The San Francisco call., 1898-08-03
THE DEMOCRATIC PREDIcAMEhT.

is announced that in every respect the work and l | action of the coming Democratic convention have been concluded in advance The ticket platform committees and organization are all arranged. DO complete Is the programme III every detail that the party organ in this city is able announce results now. Never before in the history of partes III thiS State did committee self-constituted so com petey gag every voice in party and substitute It's own intrgues for the popular will as has been done by the committee of one hundred arbitrarily ap- pointed to usurp the place of the legal organization Tn this city The power which it usurps, to appoint the delegatonr from San Francisco, gives 1t control ot the | convention The three members Of that committee who are the trustees of its authority the dicators of the party in the State For selfish personal pur poses of their they have arranged to stlte Dem- ocratc principles under novelties accepted from the crank wing of Popusm and every individual Demo- crat finds himself robbed of his birthrght to voice in the action of his party. He IS stripped Of every privilege but one and that is the casting of his vote put in political power the conspirator who have usurped his rights and violated every principle of self government and fair play
 At the Presidential election of 1896 there cast in San Francisco 3o2oS Democratic votes. Granting that all members of the committee. of hundred legal residents here 3oIo8 of those disen- ranchsed in their party disnherited of their right to voice in making its candidates and expressing it's principles, expelled from its councils and denounced by their own organ as unfit to be trusted in the small est particular in the management of its affairs
 The Pinto junta has done this, and has held 3o1oS voters of the party up public derson and distrust The party organ which is responsible for this usurpa- ton and tyranny does not pretend that it has been done legally nor in spirit of respect for fair play, but that it is exhibition of power-the unlicensed of the authority of committee which permits of he rohtf11ness action It need hardly be said that party which submits to such usurpation bows its neck to the yoke of such huilia tion pockets humbly the insult to its integrity and n telligence, party unfit to be trusted with the off cial responsibility of the State and city.
 No matter how violently these intriguing conspir- ators may protest in their platform nor how horid their professions of regard for the public welfare nor how lurd their challenges to influences which they de- nounce inimical to the good of the commonwealth the system they have instituted if it pass into pre- cedent by indorsenen at the polls, has in the germ and easy possibility of every political evil that be- set State.
 The people need no self-chosen mouth to speak for them. They have mouths of their own They know the good and evil which parties organized to sup port and oppose. They see in the characters and records of these usurpers nothing that should exalt them for either wisdom virtue. They have record of fidelity to principles or pledges. Among them are who have been all things by turns and nothing long. In times past they have torrdly de- nounced the railroad, and getting office thereby, have been subservient its purposes. In whatever position any of them has had a chance demonstrate his self boasted virtue, it has been found lacking. They have sought office cravenly at the hands of a party boss and discerned his mperfections only when refused. They have hattered and banqueted him when inpower and were first to spit upon him when he fell.
 Under the law of natural selection none of them could ever reach leadership Tn a fair and natural party organization they would be called to write platforms, for they have conception of party principles They would not be consulted about party candidates for their view of eligibility is limited by their personal interest Many of these had their little political training outside of the party whose control they have usurped and many others have deserted it to follow any side movement that seemed to be equipped with barrel and a bung- starter.
 Like their pinto candidate for Governor, they have boted their party when its best men the GUS todans of its confidence, and have returned to its ranks when its scum boiled to the top
 The predicartent is warning to men of all par ties. The independent voter who frequently turns the scale at elections afford to support such scheme at the polls for its method is war with his independent position. The home rule Democrat who believes in civil equality, cannot ndorse usurpaton which poisons the principles of home rule and tries to stalk into power over its deathbed Republicans have set for them the double duty of n- fuencng their party to the path of and walk ing therein victory that the methods of usurpation may be rebuked of existence by defeat the only club that the usurper to drop his stolen power that its owners, the people, may recover it.