The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-01-11

ILLS planet.
A new era is dawning and to shape it
Alright a thinker Is needed as much to-
day as in the days of Jefferson or Lin
coin. A crisis is at hand and the future
usefulness of popular Government is IN
the balance. Our Senator should there
fore, be, first of all. an independent
But more than mere mental acumen is
also required. Aaron Burr had mind
of wonderful power but he was a traitor
to the cause of liberty and his name is a
is power it is the same to the demon that
it is to the angel. In itself it is neither
good nor bad, a blessing nor curse. Like
the sword it derives it's character from
the direction which its possessor gives it;
Though the intellect blaze with celestial
brilliancy, sensuality and avarice, ambi-
ton and jealousy, vanity and pride WIN WI
live and act; and act, too, in broader
field, with a keener eye, with deeper
purpose, with more refined art and
work out with more terrific energy their
realm, an inner world, where conscience
yields the scepter. Here are the sources
of creative energy, the springs of human
action. And from this realm flows the
stream of moral responsibility bearing
the tidings. of peace on earth and good
will toward men.
knowledge We require in. our Senator a
heart overflowing with wisdom.
But the the ne bead may y Pefceive ana the
to action. This executive faculty of the
mind is called the will and energy is its
motive power No great or good work
of any kind can ever be accomplished
without persistent effort. Only an iron
will can mold and shape the course of
history and the destinies of men. And
the different duties of Government to-day
require in our lawmakers the highest
forms of mental activity and moral cour-
age.
A clear head, a pure heart and a strong
will the essential elements of =
metrical character. And these, when in
spired by lofty patriotism, constitute, in
lions 0 for any e aa oee
do not forget or underestimate the
value of eloquence. True eloquence is a
divine tLs gift To me it is more inspiring
By its influence on human feelings and
passions it has always been a potent fac
tor in controlling the thoughts and ac-
tions of men. But in the halls of legis-
1ation its day of usefulness is waning.
Committees settle largely the policy of
legislation; caucuses determine the action
swayed by oratorical appeals. The alert
man of affairs is in demand to-day rath-
er than, the silver tongue of an orator.
While the latter is making his speeches
the former is making history.
With this brief statement of the quail
ifications required we are brought to the
final question: Where is the man who
measures up to these requirements?
1t is a peculiar characteristic of the
press of the day that it is generally hos
tile to the man who is prominent and
aggressive. Let any one rise above the
common level and the old, old cry goes UP
-"crucify him, cruelty him.. Sordid and
corrupt motives are assigned to his most
laudable acts. His noble qualities of
head and heart are forgotten and trivial
faults are magnified into hideous deform-
tiles of character. Particularly is this
true in political contests when license is
assumed to abuse and vilify regardless of
right OF reason.
Happy the man to whom it is permitted
to enjoy the rewards of political emil
nence freed from the calumnies of envy
and jealousy!
But the frequency of these attacks de-
stroys their force; and the groundlessness
of political charges has become proven
bal. The superiority of man is indi-
Gated no less surely by the character and
motives of his assailants than by the
confidence and respect of his friends.
He who ascends the mountain tops will
The Hottest peaks most wrapt in clouds
and snow.
He who surpasses or subdues mankind
Must look down on the hate of those
During the last few weeks you have
seen one of our public men bear, day
after day, such calumniation as few men
are called upon to meet. You have seen
him assailed with all the vituperation and
invective that malice and envy could in
vent Who steals my purse steals
trash. But he that filches from
me my good name robs me of that which
not enriches him and makes me poor in
deed"
Whether the charges are true or not
they are evidently made at this time to
fire your hearts with anger and to pref
udice your minds against him, If true,
our public officials were public frauds,
our courts farce and our civilization a
sham and delusion. Instead of walking
lash laid upon his back and be driven
from society as unfit for the association
of his fellow men,. But I cannot believe
them to be true The time for the charges
and the men who make them lead me to
mistrust their validity. The record is
an unbroken series of victories for the ac-
his responsibility. Justice and humanity
forbid me to condemn on suspicion until
at least one link in the long chain is
broken. His friends have not withdrawn
and conduct do not indicate guilt. Calm
and dignified, as if conscious of his own
integrity and power. you have seen him
endure with sublime patience the as
saults of malice and look down in 81
lence upon his assailants as the mountain
looks down upon the storms which rage
Who is this man? The history of his
life is the common story of a plucky
American boy. He possesses by inherit
Highland Scotch from whom he is de-
scended- His birth place was the sunny
South and his versatile mind is charac-
ter1Stlc OF ner Drllllant men. For nifty
years, from orphaned boyhood to vigorous
manhood he has lived in this Golden
State, imbibing its atmosphere of liberty
and sehe che its name me, and people In
his mind with useful knowledge and ac-
quired those habits of attention and in
dustry which form the basis Of his char
acter.
When the tocsin of war was sounded
throughout the land he shouldered his
musket and fastened to his countrys call
A,1l inn lot 4, =
arms he returned to the land of his adop-
ton and resumed the peaceful pursuits
of ordinary life.
Although an educated lawyer. and "a
skilled debater it was in the active bus
mess world, the world of men rather than
books, that his versatile talents showed
the State have received his studious at
tention and moderate fortune is the re-
ward of his perseverance and industry.
Strong. upright and generous. he has
drawn TO himself hosts of friends whom
he holds as with hooks of steel Active
in the exercise of his political rights his
motto has always been keep near to the
people. Keen, alert, cOura geouS, he
has all the qualities of a successful lead
er. No man in the State has wider ex-
perience or a broader knowledge of ouI
ments. California needs such men in the
National Councils to protect and foster
ner growing industries and to give her
that standing before the world merited by
her Importance as a State.
Nothing shall drive from me the belief
that we are laying the foundations of a
grander civilization than any of which
our forefathers ever dreamed. And we
need the hand of a master builder to Law
them broad and deep. The past is secure
It's record Is made. The future is in our
keeping and its responsibilities upon us
Under our form of representative govern
ment it is our duty to place them upon
the shoulders of our broad-minded, con-
scientious, aggressive men of experience
and by doing so we faithfully DISCHARGE
the obligations we owe to- our State to
our nation and to the sacred cause of lib
erty and civilization
Members of the Assembly, I place be-