The San Francisco call., 1898-11-11
MR. PHELAN'S VICTORY" /"

| tons the popular logic which determines them Underlying the selection of candidates there X always principle, prejudice or sane idea which the moment the figures subjected to andy sis yields of some kind by which the result may be explained. For instance, Dr. Hill who has been elected Coroner, was the only candidate who smashed the slate of the Committee of One Hundred Assessor Siebe, an unsuccessful Republican nominee was defeated because he has held the place long The people evidently thought eight years with the emouments of the Assessors office sufficient foI one man.
 But for what possible reason was James D. Phelan reelected Mayor1 The people repudiaed his entire ticket with few insignificant exceptions, and yet placed him at the head of the government again by majority which, like Mercutio's wound, though not wide church door deep well, still is sufficient In other words, Mayor Phelans DO
 tca methods, his candidates, his principles and his faction, have all been buried under a of dis approving ballots, but he has himself been reelected
 This result is anomaly in politics. Generally the first to feel the wrath of those whose political sentiments he has outraged is the leader or boss But in the Mayors case Democratic anger has been visited upon the creatures alone
 MT. Phean, with singular felicity, attributes the de feat of his party to desire the part of the people to support President McKnleys administration; but
 
 took of him on the ground that he has made excellent Mayor and that the public veal demanded his ndorsenent In the hour of his trial perhaps one will grudge Mr. Phelan the privilege of laying this attering junction his soul, but may be par doned for expressing in type genial smile for the gayety with which he assumes that the public IS un- able to penetrate the thin veil which conceals from them the desperation of his logic.
 Apparently there is no sense in the reelection of Mayor Phe1an. The same influences which over whemed Mcguire and the other fusonists in city and State arrayed against him. He was, fact, per sonaly the of the major portion of Democratic dissatisfaction, and while his demagogy was more genteel than that of mary of his colleagues, it was the less offensive to the masses of the people. To defeat the entire PhelanMaguire combine in State and city and re-elect Phelan the chief consprator against popular liberty, to decidedly illogical There must, therefore, be some other reason for his "great victory"
 It has been said that success is sometimes accom- panied by more pain than defeat and we know o in- stances where the people have elected to office for the purpose of punishing them. Can it be pos sible that Phelan has been chosen in order that his last days in politics may be miserable possible? What can he do, surrounded by Republican Super vsors and Republican officials, except to wrthe and kick and chew soap? All his political movements will be met with counter movements; his veoes will be turned against him; his public uterances will be criticized and used to discomft him. his late party friends will envy him and detract from the merit of his acts in short, the final year of his political career wil by the politicians of his we'll as the opposition party, be made horrid nightmare
 We are inclined to think however that if this is the purpose of the people they are infcting cruel and unusual punishment They should have retired Mir. Phean with the rest Political cruelty should not be refined in this way. It is barbarous