The herald., 1898-01-27
"Allied Villainies "
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

/ am not among those who have lost
faith in popular government, though
confess to frequent WEAKNESS over the
results of spasmodic attempts upon the
part of the people to shake off the incu-
bus of machine domination and reas-
sert their authority. That these are
almost invariably abortive Is due to a
variety of causes. ignorance of gang
methods and Doodle polity being chiefly
responsible.
Blind, unquestioning, unyielding par
tisan zeal must, however, be credited
with its full share of the blame. Loyalty
to party, where it does not involve toe
great a sacrifice of individual convic-
ton, too great strain upon individual
conscience. is not only eXcusable, but
commendable, for this country is ana
must always remain republican in form,
dominated by majority. 1t is not only
the privilege but the duty of every citi-
zen to ally himself with the political
party whose announced principles are
most agreeable and consistent with his
own beliefs and convictions, and 1t is
furthermore his duty, which he neglects
at the peril of his own liberty, to throw
the weight of his influence in the coun-
ellis of his party in favor of the selectlofi
for preferment of the very best men
within it's ranks, and to aid in turning
down at the first opportunity all VINO
may be thus chosen who may prove
recreant to the trust reposed in them.
Were every good citizen to respect this
obligation in its full import much good
would be accomplished, and complaints
,,1f 1fA0 so N n
misfeasance. of open and partially con-
cealed jobbery and bold, constituencies
robbery upon the part of public servants
would not be so frequently made.
But it would not wholly uproot the
evils against which we so often protest
in vain. And this is because, while the
great body of the people are arrayed IN
solid phalanxes with one political party
or another. more or less prejudiced and
bigoted in their views and convictions,
embittered by the lashings of the opposi-
ton press, and kept in line by the skill
full manipulation of the party whip, the
professional politicians and professional
office holders, with no views or convic-
tions to be sacrificed, no consciences to
be revolted and no interest but their
gether by the cohesive power of plunder,
ready to sacrifice party and principle.
and to even jeopardize their common
heritage, to the end that the fleshpots
may not be wrested from them, even
1 mean by this that there
are elementsin both of the great political
parties, in this as we'll as in every other
city of considerable size and in every
other state, who by their skill and effic-
iency and experience in political manip-
ulation are able to direct the policies and
dictate the nominations of both to their
liking, and to do it. as a general PROPOSE
ton, without fear of being exposed and
of having their plans frustrated.
l am something of a stranger to Los
Angeles, but 1 am satisfied, from my
perusal of The Herald, and of its con-
temporaries, for that matter, that the
city is cursed with just such combina-
ton of villainous elements as 1 have at
to describe, and the presence
and power of which threatens the effica
cy of every popular movement institut
ed for their undoing. So long as the
same INSCRIPTIONS gang dictates the
of both Republican and
Democratic primaries and conventions,
so long will the people have but a choice
IF evils when the periodical elections
come around, and so long will the result
Of those elections be simply transfer of
authority from one set of gangsterS to
another the one as INSCRIPTIONS as the
)ther
For this great and growing evil, which
ic n 70 hn fitt
we'll being of the people of this fair city,
here is, perhaps, no unfailing panacea.
And yet feel that we all have duty to
perform in the premises, and that to sur
render now, just as the magnitude and
of the unholy combination
are being so unsparingly exposed by The
Herald, would be cowardly and inexcus-
able. The battle which you have so
begun in the interest of the
people must be continued. and your ef-
'orts must be sustained. This not be-
,ause The Herald is Democratic, but
because it is right, and because the in
erests we all have in the crusade rise
above and extend beyond all consdera-
tions of party or political advantage or
The man who robs us in
and vexatious hardships upon us, is no
better, and certainly no worse, because
le happens to call himself a Republican
II Democrat. He is, in fact, neither,
out instead a more or less genteel thief,
his mischievousness augmented by his
simulated gentility and borrowed re-
;pectability. He is the common enemy,
md as such we must prepare to van
luish him-or surrender to him.
! lately emerged from long and bitter
and finally successful crusade against
| deplorable condition of public affairs,
not dissimilar from that which am led
o believe is rapidly obtaining here, and
he fact doubtless gives added zest to
ny desire to see the same weapons en-
1loyed here to crush the monster of cor
rupt officialism before it shall secure too
strong hold upon this fair city.
1t was in western state, so exhaust
ess in it's native resources as to yield
4 larger per capita surplus of wealth
han perhaps any other commonwealth
n the sisterhood. It's people were so
engrossed in the fascinating employ
nent of making money that they gave
title attention to the details of govern
nent.
Good men remained away from the pri-
naries of their party, abandoning them
absolutely to the professional push. The
Inevitable result of popular Indifference
o partisan caucuses, primaries and con-
1entions followed, and the state fell into
he hands of a merciless gang of bood-
ers, who not only piled up an enormous