The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-02-14

IN treating OF the LIE LONE lnclOeIt, 10
have said that the United States should
not be thin-skinned, since this is a
democracy. That is to say, as one of
them puts it, a government based on
popular suffrage must expect criticism.
True enough. but it happens that this
is not a question of niceties at all.
Three things are to be considered. the
source Of the criticism, the character
of it and the object against which it is
projected. Diplomatic representatives
can find nothing in their code exempting
them from the courtesies due titled
courts, when they are accredited to
republican governments. The char
acter of the matter must determine
whether it is criticism or mere dogmatic
the government in a republic stands for
all the sovereignty thereof. When,
therefore, foreign diplomat addresses
that head with less than respect, and
takes upon himself the Office of black
guard, he insults all the people for
whom that head of the government
stands. Criticism of the character herein
involved, coming from a citizen of the
offensive, coarse though it would be.
But when such commentary as De Lone
INDUCED in emanates from the guest in
ones house it must be expected to re-
suit in making that party understand
that he has outstayed his welcome Sup
pose the American Minister at the
court of st. James had written letter
to a political friend in this country,
and the same had publicity, saying that
Victoria is a sodden old imbecile, and
her Minister of State is an ass, who
is little better than pothouse politi-
clan, how all England would roar. and
how speedily that American representa-
tive would be invited to pack his trunk.
Yet the English claim to be quite as free
as are Americans, and that criticism
has there no narrower bounds than
anywhere else on earth.
with its accustomed vigor took Stock
ton over its knee and lambasted 1t. de-
claring that the city needed a spanking
for it's filthy condition. 1t said of its
town, TT is dirty-disgracefully, vilely
injuriously, evilly dirty" and so on al
length and more vituperatively On that
scorching the Record Union COM
mented- so far as to say that If any
half as mnch about Stockton, there
would have been hot time in the Of
| fee of our respected Stockton contem-
/ porary. That journal reprints the re-
marks of the Record Union without
a single word Of commentary thereon
| But 1t does put up head line in which
| it says: I'VE would have been as dumb
as a drum with a hole in it, Our
| the Record Union" for saying that /,
does not believe any such thing The
Mall would have reared The Tn
| dependent" would have howled. the
/ @ANNVk0 DiytN aitd the
three in combination would have cursed
| the Record Union and Sacramento
| by rule and without. We know you well
good neighbors. However, that is not
saying that precisely the same thing
might not happen if the boot were on
+ the other leg. Fact is. people of sense
prefer to have their linen washed al
home and resent any disposition OF
/ their neighbors to take part in 1t. New
ertheless i; was expecting too much. Of
even amiable human nature that the
! Stockton incident should be allowed tc
escape the opportunity OF giving truth
much publicity. since our friends in
/ Stockton have such keen nostrils that
they detect at that distance even sc
much as a decayed oyster in Sacra-
mento. Now we are quits.
/ The state Board of Education has
passed resolution requesting the nex1
Legislature TO repeal the section OF the
code requiring the board to designate
an official journal and pay ii a subsidy
| That is we'll. The wonder is that such
action was not taken some years ago. II
| the people of educational interests are