The record-union., 1898-03-31
VOICE OF The PRESS.
EXTRACTS FROM EDITORIAL
EXPRESSION.

State and Coast Opinions on Sub
jects of Living News
Interest.
Ukah Republican Press: 1t happens
that it is greatly to our interest to buy
some foreign warships, not only to
strengthen our navy but even more
to keep them out of the hands Of an
adversary. Of course the trade is for
cash, and it is to be noted that tho
two Brazilian ships cost in gold less
than half the amount that would have
been demanded for them in silver. The
same is true Of all war material pur-
chased in Europe Gold passes any
where in the world at the coinage value,
while silver is accepted only as button
outside of the country where it is
coined. If anyone had taken the floor
in the Chicago convention and suggest
ed that the day might come when we
should find it highly eXpedient to buy
foreign warships in a hurry he would
have been howled down as visionary,
and totally lacking in patriotism.
THE PRIMARY LAW.
Stockton Record: The law was COM
pleX and cumbersome, but it was
merely an experiment and an earth
quake might have come along and par
alyZed some of its abSurditieS after q
while. 1t will be hard to make another
start at governmental supervision of
primaries. That is, the Supreme Court
has made it very difficult to legislate
against political crimeS-the worst
crimes of the day-thOse that are un-
dermining the purity of the ballot box
and the independence of the citizen.
Yet the regulation of primary elections
and the protection of every citizen in
the right to participate in the initial
movements for selecting officials is one
of the coming issues. Some political
plan viii be evolved out of the present
agitation in the East, and California
will come trailing tardily into line after
a few years more of political suffering.
What we want and need is a primary
law that will not permit the San Fran
cisco push to rule both parties, or all
IpartieS in this State
THE PRIMARY LAW.
Alameda Argus: In view of the en-
iormous work and trouble incident to
1.-THE drafting and enactment of the pri-
mary election law, which has come to
naught through the decision of the SUI
preme Court, the query suggests itself
Why can't the court of last resort pass
upon bills before they are formally en-
acted, and if they are lame Indicate
where, and what will cure them? Not
lonly the primary law, but many Others
have been enacted and put in force
Ionly to be ruthlessly wiped off the
books by the court when it suited some
bodys purpose to test their legality
rms in many instances results in the
greatest confusion and injury Many
tunes the uncertainty of the legality of
q law hinders improvements and pre-
vents important projects being carried
out. We1see nothing in violation Of
good sense or reasona ableness in having
the constitution so that when it is de-
sired the Supreme Court can pass upon
the legality of a bill which it is pro-
posed to enact into a law. Precedents
and usage, of course would be all
against it, but the proposition would
have strong supporter in common
sense.
EVILS OF BONDING PRIVILEGES.
Tacoma Ledger: In reply to an in
terpellation of the opposition in the
Dominion Parliament, Sir Wilfred
Laurier, the Premier, asserted that
there was no truth in the report that
1.-THE Canadian Government would here
after allow American vessels to trans
port merchandise from one Canadian
port to another. This is a plain ard
authoritative statement of the situa-
ton so far as the Dominion is con-
icerned. No American vessel can carry
a pound of freight between Canadian
sea or lake ports Canada has per-
feet right to give protection to it's own
vessels in this matter.
The United States does the same
thing to the great benefit of it's coast
ing and lake fleet, but it does not go
far enough, for, while protecting it's
own coasting fleet from the interference
and competition of Canadian vessels
it throws wide open the gate to the
Canadian railways. The Canadian Pa
Icltic can do just what is prohibited to
canadian vessels and is allowed to in
terfere on greatly advantageous terms
with not only our American railways
but our vessels. Our Government Der-
mlts Canadian railways without Civ
ing any consideration, to transport
merchandise from Buffalo to Detroit.
Chicago, Milwaukee, ST. Paul, Duluth.
or from Boston or New York to San
Francisco, and between other points,
and vice versa
MUST DO SOMETHING.
Napa Register: With every right ef
| fort on the part of the National Ad-
ministratjon to ward it off, war seems
inevitable. In the name of a common
humanity this country must do some
thing toward giving permanent relief
to the struggling Cubans. We may
send food by the shipload to Havana
and with it our prayers for a worthy
peoples deliverance-we may talk and
temporize, for the sake of peace-but
if the Weyler spirit in Spain refuses
to honor our good will and persists in
striking down and starving the helpless
people we seek to keep from perishing.
more heroic measures must be applied
BY armed intervention this Government
must say: II am to some extent. at