The record-union., 1898-08-19
THE BLUNDER OF A DEMAGoGUE

THE BLUNDER OF A DEMAGOGOE
In another column we reprint from
the Santa Rosa Republican" an artl-
Gle exposing anew the demagogy or
James G. Mcguire, the Popocrat1c can
didate for Governor. The article clear
ly shows that Mr.. Mcguire is either
fool or a ranting demagogue, ana no
one would charge him with pelng
fool, though in this matter of the dept
of the Central Pacific Railway ne com
'mitted a stupid blunder, viewed from
the anti-railroad standpoint, and Mr..
Mcguire really occupies no other, since
he has put away for a more convent
ent season his fanciful single tax no.
lions, in order to secure anti-single tax
votes.
The Republican rehearses the story
told by Congressman Barham, fortified
by the official reports Of the daily pro-
ceeedings in Congress which appeared
in all the San Francisco papers and the
Record Union" 1t is shown that the
friends of the Nicaragua Canal meas
ure, finding the anti-railroad legisla-
ton a serious obstacle to promotion of
canal interests, the prince Of anti-fund-
ing champions, Senator Morgan, pro-
posed as rider to the general defcien-
cy bill plan for the installment pay
ment of the railroad indebtedness, and
this measure had the support of Sen
ators White and Perkins, both opposed
to any funding bill.
The proposition was not for refund
ing, but for payment, principal and in
terest to the last cent, and the penalty
attached is that if this scheme is not
accepted by the Central Pacific Rail-
road Company foreclosure proceeding
must be commenced against it. Some
amendments to the measure were pro-
posed by Mr.. Barham in the House
when the bill arrived there, fixing the
time-one year-within which the pay
nlent must begin. A single objection
to the measure would have prevented
its adoption. Mr.. Mcguire, though in
the House at the time, failed to raise
his voice in objection, and thus prac-
tieally voted for the settlement meas
ure, which accordingly had the unani-
nous approval Of both the United
States Senate and the House Of Rep
resentatives.
Pending the consideration of the
measure Mr.. Mcguire had opposed it
because of certain alleged defects.
These were corrected by Mr.. Barham
in an amendment which he submitted
to Mcguire, who made still other
changes, and the bill then went be-
fore the House with the peril Of a sin
gle objection to it hanging fatally over
it, and that objection Mr.. Mcguire did
not interpose when he had it in his
power to have effectually and irrevoca-
bly, killed the bill
Yet upon the heels of this Mr.. Ma
guire returns to CALIFORNIA forsaking his
Congressional position and poses as a
stalwart champion Of enmity to the
Central Pacific Railroad and will go
into the campaign for Gubernatorial
honors in announcement of a measure
that could never have become a law
without his acquiesence, and which
consent he gave as effectively as an
AYE" on ~oll-can can indicate concur
renee and consent.
This settlement or adjustment meas
ure, it must be borne in mind, in no
wise stays the hand of the Government
in foreclosing its lien upon the road,
If the company fails to agree to the
method of full payment provided in
fact, it is wired that the Attorney Gen
eral has already drawn the necessary
complaint in foreclosure which he will
file in the proper court speedily if the
payments are not entered upon accord
ing to the settlement plan provided in
the measure which Mcguire could have
killed and refused to do.
He probably realized his blunder toe
late. Certainly he is doing his best
now to save the situation for himself
but his explanations are Of the order
the campaign as a demagogue undeni-
ably, and is so written down upon the
records. He will fight the windmill
wings which he had it in his power to
strip. The result will be what it al
ways is In such contests. The sober
honest Judgment Of the people who
wish to be rid of the railroad question
as speedily as possible, will adjudge
Mr. Mcguire a demagogue. and will
point to the record so ably treated In
the article we quote from the "Repub-
lican" as proof indisputable.
There are two old-time institutions
both robbing and Degenerate schemes