The herald., 1894-12-13
A POLITICAL CASSTUS.

The supreme court has decided the
petition of P. B. Cornwall, chairman oil
the Republican state central com mitsee
and all-round exemplar of holiness and
purity in politics. for the issuance of an
alternative writ of mandate directed to
the board of election com missioners, to
show cause why they should not be
restrained from certifying to the correct
ness OF certain contested election res
turns from various precincts in San
Francisco. In rendering the decision Of
the court the chief justice laid down
the rule that if thsy had power to
issue writ OF mandate to accept or re-
ject returns, all they could do would be
to direct the board of election commits
sioners to do that thing at certain
date, until which time they could not
ssue the writ. A writ of mandate is
Issued to compel any psrty to do cer-
tain thing. The court could not put
any party under q restraining order.
telling him what to do or what not to
do, pending hearing. That does away,
therefore, with the order to the election
commissioners pending hearing.
1t will probably be contended that
these are mere technical objections to
the issuance of the writ, but what
would Mr.. Cornwall have? He has en-
barked upon an enterprise invoi viug
nothing but technicslities, carefully
aun;Aixu hr Iv;o - f.;o
counselor Dan Burns. that political
philosopher who would not hesitate to
steal an office, or any other article of
similar proportions, any contingency
that might lead to recount OF the
votes. Mr.. Cornwall is net an idiot,
whatever else he may be, aud Dan
Burns has never been accused OF not
knowing what he wao about when en-
gagged in crooked work OF this character.
1t is therefore plainly apparent to these
conspirators that a recount would only
confirm Mr.. Budd in his position by a
largely increased majority. They are
also aware that the tools of Dan Burns
brothsr-in.law knew their busi-
ness and did not neglect an ops
portunity to tally votes for Mr..
Estee that rightfully belonged to
his opponent. 1t is their scheme to
sacrifice these tools, il need be, by ex-
posing their surface frauds, d ependipg
upon the "clemency" of Mr.. Estee in
case any Of them should land in the
state prison through their efforts to land
Mr.. Estee in the gubernatorial chair.
But the plans of the conspirstors will
not work. They will not have even the
moral support" of a partisan press.
Mr.. Budd has been honestly elected to
the Office these people are now contest
ing and he will be seated. Moreover,
Mr.. Estee ought to be satisfied with this
result. He lie old enough to know a
whole lot of things. The sunset OF life
ought to give him a certain amount of
lore, if it contributes nothing
more solid in an intellectual sense. Mr..
Estee ought to cut loose from his evil
associates. He should take time to
mediate on the fate OF poor dog Tray.
Let him retire to the pastoral seolusion
If Hedgeside and there, in the holy calm
If Sabbath day, commune with him.
self upon the causes OF his misfortunee.
It is possible that when he gets down to
business with his inner consciouenees he
will be compelled to admit that Dan
Burns and his partner, P. B. Cornwall,
are not the sort of company that an
honest man should choose if he desires
10 stand well in the estimation of his
elbow men.
Some inkling OF an intent OF this sort
s apparent in Mr.. Estee'a latest utter
snce. He says that he would not accept
,he Office OF governor il the title rested
IN mere technical grounds. All he asks
g a recount in the precincts where the
OF Dan Burns is accused
II conniving at fraud. Nobody will OBJ
ect to this, but Mr.. Estee ought to have
POLITICAL sense enough to know that even
his concession does not entirely dvest
lin of the stigma attaching b. reason
# his associating with political crooks
nd bunco operators.