The record-union., 1899-12-31

Vt IOul the A1QdQOr RepuDl1Cdn.)
If the Republican party of Califor-
MIA believes it has a right to exist,
! 1t must also realize that it has a duty
| to perform, for the State and nation,
which cannot be longer delayed, but
must be attended to at once. We mean
the election of a United States Sena
| tor. The Senate has met and we are
represented by only one instead of two
members in the highest branch of the
national Congress, at a time when
every honorable motive of a citizen,
patriot or a party man who believes his
party is right, moves him to protest
against misrepresentation, which if
| continued will be changed into misrep.
resentation.
More than a year ago, the people
of the State confided to our party
sacred trust, which, in the light of cam
paign discussion could not be misunder-
stood. They committed the State and
all its interests unreservedly to the
party Of progress and prosperity, in full
confidence that all those interests would
be safe-guarded, fostered and ad
vanced by its management. In many
| respects the party has done we'll, but
in this matter Of electing a Senator
II mas tailed to do anything.
No more important duty devolved on
the successful party. There is not in
the State an intelligent voter who did
| not weigh this question in his mind
before he cast his vote. Unquestion-
ably a distinct part of the verdict at
the polls was in favor of Republican
Senator. California Endorsed the Ad-
ministration; California approved the
management of the Spanish war and
exulted in its glorious results, and,
| above all, her people perceived the
magnificent opportunities which Provi-
dence and wise craftsmanship had pre-
pared for this nation, and they de-
clared, by ballot, their confidence that
the party of progress was the one to
finish the work so well begun. and to
secure to them their share of the fruits
| Of victory.
1t is now absolutely certain that
failure to fill our vacant post in the
Senate will grievously disappoint the
people and be considered a breach of
| trust.
There is only one course by which
the Republican administration of the
State can escape just condemnation
and that is by taking the proper and
legal steps to fill the vacancy viz: by
calling an extra session to perform that
| too long neglected duty. So far our
Governor is free from blame; but it is
now his duty to act and remind the leg
islators Of their obligations to the peo-
pie and bid them fulfill those obliga-
| tions. No intelligent Republican can
question the propriety or the necessity
of this measure. 1t is what Republi-
| cans demand and their opponents fear.
Let the Governor act. He will have
| loyal support of the majority whose
votes made him chief executive and
| whose votes viii vindicate or defeat the
| party at the next election, according
as it has met or disappointed the hopes
of the voters. The people are not in
different to this matter. There is a
strong undercurrent that is rapidly ris-
ing into a Gulf stream of public opin-
ion and it behooves all our officers, rep
resentatives and politicians to get into
mid-stream at once, if they would be
called leaders. Those who are tardy
now will meet counter currents ice
bergs and fogs, on the shoals Of no
| where, by and by. We repeat, if the
dominant party believes it has a right
to its supremacy let it not longer defer
an act Of plain duty and paramount i'm
| pOrtance.