The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-02-28
REPUBLICAN PLEDGES.

JHII E the election of Dan Burns would be a
M knockout blow his defeat, not because OF his
q. intrinsic importance, but a demonstration OF
sincerity would give the Republican party the great
est lit it has had for years. The Republican press
and the Republican speakers during the last campaign
assured the people OF two facts-hrst that the ques-
ton of funding the debt OF the Central PACING was
settled and therefore not issue, which was strictly
true and second that the railroad was out OF poll
tics, which based upon railroad assurances De
Geved to be true but in reality false The election
largely turned on these statements which gave rea-
sonable guarantee to sound money Democrats, as well
as to Republicans that without treachery OF any kind
the important issues declared in the platforms were to
be settled. The result vndication of Repub-
can principles in this State that correspondent to their
triumph throughout the Union
That the railroad has falsied its declarations and
that Dan Burns is its candidate is proved to moral
certainty Political hardhood would shrink from de
nyng these facts Even though he were qu2l1hed
even though he were not fatally disqualified, there
fore his success would mean that the State organi-
cation of the Republican party aided and abetted by
municipal and county organizations, deliberately
cheated the people No party could stand this dis
honorable record On the other hand, if the railroad
be held down to its promises, if Republican pledges
are redeemed, and if some honorable, competent and
independent gentleman of whom there some before
the Legislature and many in the party be elected in
the face OF the unhoIy combinations and the bold de-
fance of the people that have marked the candidacy
of Dan Burns public confidence will be justified and
increased to an extent that will insure Republican
success at least in State elections for years to
The railroad makes hard fight because OF its concen
trated selshness and its Vaccinations in bust
ness and among individuals No intelligent and hon
orable citizen desires to nure its interests But its
own welfare would be promoted by the defeat of Dan
Burns It's rights be and ought to be protected,
but it does not own and cannot permanently dom-
nate the State and there no why its dlsqua
fed representative should be promoted to Federal
Senatorship The obstnacy that would insist upon such
an outrage and such a Reputation of formal pledges
would be an evidence not of power but of weakness
Moreover, no member of the Legislature who has any
respect for himself or ambition for the future
afford to break his word and, in view of the excep
tonay definite and positive assurances of 1893, in
which every candidate the Republican ticket was
represented subserviency TO the railroad designs
seeming the bait and entering the trap sprung by the
announcement of Dan Burns January 2, 1890
would be disgracefu nhdelityfr which there could
be no recovery. This is instance similar to the
case OF Howard f. Wright in which the .claptrap of
vindication from substantial charges will surely fail
Each legislator who dsgusts his constituents and
satirzes his State by vote against his pledge and
his conscience will be likely to draw to himself
the reproach that Caesar addressed to Brutus"et
quoque mi fiji"