The record-union., 1898-01-05
THE NEW CITY EXECUTIVE.

The new Mayor, William Land, In
welcoming the Board of Trustees at ms
Office on Monday was sentenuous ana
wise in his remarks. He SAID tnat ne
was elected to be Mayor, and he IN
tended to be- and would be run py no
combinations, cliques or rings mat
is precisely what the people expect OF
Mr.. Land. When they chose him as
chief MAGISTRATE of the city they did
so in the firm belief that he and not
others behind him would be Mayor.
They voted for him in order to induct
William Land and not some other IN
nuence into the office.
What this city needs, what any other
city to be we'll governed must have, Is
well defined, stiff-backed and firm per
sonaIity in office. Personal independ-
ence-coupled with ability-in an Official
having executive trusts to discharge;
absolute personality according to the
best of its lights, is desideratum III
every Mayors Office. It Is inflmtely
better that a mediocre man, for IN
stance. be inducted into the place, VINO
has Independence, firmness and un-
shaken intention to do duty as he sees
it. than a man who is brilliant, accom-
plished, learned and shrewd, who Is
held in leading strings, and is suoserV-
lent to any other interest than the good
of the whole people as he himself esh-
mates it.
Such an official will command not
only the respect of those who DO not
presume to guide him, but as well the
respect of those who, seeking to do so,
are repulsed by his individual independ-
ence. Not to say that a public ofhclal
is not to listen, to hear, to consider ad-
vice. to expect and weigh criticism and
to counsel with his constituents. On
the contrary, a just, Independent man
always seeks light and receives it from
any source. He hears, ponders and
Judges, and when in his own soul con-
victed of the truth. acts fearlessly,
firmly and irrevocably.
Hence we congratulate Mayor Land
on his expression that he means to be
Mayor, and that no one else but he
who wears the title shall exercise the
functions of the Office. indirectly or 9TH
er-wise; that he will patiently hear,
weigh and judge, but in action upon
Judgment will be guided by no other
influence than his own conviction OF
right. No one should have pull
with a Mayor. No one should be able
to say that he has any influence with
the city's chief magistrate, except that
which arises out Of the justice Of his
cause and the force Of reason behind
it.
This is by no means setting up an
official ideal beyond human reach. 1t
is aot the erection of an official stand
ard difficult Of attainment On the con-
trary it is a very human and mortal
standard, one TO which any plain, hon
est, firm man can look up with perfect
confidence Of easy attainment.
No one asks or expects Of Mayor
Land exemption from error since it is
LuLustlA W err eA4h always VIII 0cb bot
the people do expect and have a right
to look forward to manliness, decision
OF character. frankness, justice and in
dividual freedom in Mayor Land. It
was because he was believed to pos
sess such qualities in high degree that
he vas chosen. II he manifests them
therefore, as he has indicated it is his
intention to do. and as We believe he
viii. the judgment of the people viii
be vindicated. he win be highly hon
fee viii be beneficent for Sacramento.