The record-union., 1898-09-13
VOICE OF THE PRESS.
EXTRACTS FROM EDITORIAL
EXPRESSION.
State and Coast Opinions ON Sub
jects Of Living News
Interest.


farmers. Election returns show that
farming communities are the most in
dependent in this State and results this
year will lead to the same conclusion.
Farmers will say that the single tax
is an issue in the State campaign and
will vote against its foremost advocate.
The declaration Of Willis Bledsoe, one of
the prominent farmers of Stanislaus
County and a well-known Democrat, to
the editor of the Modesto Herald is
significant. Mcguire will be nightly
scratched in this county," Mr.. Bledsoe
said, and you can say I will be one of
the scratchers. No single tax for me-
TRUE TO RECORD.
Stockton Record: True to it's cop
perhead record and tendencies, the
Democratic party was bound to make
an effort to discredit and besmirch the
Administration The results of the
war are unassailable. which is a Demo-
cratic misfortune. But, while swing
ing hats over the victory, or pretending
to do so. Democratic papers are de-
nouncing the steps leading up to it and
the means by which 1t was Won 1t is
a queer way to treat the subject, but
circumstances. There is not single
defeat to snarl about. The only re-
course is to take the victory to pieces
and claim that the preparations were
so utterly bad that the Administration
deserves a vote of censure. There was
some suffering in the hospitals, short
supplies in camps, number of un-
cleanly ships, several inefficient doctors,
commissaries and quartermasters, and
SO the war, from a Democratic stand
point, is declared to be failure. A
general reprimand for the Administra-
ton is about the Democratic idea, and
also the dismissal of the Republican
majorities from Congress for the sue
cessful conduct of the war.
IS 1T ABUSE?
Kern Echo: What is campaign abuse?
This is a question that is likely to soon
press hard for settlement. There is deep
seated disapproval of personal attacks
by candidates upon their opponents
and the press does not often gain any
thing for a favorite candidate by sense
lessly attacking the opposition. But
these restrictions should not go to the
extent of shutting off legitimate dis
cussion of the public or even the pri-
vate acts of candidates. People of all
parties want good men elected to office.
AS a rule no convention knowingly
nominates a really bad man or one
with dangerous ideas, for office But
mistakes are made. the voters have a
right to be fully informed before elec-
ton day. We observe that there is
quite a tendency on the part of the
f;o chArac-
terize as personal abuse all criticisms
that are uttered of Mr.. Maguire's sin
gle-tax notions This is neither fair
nor manly on the part of the opposi-
ton press. Mr. Mcguire has repeated
ly said that the best interests OF society
will not be subserved till the single tax
is inaugurated. Believing this-and he
is no doubt honest and sincere in the
belief-why should he not use the pres
tige of the Governors office, II elected,
to promote that idea? He would be
false to his convictions if he did not do
so. And such being the case why should
not those who oppose that idea do
what they can to keep him from reach
ing an official position that would car
ry with 1t great advantage? 1t is not
personal abuse to discuss Mr.. Maguire's
single-tax notions, but it is perfectly
legitimate campaign procedure.
HARD TO LET GO.
Los Angeles Times: The more intel
ligent among the Philippine islanders
are anxious to secure the protection of
the Stars and Stripes, through annex
alton, and we may yet be compelled
to adopt that solution of our Eastern
question" 1t begins to look as though
it may be more difficult to let go than
to hold onto the islands. 1t will prob
ably be a long time before we shall
reach a final and satisfactory solution
of the perplexing problems which this
matter presents.
A STRONG WITNESS.
Tulare Register: General Joe Wheel
er's recent letters on the i'll treatment
Of the soldiers ought to go far toward
stopping the mouths of the coyotes
who have been bowling for a number
Of weeks without very great provoca-
ton. General Wheeler is certainly not
chargeable with being Hannaized. An
ex- Confederate, a Democrat Of the old
school, a brave and honest officer, his
testimony will certainly not be i'm
peached. That there have been hard
ship and deprivation he does not deny.
but like the sensible man that he Is,
he attributes the incomptency to in
pacious and inexperienced subordinates,
a situation that could not help being
incident to the creation of a citizen
soldiery, and exonerates the President
and the War Department from all
blame.
DISCONCERTED POPOCRATS.
San Jose Mercury: The Popocratic |
press of California is not pleased with |
the conduct Of Mr. Gage, Republican |
for Governor. Mr. Gage, in |
his opening campaign speech. had the |
to hold Mr.. Mcguire up be- |
fore the people of the State and to |
specify in detail what he stands for. |
This was very reprehensible in Mr.. |
Gage. According to the Popocratic |
program the single-tax candidate was |
to do all the ripsnorting, denouncing |
the Republican candidates in general |
terms as the cattle of the railroad cor
thus hiding under the fire |
and thunder OF his wrathy eloquence |
the real policies which he, his party |
Of fusionists and his platform repre-