The San Francisco call., 1896-05-08
POLITICAL LEADERS.


The thoroughness with which the Sacra-
| mento convention was organized, the
promptness with which it settled all ques-
tions of contested delegations, the sagac-
ity with which it arranged a satisfactory
solution of all differences of opinion, the
rapidity with which it brought order out
OF confusion and harmony out of discord
and the excellence with which it performed
every part of the work before it. were all
due to one controlling cause. There were
brains in the midst of things.
AT the Sacramento convention there was
leader. That is to say there was a man
present in whom all factions and all classes
of loyal Republicans had confidence.
Delegates no matter from what part of the
State they came knew they could safely
trust in him to guard the welfare of the
party because along with his untiring en-
ergy, his political sagacity and his ability
as an organizer there was no desire for
personal gain and no seeking after selfish
interest.
The element of personal leadership is
one of the great factors in every problem
of organized efforts among men. 1t is
manifest in business, in society, in
the church and in government. Po-
tent everywhere, it is perhaps more
potent in politics than anywhere
else because the absence of all arti-
ficial or legal restraints upon party men,
bership renders the discipline and effec-
tiveness of the organization almost wholly
dependent upon the personal influence OF
| the leader. Our political history furnishes
a thousand illustrations of this. 1t is a
weil-known truth that whenever the leader
is strong the party is strong, but when the
leader is weak or there is no leader, the
party is confused, weak, purposeless and
incapable of exerting its strength.
We have only to consider the examples
of Pennsylvania, held in the foremost Re-
publican ranks for two generations by the
Camerons and latterly by Quay, of New
York carried for Republicanism against
the huge Democratic majority of New
York City by the leadership of Platt OF
Ohio kept on the right side of National
| politics by that brilliant coterie of leaders
which includes Sherman, Garfield and Nc
! kinley, of Iowa made the banner Repu B.
lican State of the Mississippi Valley by
the commanding craftsmanship of Allison,
| OF Maine raised to power in the Union de-
! spite its small population by the force of
Blaine and Reed, to see the value to par
ties and to states of great leaders.
From a consideration OF these exam pies
we can easily estimate the benefits to ac-
crue to the Republican party from the ap-
pearance in the politics of the State of a
! man who has all the qualities of true
leader. Being no seeker for selfish inter-
ests his influence will be antagonistic to
yr hat ic lnnu-n GGhouoU 4
tinctly inspiring to those loyal men who
serve the party for the principles it repre-
sents and the work it can do for the well
fare of the Republic. In this way he will
draw around him first the better element
of his own party and then the better ele-
ment of the whole people. There will be
confidence in him and out of that conf
dence will come the strength that assures
victory.
One Of the benefits sure to result from
the new leadership will be the removal of
California from the list of doubtful States.
1t viii become solidly Republican and its
politics will cease to be shifting and yacil-
lating. In place of those ceaseless discords
which have destroyed the political 1nfiu-
ence of the State in National affairs, we
shall have harmony, unity and power.
Strong men will be sent to Congress, not
for one or two ineffective terms, but for
periods long enough to establish them
selves like the leaders of the Eastern
States and make the voice of California as
potent in the great council of the Nation
as is that of any State in the Union, and in
the Senate of the United States we may
have some eloquent and foroeful orator to
illustrate the genius of California and ad-
vocate her cause.
These are few of the fair auguries to be
drawn from the leadership displayed at
Sacramento. The victory achieved there
is but the precursor Of greater victories to
come. The people of California, irrespec-
tive of party, can look to John D. Spreckels
as one destined to be in politics as great q
leader as his father has been in business.
As Claus Spreckels has been mighty fac
tor in promoting the industries of the
State and the successful promoter of q
| competing road that will break down the
monopoly of transportation, so we may ex-
pect from his gifted son equal services in
another field for the advancement of CALI
fornia and the prosperity of her people.