspicuous mistakes. He has
established claims 20 public respect. Mr..
Budd has given no guarantees that if he
is elected he will not be the lneal sue.
cessor of such Governors as Stoneman and
Waterman. Voting for him will be like
lifting thimble at baphaZard on a guess
that the pea may be under it.
A weird fatality pursues California
Democrats when they act as party. But
the convention seems to have been swayed
by petty intrigues and small likes and dis
likes, instead of broad statesmanlike con,
sideration of the welfare of the party,