The San Francisco call., 1898-08-22
THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE.

T- HE convention which is to meet in few hours
 has upon it the responsibility of naming not only
 the next Governor of California; but the leader who will take his party into victorious acton tnae will give to public power and authority tor the next four years. Past experiments have somewhat sho"n to this coming convention the way in which 1t should walk Attempts to put leadership in the hands ot men who have in the past failed in their party eaty have usually brought disaster Just now all the people are looking for stability, strength and consistency Ill State administration and there is in instinct which teaches them that these are not to be found any subject to political hystercs or one erralc and uncertain in his party allegiance.
 The Republican party Is rich in men qualified for this great office and with record that entities them to the confidence of the party and the people. It IS
 not necessary to go outside of this list and select one whose sole experience in public life has been gained by bolting the party and elevatng himself by it's defeat or who has been silent in its great crises
 Within the eligible many who will not seek the nomination and who would regard its acceptance as personal sacrifice great to be justified by but the gravest emergency.
 At this moment the candidate who easily leads as the preference of delegates from all parts of the State is Mr. Henry T. Gage. It is significant, too, that he is the choice of most of those who might be his pettors if they chose, but who abstain i'll the pres ence of his merits of address, culture, genius and record.
 All free societies are directed by their best elements When these in party indicate their choice 1t Is sate to accept reasonably to command the popu- lar appreciation. The best elements in the Republican party are those who seek the best conditions tor all men, that life may be crowned with the happlest re- suits for every citizen These elements stand first o al for the rights and dignity of labor, from whose ranks the strong and wholesome brains and bodies, +t Sfa+a ThPca best elements in the Republican party, mindful of their own origin know that the first political duty IS to keep aluent the fountain whence they came. There fore the men in the ranks of the party who so highly guide its destiny seek candidate and leader who can lead successful fight for power that IS to be used in the interest of the great whose prosperity and happiness are the impulse of the States progress and greatness.
 That these elements in the party, men too strong to be governed by any but themselves, in whose pres ence no boss issues a command, have after mature reflection cast their influence for Mr. Gage, goes far not only to indicate his nomination, but to give as surance that his campaign will be march to victory if he be the choice of the convention.
 The Call has no candidate. It questioned the candi dacy of Mir Gage in order that its strong points and weak points might be found. The resulting examina- ton has cleared many questions the raising Of which brought to him the vindication of political friend and foe
 His candidacy has been put by this examination upon a plane to which that of any other must be raised to put its merits in competition. This is un derstood by the wise who are in the interest of other candidates and they elevate their favorites to his level since it has proved impossible to pull him down.
 If he be the nominee the party will be united upon the candidacy of man who tried to divide it, against whom no one holds a grudge generated by defeat caused by boting and kicking at local ticket and in that union goes an invitation to the large tngent of independent voters seek the best good of the State by supporting man who is the choice of the best men in his own party.