The record-union., 1898-12-15

TO the millions of people who inhabit
them, and we have merely assumed
to govern them or help to govern them
for their good, not our own. 1t is a
great responsibility that we have as
sumed, and one Of mighty conse-
quences to humanity.
STATESMEN WANTED.
Colusa Sun: Will heaven kindly give
US some statesmen? We want states
men in tNe Senate, we want them in
the Cabinet, and we want them in
Congress. Time-serving politicians
viii not do in this exigency, exclaims
the Tulare Register" and the whole
broad land re-echoes that sentiment.
for the questions Of the day are not
partisan ones, but most certainly
questions for craftsmanship.
THE BEST CITIZEN.
| Mountain Democrat: It was once
supposed that the most enterprising
and self-reliant man made the best
citizen, the best citizen the best COM
| munity, and the best community the
most prosperous and best governed
| commonwealth. But against him now
there is the triple alliance Of socialists
to hold him down, Of communists to
divide his estate and of anarchists to
knock out his brains.
A SHADING OF DISTRUST.
| Stockton independent: Whatever the
merits or demerits of the abstract
question Of territorial expansion as a
policy vitally affecting the destiny of
this nation, it is undeniable that those
who most persistently oppose expan-
| sion as the cornerstone of their op-
position rely on dstrust of the people
of the United States; distrust of their
disinterested sincerity, distrust of their
| capacity distrust of their self-denial,
their humanity, their sustained cour-
age, their enduring conviction. 1t is
also true that no argument worthy Of
note has appeared in opposition to ex-
pansion that does not contain serious
reflections on the Government of the
| United States, and intimate it is weak
because it may be used by designing
men. Every argument against expan-
sion is grounded on an Impeachment
of posterity Not that patriotic, sin
cere and logical men may be found in
the ranks of those opposed to an ex-
tension of territory and power; but in
some way the movement and the argu-
ment of the anti-expansionists have
become involved with pessimism, ca
lamity bowling and distrust to such a
degree that it is impossible to distin-
gufsh the one from the other. Now
we are not among those who believe
that the policy, of the nation can be
changed and its limits extended across
the ocean without some trouble, many
responsibilities, a few errors and oc-
casional disadvantage. But we claim
that Americans have the capacity and
the courage and the self-denial to ac-
complish success and overcome all OBJ
stacles, and that it will eventually be
a most material contribution to the
civilization of the world and to the
grandeur Of the American Republic.
THE HAWAIIAN COMMISSION.
San Jose Herald: On the whole, the
| Commissioners seem to have made
good use Of their opportunities for
studying the wants of Hawaii as a
Territory and have exercised good
judgment in framing their bill. Prob
ably some provisions therein will excite
opposition in Congress, particularly
those relating to property qualifica-
tions, but it must be remembered that
circumstances alter cases, and that the
conditions in Hawaii are different from
those in this country Besides we need
not look beyond the borders Of the
thirteen original States of the Union
| for instances Of property qualification.
Many of our legislators will have to
get rid of some old-settled ideas of
government in dealing with our new
possessions. 1t will do them good to
shake them up and broaden their men
| tai horizons.
THE DROUTH.
| Colusa Sum- Would that there was
power in language to impress upon peo-
pie the Importance Of preparing for the
lack of a sufficient rainfall which we
| do not have half the time and when it
does comes in sufficient quantities any
season it hardly ever comes at precisely
the right time. The effect of the short
| age of rainfall the past season is being
seriously felt throughout the State, even
the bay counties having suffered much
William Barry, the Horticultural Com
missioner for Alameda County, was be-
fore the Supervisors this week with a
report in which, among other things
he said
''The effects of the light rainfall the
past season is very noticeable in many
orchards among the cherry trees es.
pecially, many of these having died,
but the effect on other fruit trees will
not be fully ascertained until the COM
ing spring. If the predictions of our
weather experts, that this season will
also be dry, prove true, the losses of
trees and shortage Of fruit will be Sc
riously felt in this county and through
out the State. Reports from many Of
the southern counties of the loss of
trees have proved a serious matter to
many orchardists, while from Castro
vile down the whole length of Salinas
Valley to San Luis Obispo, a distance
Of $50 miles, there has not enough rain
fallen this season to lay the dust
No Longer Delusion.