The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1895-01-10
THE DISCARDED BOSS.

In the character of political boss
Colonel Burns has about termin ated a
career that was both short and inglorious.
Rarely has a man who went soaring up
like blazing rocket come down more
completely a charred and blackened stick.
The man who but a short season ago
proudly boasted himself to be leader in
politics is now incapable OF doing anything
except to blast his associates and confer a
luster on his enemies. His whole career
might be summed up by saying he bus
tered, bungled and busted. but ihat would
not be doing full justice to the subject His
blustsr was offensive even to his hench-
men, his bungling was mixture of de-
pravity and imbecility, and his bust can
be compared only to that of an egg which
it would have been much pleasanter to
bury than to break.
It is to Burns that we must attribute
whatever of evil fortune came to the Re-
publican party of California during the
past year. Ii was Burns that dlsgraced
Estee in the mind of the public and led to
the defeat of man whom. under other clr-
cumstances the people would have de-
lighted 10 honor. Without the stigma Of
Burns, Morris NJ. Estee would have been
elected Governor by more than 10000
m ajority, and the Republican party would
have been in a position to carry out those
great reforms in the State government
which the people demand and which are
so urgent at this time.
Not content with the ruin effected by his
clustering in the campaign, MIR. Burns has
endeavored everSince it's close to bulldoze
lie Republican Committee into the folly
of contesting the gubern atorial election,
lie has succeeded in inducing Markham to
close his administration by the disgraceful
appointment of reputed gambler to the
office of Police Commissioner, and with
braZen effrontery, after thus outraging the
public sense of political decency, he has
endeavored to force the Republican County
Central Committee TO elect creature of
his own to the responsible Office of chair
man.
1t is a source of great satisfaction that
he has failed in two of these attempts. 1t
was easy to hypnotic Markham. for the
subject was not unwilling, but The party
has repudiated the hypnotizer. There will
be no guberpatorial contest that The Re-
publican party will aid, abet or cOunte-
nance; and by electing reputable citizen
TO the office of chairman the County Gen.
trail Committee has put Itself into har-
mony with the decent elements OF the
party and discarded the boss.
Mr.. Burns has come TO the end of his
rope aphorlcally, and he will do well
to take care that ne does not come there
literally. He has come very close to the
DanaltieS of the law in his time and JUS
tice is not always too blind to punish. 1t
is in fact very good time for the colonel
to quit. The people of California are 90
the verge of great movement toward
purity in politics. Conservative citizens
are becoming favorably inclined to radical
measures. and the masses of the people are
growing restless and impatient of the i'm
munity afforded to political offenders. The
atmosphere OF California is charged with
electricity lat threatens to strike sharply
and suddenly in some conspicuous places,
a the colonel will find it healthier in
Maviao