The record-union., 1898-03-23
GROOMING A CANDIDATE.

We learn through our Southern Cali
fornia contemporaries that Milton j.
Green is travelling through the State in
company with Ulysses S. Grant, and
that the avowed object of this pilgri-
mage is to formally inaugurate Mr.
Grants candidacy for United States
Senator.
From the same source we learn that
Senator George C. Perkins is in favor Of
Mr.. Grants election to the United
States Senate, one contemporary declar-
ing that whereas Mr.. Perkins has four
years to serve, during which Mr.. Grant
would be his colleague, he is naturally
DESTROYS of having a Republican col
league and one with whom his associa-
tions would be pleasant.
Mr.. Grant is represented to be an ami
able gentleman and to have made many
personal friends during his five years
residence in this State. He is now citi-
zen of California and an elector, and has
the same right to aspire to official dis
tinction which belongs in common to
other citizens of the State. Under our
form of government we must recognize
not only the right of every man to aspire
to official station, but we must at the
same time recognize that such aspiration
is honorable. Election to office confers
a dignity and the man who would scorn
to receive an honorable office at the
hands of the people, if his circumstances
are such as to make the office desirable,
would discredit republican institutions.
In our opinion the office of President
of the United States is the most digni-
fed which any man may hold. The
President exerts in some respects
greater power than has been conferred
upon the monarchs of modern times ex
cept as relates to the power Of the Car
Of Russia. To be free choice of a great
people is a dignity which does not be-
long to the hereditary monarch. One is
the attestation of merit; the other the
result Of the accident of birth. One is
selected from among the millions of his
fellow citizens to receive the laurels of
distinction, the other may possess no
qualifications as a ruler and yet may be
called by the accident of birth to sway
the scepter of empire. In the one in
stance the people choose: in the case of
The hereditary monarchy, the people have
no choice. The President of the United
States is called to his high office by the
Partially and respect Of his fellow citi-
zens; a monarch, born to the dignity,
rules over a people who had no choice
in his selection, and wears a crown
which was not bestowed as a declara-
tion of fitness or merit.
Mr.. Grants candidacy may therefore
be accepted as worthy and honorable
The people of California have wisdom
enough to choose him if he possesses the
personal qualifications to distinguish
him among men as fit to be a Senator
in Congress. But every well-wisher OF
the Republic viii look with appreheu-
sion upon the methods by which any
man is forced into prominence as a can
didate for Senator. If Senatorial as
pirants are to thrust themselves for
ward through the instrumentality of an
employed manager; if candidates for tha
Senate or Assembly are to be ques-
toned or pledged as TO their choice tor
United States Senator, then the Repub-
lican hope of achieving a majority on
joint ballot will be Iessened. Nothing is
more unfortunate in a legislative cam
paign than the contention of candidates
for pledged members of a legislative
body. A hot Senatorial contest preced-
ing the election Of members of the Leg
islature always weakens the party.
There are a vast number of Ameri-
cans. and they are found very largely in
the Republican party. who viii expect
and demand something more OF a eandi-
date for. United States Senator than the
wearing Of an honorable name. At
present Mr.. Grants views on current is
sues and his ability to grapple with the
problems of craftsmanship are unknown
quantities.
It is to be hoped that when Mr.. Grant,
accompanied By his manager, Mr.. Green,