The record-union., 1898-11-15
"A GLANCE AT THE wREcKAGE.

1t was not surprising, after all, that
in the late campaign the leaders OF
that unnatural union represented by
the fusionists should have attempted
TO make animosity TO rail transporta-
tion interests the main issue, wholly
tnexcusable and demagogic as such
contention was. But they were not
Successful in raising that contention to
the dignity of an issue; they did man.
age TO make it the subject Of one-sided
agitation.
We say it was not surprising that
such tactics were adopted by the lead
ers for two all sufficient reasons. There
was no other tissue" from their stand
point that they could force to the front
without assuming an unpatriotic pose'
and they were wise enough to know
that any attempt TO run the campaign
ON the issues. of 1896 proffered by the
Bryan campaign would be ridiculous.
There was, besides, no true union be-
tween the Populists, the so-called sill
yer Republicans and the Democrats
Each party had adopted an independ-
ent platform, and the three We're at no
point in harmony, or such accord as to
unite effort sincerely. Thus the fu-
sion campaign went upon crutches.
three to the one effort, and they i'm
peded, rather than aided.
On top of it all was the fact that
supposedly hidden purpose. lying be-
hind the candidacy of Mr.. Mcguire,
was dragged to the light and exposed
by the Republican opposition, namely,
the peculiar and revolutionary ideas of
taxation not only entertained by the
standard bearer. but so sincerely held
by him as to have led him into a
prophecy that in the year 1899 the
single tax entering wedge would be
driven in the California Legislature.
In such success as the fusion ticket
had the Populists now discover that
they had no share whatever. The two
State candidates elected are respective
ly an old-line Democrat and an old
4A4AG IACpubAlNdUs OOl1t OyCo III LLC NOOA
and incapable of change at their time
of life All three of the parties now
discover that they were engaged in
fooling one another; they really play
ed at cross purposes against an enemy
united patriotieally. inspired and MAX
ing no concealments whatever, but
standing upon the very broad platform
of the national party, as promulgated
in 1896.
That platform presented questions
enough for hot campaign had the
fusionists been in such harmony that
they could have unitedly joined issue
was simply impossible. They dare not
antagonize the declaration for free
homesteads. for rehabilitation of the
shipping interests, for annexation of
Hawaii. for interference in Cuba, for q
stable currency, and so on, along the
whole line OF the frank and unambigu-
Gus Republican platform.
The attempt, therefore. was made, in
N1AS SOcA III III COI1iHOu
ground, to force into the campaign a
false issue, and to ignore all others in
debate. All energies We're devoted to
making supposed hatred of and ami
mostly to the railway interests of the
State the one and only thought of the
campaign How signally that failed
is now known
1t cannot be said without the blush
Of shame covering the cheek Of who
ever dares to assert it, that after a
quarter century of discussion and
wrangling over railroad questions
forced to the front by demagogues and
mistaken leaders. the people of Califor-
MIA did not understand the railroad
question, so far as there was any such
question. Yet we find the Colusa
"Sun," in contemplating the wreckage
of the fusion, saying that the people
made mistake, or. rather. that there
is nothing to prevent the people MAX
ing mistakes. the strong implication be-
ing that the Sun" charges mistake
The verdict of the ballots, however,
tell very different tale. It shows that
the people knew precisely what they
were about; that they coolly, distinct
ly and emphaticalIy put their heels
upon the effort to drag in railroad mat
ters, and thus further cripple and re-
tard the progress of California than
which the people of no other State in
the Union, should be so united in al
things; or can less afford to pull apart
The people downed the so-calle6
railroad issue; they plainly felle6
demagogy, and rebuked the dema-
gogues who sought to stir up new an.
tagonisms, and revive matters settled
dead as issues, and practically buried
The more immediate Journalistic
mouthpieces of the leader Of the late
fusion have said that this verdic
means deliberate submission by tn,
people to monopoly rule" and domi
nation; that they have consented Il
enslavement, and have mortgaged thei
best interest TO enemies of the com
monwealth. But such declaration ma,
be charitably attributed to the natur
ally disturbed stomachic conditions fol
\ lowing defeat. Political dyspepsi;
manifests itself much as does the phys
ical in a soured temper, nameless ache
and pains, and a gloomy and melan