The herald., 1896-10-31
I. JANUS M'LACHLAN

Mr.. James McLachlan is at least a
logical disciple of his leader, Major
William Mckinley, in one respect. Both
have the regulations of rank inconsis
tency on the great question of the cam
paign-the free coinage of silver. Major
Mckinleys change of heart was. how
ever, managed with considerably more
adroitness and decency than was shown
in the ridiculous acrobatic performance
CT the late congressman from the Sixth
district. The performance was charac-
teristic of the man, but it's effrontery
surprised even his friends. There is lit
tie occasion to expatiate on Mr.. Nc
Lachlan's miserable record. Early in the
campaign The Herald devoted some at
tention to his metamorphosis and show
ed that he was man who had lost every
claim to the confidence of his constitu-
ents. His record is well known. Two
years ago he was sent to congress as
free silver man, having voluntarily and
cheerfully accepted the nomination,
and for two years Mr.. McLachlan oc-
cupied his seat in congress as the repre-
sentative of a free silver constituency.
The Republican state convention this
year adopted free silver plank in its
platform. Mr. James McLachlan was
still an obedient and Jealous friend Of
the white metal.
1t was only after the st. Louis con-
vention declared for the continuance Of
the present single gold standard that
Mr.. McLachlan began to trim his sails.
1t was represented to him that political
exigencies and hope of personal ad
vancement demanded his change of
heart. 1t proved no difficult task for
Mr.. McLachlan of the mobile mind to
speedily divest himself of his free silver
principles, which had been the means
of sending him to congress in '94. and
don the sentiments of the goldbug, which
might, as it was pointed out to him. be
the means of sending him to congress In
'96. He promptly proved himself the
cheap creature of circumstance and a
straw before the wind Of political op-
portunity. Mr.. McLachlan has no po-
litical principles; he prefers to believe
in political opportunity. His record
proves him to be weak and unreliable,
an unstable trimmer.
But the man from Pasadena was not
satisfiedw ith his chameleon record. He
w
and knew it was 1nexplicable. How
ever, he was foolish enough to endeavor
to explain. He calmly turned round and
confessed to his constituents that he had
deceived them two years ago. Although
he had accepted their nomination as a
silver man and has so attempted to serve
them, he had been, he affirmed, in re-
ality even then an adherent to the gold
standard by conviction. He had the eff
frontery to stamp himself a time-server,
and in the same breath proposed again
to represent the district on directly the
opposite side to that on which he had
previously stood The admission was
fragrant and shameless, and~it met with
the contempt it deserved. Over four
thousands Republicans in this county
alone have absolutely repudiated him.
Mr.. McLachlan's record on other i'm.
portant questions is as hopelessly un-
satisfactory as he has confessed it to be
on the silver question. On the harbor
question for weeks no one knew where
he really stood and no one had any con-
fdence in his ability to withstand the
strong influences which were being
brought to bear. A month ago Nc
Lachlan's colleague in congress, James
G. Mcguire, who rendered such sterling
| assistance to the rights of the people in
the harbor fight, gave in this city a
candid and. true statement of his expe-
rience of him. He affirmed that Nc
Lachlan's lights were false" OF course