The record-union., 1899-04-24
VOICE OF THE PRESS.
EXTRACTS FROM EDITORIAL
EXPRESSIONS.
State and Coast Opinions ON Sub
jects of Living News
Interest.


look for cereal crops, and also for
fruits and vines. Indications are for
good prices, and it may be safely proph-
esled that this is to be the most pros
porous year that the San Joaquin Val
ley mas Known since the slump of sew
eral years ago.
THE SIGNATORY DEAD.
Modesto News 18th inst: number
of the newspapers of this State have
suggested that to-day should be called
'Morehouse day. in commemoration OF
the last day before the going into eff
| feet of the newspaper signature Act It
seems hardly necessary as the author
OF the bid is so completely dead politi-
cally and socially that it is a waste Of
| time.
GOVERNOR GAGE.
Hanford Sentinel: When Henry T.
Gage was making his campaign for
Governor he told the people that he was
not a politician, and never before his
nomination for Governor had he been
candidate for office His conduct
since he was lnaugurated has been such
as convinces any reasonable man that
ne was telling the truth during the
| campaign. He has performed many
| good acts, and, as We honestly believa,
made some very bad breaks But we
also think he is an honest, earnest man
Not being politician, he does not get
IN and train with the gang, consequent
ly the gang is roasting him on every
corner
The Sentinel believes that it is a
| good time to give the practical politi-
clans a turn down, and if Gage in do
ing so, makes a few blunders, we are
willing to excuse him and give him
time to make amends. Let the stall
fed politicians speak their criticism if
they wish, but if Henry Gage is the
man We think he is, he will come out
all right. Not having been politically
trained for a quarter of a century, he
is not expected to know the slippery
ways of the politician. He may do a
little something for the great majority
OF the people who spend their time in
doing something besides grating"
THE COPPERHEAD
Tuare Register: The copperhead
was the nalstiest foe the North had DUR
ing the great civil war and it appears
from the conduct of the Governor of
South Dakota that the copperheau did
not cease to breed snakes when the civil
/ war closed. That elevated functionary
has ordered the President TO. order the
| South Dakota volunteers home from
Manila on the ground that their State
does not want them to be employed in
| the subjugation of a free people 1t is
a pity that the President cannot order
that Governor into irons for rendering
aid and comfort to the enemy. There
is evidence to show that this spirit Of
opposition to the policy of the nation
has gone so far as to assure Aguinaldo
that such policy will not be supported
| by the nation in the elections, thereby
inducing him to hold out longer and
make more determined resistance to
| establishing American authority in the
Philippines Islands.
A FICTITIOUS INTEREST.
Portland Oregonian: Pacific counsels
prevail in the Samoan business, and,
barring unfortunate incident in the ISL
ancs within the next month, the Com
nj ,ssioners named by the United States,
Great Britain and Germany will with
out doubt come to some amicable adj
justment of island affairs. 1t would be
exceedingly fortunate for this country
| if a way should develop by which we
could withdraw from any further part
in the affairs of these islands They lie
far outside the lines of our natural in
terests, and belong by geographical,
commercial and political affinities to the
Australian world. Germany has an in
terest in Samoa because her commerce
was planted early there and dominates
the trade of the islands. England is in
terested for strategic reasons. But we
have nothing in the islands, present or
| prospective. Such part as we have had
in their affairs has been a burden and
an expense to US; and they promise as
nothing but trouble and expense in the
| future.
OBEDIENCE TO LAW.
Stockton Independent: The signature
law which was passed at the recent ses-
sion of the Legislature took effect
Tuesday as we understand it. The 'In-
dependent" thinks the law unwise and
UNJUST and believes the courts will
eventually declare it to be unconstitu-
tional and therefore invalid But until
it is fcur6 by court of competent jur-
isdiction to be in conflict with the es-
sential guarantees of liberty incorpora-
ted IN the fundamental law, it is the law
of the State and should be obeyed.
The Independent believes in obedi-
ence to the law and believes in the
lnipdrIldl enforcement OF the law. Ine
will therefore obey the law. The
principle involved in the Morehouse
signature Act is one that we consider
vital to popular liberty. The law
involves dangerous precedents, one of
which is the restriction of free speech |
and the other the bestowal of a re-
ward to informers. But dangerous as
we consider this measure it would be
still more dangerous were the press
of the State to usurp the functions of
the courts and ignore the law, because !
who arc not part of great parties or |
great movements. Speaker Reed, like |
Senator Hoar, is out of touch with his |
party on an issue which has become es-
sential. He is too independent a man
they assume it to be unconstitutional !
In following that policy they would |
place themselves in just that position
which most of the press have so
severely criticised in Wells Fargo and |
ether express companies. The "Inde- |
pendent assumes to be subject to the |
laws of this State and aims to be |
obedient to all their provisions. 1t |
claims its rightful share and benefits |
from them. 1t partakes of the COM
mon Interest in their maintenance. 1t
is an acvocate of quiet compliance in
the provisions of the law by those who
are afflicted thereby whether they be |