The record-union., 1899-03-29

the city and the State the commercial
supremacy that awaits us here by the
western sea would be still further hast
ened.
AN oDIOUS Law.
Stockton independent The More
house law, providing that articles pub
lished in newspapers defamatory OF the
living or of the memory of the dead,
will go into effect sometime next month,
providing it is observed by the press.
If it be observed it will exhibit some
very curious if not startling relations,
providing the practices of tine press are
not entirely revolutionized. 1t is not
probable that it will stand the test of
the courts
Whether or not the author sought
European precedents for this act, it Is
true that under the press prescriptions
of the second empire Qouis Napoleon)
in France, law was passed requiring
all writer's for the public press to sigu
their articles and the names We're re-
quired to be printed with the produc-
tion. This was under press censor
ship so odious that when the French
reverse at Sedan came, the great jour-
nalists of France were foremost in
lOoOlHS TIE lSfOlutlOlI (iicAb 1OlSNOA Gaf
planted the monarchy by free institu-
tions. 1t was one of the most vicious
laws of the Louis Napoleon regime.
The first reforms of the republic We're
to remove the restrictions from The
press, and it is the free press that has
preserved the balance in the French
Government, Notwithstanding that i'll
frequent instances the privilege of free
dom is abused.
THE MERCURY PLAN OF CHOOS-
ING SENATORS.
Los Angeles Times: So far as ap-
lpears at the present writing there is 70
Constitutional, statutory or other objec-
ton to the plan here suggested, and
no obstacle to its adoption at the next
legislative election. No amendment to
the Federal Constitution nor to the
State Constitution will be required, nor
will it be necessary for the Legislature
to amend the statutory law. All that
will be required will be for each of The
| State conventions of the several par
tiles to place in nomination, along with
the other candidates nominated party
candidate for United States Senator.
The nominee of the Assembly and State
Senatorial conventions will be pledged
~ SuppOIl luG 1lOtliuetS VI ttlGlT ICSpcC-
tive parties for United States Senator,
and the election or defeat of the sew
eral candidates for State Senators and
Assemblymen viii determine the choice
| of United States Senator.
| In other words, the plan proposed by
| the "Merucury,'' if adopted, would rem
! der the work CT the Legislature, SO far
as the election Of a United States Sena-
IL
| The members of the Legislature would
| be pledged in advance to the choice of
this or that candidate. as the members
! of the Electoral College are pledged
| to the election of one or the other of
| the party candidates for President and
Vice President, in national elections.
The State Legislature would become,
under this plan a sort of Electoral
College, as regards the choice of Sena
tor through it's lawmaking functions,
and State affairs, would in no wise be
| impaired
PROFESSOR JORDAN CRITICISED.
| Marysville Appeal: Mr.. Jordan says
we must get out of the islands. How
| can we do it? We have assumed a
great responsibility that we cannot
shirk. The islands are legally ours
and morally, too-as much so as a
great deal of United States territory is,
which we have acquired by devious
ways 1t doesn't make any difference
whether We have lost prestige in Euro
pean eyes or not. That is not the ques-
| ton, though, the truth is Europe is just
| beginning to have a faint respect for
| US. We can't give the islands UP and
the Professor knows it as we'll as any
| one else He reiterates that we must
! fold our tents and steal away, silently
| or otherwise, but he does not tell US
| how, or who will be answerable for con-
ditions after our departure, or how we
will explain our position to the nations
Of the world and make amends for a
grave responsibility cast childishly
aside at the cries of old women and
| frightened men.
| There is force, of course, in the Pro-
fessor's attack on the climate. It is
! bad. but not as bad as he paints it by
any means His strongest point and
| one that is enough to cool the enthusi-
asm of the most ardent annexationist,
is the fear of the disgrace and continual
trouble that will be brought upon us
by the acts of men whom we will send
| there to govern and represent the Gov
ernment at Washington. Pot house
politicians and men guilty of various de-
grees of crimes and imbecility if We
follow the precedent of our consular SER
vice and Alaskan experiences, will
probably make the Filipinos wish for
/ their old Spanish masters again.