The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-01-12
Duty NJ ~ IN ~cr"ts.
San Francisco Examiner.


In most OF the discussions of the United
| States senatorship 1t has been assume ! that
| the question was of interest only to the Re-
| publican majority OF the legislature Inc
| Democratic minority has been expected to
| throw away its 81 votes as a compliment TO
some candidate who could not possibly be
elected.
This assumption seems to us premature.
There are certain considerations that should
be vcrv carefully weighed by the Democratic
members before they cast their votes. For
many years the Pacific coast has uttered from
inadequate representation in congress. We
have had the number to which are con
stitutionally entitled, but as rule not the
weight Even when we have sent men OF
mark to Washington, their influence in gen
eral leg islatio has b zen impaired by their de-
voton to hobbies Jones and Stewaro with
silver and Stanford with his land loan bill.
The Pacific coast is not properly appreciated
in the east. 1t is regarded as a curiosity shop
OF mountains, cahons waterfalls, climate,
oranges, figs, horned toads millionaires and
Chinese. 1t is considered an excellent resort
for excur ionists, like Hawaii, and good san-
itarium for consumptives, but it is no. taken
seriously as a place of residence and business
and an integral part of the union. with in
terests as worthy of care as those OF any other
part.
We ought to recognize the fact that all parts
OF the coast have common interests. San
Francisco has no occasion to be jealous OF
Portland Seattle or Tacoma. Prosperity in
any part of the great domain west of the Rocky
mountains promotes prosperity in every other
part. Our senators and representatives in
congress should be allies, working for the joint
advantage of all the states in this mighty
western empire. They should be made Of
ability and standing. who would have infu-
ence with their eastern associates, and theis
minds should be broad enough to take in com
prehensive policies.
The term of the senatorship now about to be
filed will expire in two years In that time
partisanshlp can cut no figure. With presi-
dent of one party and congress controlled by
the other no partisan legislation can pass. The
tariff gu stion, even If it had not been settled
for the present would have to rest under such
circumstances But there will be matters to
be decided which are not party issues but
which are OF the deepest Importance to this
coast. The passage OF funding bill, saddling
the Pacific railroad debt upon our people,
would be almost equivalent to a sentence of
bankruptcy upon this community. We want
somebody for senator who can be depended
upon to fight to the last against that calamity,
and who can do practical. effective work for
the Nicaragua canal, the Hawaiian cable, the
forests, the irrigation of arid lands and the
promotion of mining. AL these are matters in
which Democrats are as deeply interested as
Republicans, and with regard to which there
is a very wide margin of choice among Repub-
lican senatorial candidates.
The 100000 names signed to the Examiners
petition against the funding bill, comprising
the signatures of large majority of the actual
voters of California, are sufficient evidence
that the people of this coast are ready for
united, non-partisan action in matters affect
ing their common interests, and the 5000 or
10000 Republicans who voted for Budd testi-
fed to the same thing. 1t would be Grass folly
the hundred thousand Democratic voters
OF California, most OF whom signed the psj-
ton against the funding bill, to allow friend
OF that measure to be sent TO the senate when
he votes OF their represen tatlves in the
legislature would elect man who could be
depended upon to stand by the people. They
haveas much rightto their choice as anybody
else and che fact that they cannot elect a
Democrat does not make 1t necessary for them
toallow themselves to be disfran chised 3. q
Thers are 100 mel bers of the legislature, all
wi equal rights, privileges and duties The
vote of a Democrat counts for just as much as
that of Republican. If, among the Repub-
lican senatorial candidates there should be
any unfitfor any reason to represent the state
with honor and with advantage to the public
interest while there were others capable of
advancing the welfare of the imperial domain
by the Pacific, it would be not only a blunder
but crime for the Democratic members TO
withhold their votes from the best Republican
who could be elected for the sake of throwing
them away in empty compliment on a Demo
crat who could not