The record-union., 1899-09-01
THE SENATORIAL VACANCY.

OSAis uILdeA lAle utdu OI some I'd
vfous Considerations among other
things, said:
A Senator in Congress for the term
OF six years was the capital prize in
the late State campaign. The Repub-
lican party was successful in that
struggle, and the principles for which
the Republican party stands achieved
a triumph.
Further on it declared:
In view Of all these considerations, it
is the duty Of the eighty-four Republi-
can members of the Legislature to meet
together in council for the purpose of
celebrating upon the highest interests
of the party. This they owe to the
Republicans who have elected them to
Office and at whose hands they have
received the trust of acting in accord
ance with the highest interests of the
Republican party.
These declarations were sound at the
time they We're made, and they are ap-
plicable to the existing situation.
Since the foundation of this Govern
ment the island of Cuba, under the
sovereignty Of Spain. has been a men
ace to this nation. Spain was feeble
power. She was liable to be en-
broiled with stronger Powers by com
plicatfons referable to the politics of
Europe. Her tenure of sovereignty in
Cuba was ephemerous because of the
steady decline Of her national power.
In the hands of a first class Power
Cuba would constitute a base of opera
ton against the United States. 1t
commands the commerce of the Gulf
and consequently the outlet and the
inlet to the entire export and import
commerce of the great Mississippi
Valley.
The territory acquired from France
by the Louisiana purchase is occupied
by nearly 100000 of American peo-
pie. Cuba stretches from the Flor
ida peninsula to the peninsula Of Yu-
catans leaving but two narrow chan
nels between the mainland at either
end.
From George Washington to McKin-
ley the Presidents of the United States
have appreciated the fact that the hold
Of Spain upon Cuba was feeble; that
the island, with all its strategic advan-
tages from military and commercial
standpoint, was liable to pass to the
hands of a stronger nation. The most
eminent statesmen of our nation in all
periods Of its history have declared that
Cuba in the possession of a strong
Power was q menace to the perpetuity
Of liberty even in this country.
The war between Spain and the Unit
ed States was the elimination of Span
ish misrule in Cuba and the deleterious
effect Of that misrule upon the people
Of the United States. The war with
Spain resulted in victory for our ma
tion and the question now arises, What
are to be the fruits of that victory?
First, the establishment Of a condi-
ton in the West Indies which re-
moves the standing menace of the pres
ence of strong and hostile foreign
Power. Second, the expansion of ma
tional possibilities, national commerce
and national influence in the arbitra-
ment of the political destinies Of man
kind
In a republic like ours partisan neces-
stiles play a conspicuous part in de-
ternining the destiny of the nation.
Just now. the party Of negatives, we'd
ded to the financial heresy of the re-
establishment of an artificial ratio be-
tween gold and silver, and pledged to
defraud this nation of the fruits Of it's
victory, has plainly declared its pur-
pose.
The question before the country and
one demanding immediate solution is,
shall we enjoy the fruits of our vic
tory over Spain, or shall the blood and
treasure we have poured out as a pa
triotic sacrifice be spent for nothing?
California has an interest in the solu-
ton of this question which is para
mount. Her future greatness is in
volved. She is confronted by great
opportunity which once lost viii never
again be presented.
We repeat, the political prize for
which the political parties in California
contended in 1898 was a seat in the
Senate of the United States for six
years. The party was cheated out Of
that victory by the treachery of dis.
appointed politicians and the storm
center of this disappointment was To-
Gated in the Offices of the San Fran
cisco Chronicle" and the San Fran
cisco Call" The course pursued by
these pretended Republican organs was
dictated by selfishness and disappointed
ambition. This statement will not be
denied outside of the offices of the
morning papers referred to. There is
not a citizen of the state. however su-
pericially acquainted with it's recent
political history, who does not know
that the ambition of Mr. de Young and
Mr. Spreckels to exercise the preroga-
tives of leadership in the Republican
party was the cause of their disaffec-
ton Party dissension and the greedy
rapacity of these papers for political
supremacy is responsible for the dead
lock which defeated and repudiated the
Republican party and denied to Re-
publican Administration at washington
the support Of the Republican party OF
this state.
= conflict of views within the lines