The San Francisco call., 1896-01-02
BEGINNING THE YEAR.

No new resolution has value unless
it is based on experience. The past year
has been rich in lessons both OF I'M jury
from betrayals of public trust and the
discovery of the fact. 1t is never suf
fcient that there is popular impression
of official rascality, and still such an i'm
preston would never exist in the absence
of cause. When this sentiment is en-
bodied in the form of an official express
sion we have q legal basis for re-
form. in the absence of an eff
cient Grand Jury and diligent peace
officers and criminal courts the corrective
power of the ballot is. always available.
But,in the intervals between elections the
most serious popular; interests may be
compromised, and there is at present the
danger that corrupt political machinery
may be able to perpetuate the evil.
The Grand Jury just lmpaneleds cannot
do better than resolve TO pursue to the end
the work which the last Grand Jury so
valiantly began. That body discovered
that the Street Department was in in
competent hands, and when baked by
the courts on technicality, courageously
returned to the attack and made
new issue which will be difficult to de-
feat. 1t pursued the disgraceful bucket
shops masquerading as poolrooms, and
looked down into q gulf in which lurked
shadowy forms of official connivance and
corruption. 1t only haff-turned the key in
the lock of the penitentiary; the present
Grand Jury, by that act of the old body, is
charged with the duty Of opening the door
for the admission OF any official rogues
who would be better behind bars.
+, Topurge San Francisco of political ras-
cality would be only the beginning of the
useful things which those who have as
sumed to guard the welfare of California
should resolve to do. All the various as
sociations which have charged themselves
TO protect and advance the interests of the
State should resolve to appreciate the
serious responsibility which they have as
sumed. They represent in an embodied
form all the decency, all the hopes and all
the aspirations of the. better elements Of
the State. Their organization has been
created and indorsed by the people.
Their work will be the effort of all that
is best in the State. Weakness Of endeaver
and failure of effort will proclaim the:
unworth of California and will be: notice
to the world that the natural bounties
with which. we are environed are not
meant for our enjoyment.
At the same time no citizen not. an ac-
tive member OF these organizations is re-
lieved OF the smallest share of responsi.
bility. No representative body should be
expected TO be more than representative
any more than a stream should be sought
above its source. For the people. TO lose
interest in the things which concern their
welfare would be for their representative
bodies to relax their diligence. The EN-
nloyer who is less alert than his agents
will never prosper. The people must
resolve to stand behind these represent.
atiYe bodies and in every way urge them
forward.
We need the Nicaragua canal. A rail
road funding bill would be the. ruin of
California. We must tighten the burdens
which hamper our ocean commerce. We
must seek to push the market for our prod
ucts into all countries reached by ship
and rail. We must invoke the
aid of the Government to secure
reasonable rates for overland transporta-
ton. We must resolve generally to
show the world what California is and
what Californians are, TO the end that the
products of our soil and climate shall come
to be regarded as necessary to all the
world, and the intelligence of our people
an essential factor in determining the
course and character of civilization. =