The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-01-07
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T is doubtful if history records vital debate
than that which preceded the adoption OF the CON-
promise measures OF 1880 when as free State,
California admitted into the Union. The great
statesmen OF the country, then grouped in the cham
Der OF the Federal Senate were almost TRANSPORTED
in the blazing light of that patriotism which extin
guished the lesser fires of sectional hatred and for
eleven years averted the Civil War This common
wealth received the sacred rite of baptism that
had attended the addition of new to the
American constellation.
The mighty intelligence, the passionate love of
country the holiness of sentiment the high aspira
tons for their race that poured from the lips of Clay
and Webster, who, like Simeon, ready to de-
part when their eyes had witnessed the contamination
Of their hopes, raised the dignity OF the American
Senate, composed of the representatives of powerful
American communities between two oceans, to such
height that it has since commanded the respect
full attention of the world
1T is fortunate, said Mr. Webster, March 7, 1850,
that there is Senate of the United States body
not yet moved from its propriety lost to just
sense OF its own dignity and its high response
bilities and body to which the country looks with
confidence for wise, moderate, patriotic and healing
counsels'' And the following July Henry
Clay unveiled his own nobility OF soul in these words,
which ought to be imprinted upon every American
heart:
"And let discard all resentment, all passions,
all petty jealousies all personal desires, all love OF
place, all hankerings after the gided crumbs which
fall from the table of power. Let us forget popu-
lar fears from whatever quarter they may spring. Let
go to the limpid fountain OF unadulterated patriot
ism and, performing solemn lustration, return d
vested of all selfish sinister and sordd impurities and
think alone OF God, our country, consciences
and glorious Union"
Since this important epoch in national career
the unbroken line of States has been stretched
the continent. The Gadsden purchase completed the
symmetrical development OF territory. Alaska
hanked the Canadian Confederation and brought us
face to face with the advancing progress OF Russia
The war with Spain has ended, and now whether for
good or for evil our banner floats over Porto Rico
and Manila, ten thousand miles apart
Those who stand on the higher level of observation
can already discern the spendors of unprecedented
future piercing the gloom that shrouds the close OF
the nineteenth century, and far in the East the TWEEN
tieth century, the Golden Age OF the Pacific, already
dawns The expanding life, wealth, population, in
teigence education and enterprise of our country
have brought into direct contact with opportuni-
ties and with questions that demand in the deberatve
body where ory-six restricted soyereigntes, in the
name of the Union, of which they nseparable
parts proclaim their policy and record their will, such
depth and vigor of craftsmanship as the world has
rarely witnessed. Perhaps the very crisis of
tional fate is at hand. Labor and capital, commerce.
trade finance all the elements OF modern civilization
in its most advanced FORM with the constitution as
its base and American fraternity its energzing
force, are demanding adjustment, without break or
disturbance OF the republic, conditions and the
solution of questions in which the prospects of hu
manity itself involved.
e
to our view and California, golden in its SOIL in its
products, in its sons and in its daughters proudly
awaits the magnificent destiny that is almost within
its grasp narrow selfshness, foul ambition, filthy
ruption and stupid ignorance deliberately propose that
Dan Burns or his double shall be its ambassador in
the chamber which Webster apotheosized and where
Clay mmortaized American manhood!
Here is picture for our legislators to contemplate
and with the pressure Of their pledges and their oahs
and OF their moral and intellectual responsibilities to
their constituencies weighing upon them, they are
privileged to determine whether obnoxious Lii
putan shall usurp the place of such Cali
fornia needs. We live under representative insttu
tions-is it conceivable that such Senator should
represent the State? Among million and a half of
people is there wise, conservative, broad minded
instructed clean-hearted president American states
be found who will hold up the honor, the dig
nifty and the interests of this commonwealth before
the country and before the world?
This is the immediate question of questions which
the Legislature, far unmpeached and unsulied
will have opportunity to answer Tuesday next
Shall Burns or his double reduce and degrade the
State to the proportions OF pothouse politician or
shall selection be made upon which citizens and
corporations, all men and all bodies in whom Ameri-
can blood in circulating, unanimously agree?
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Highbinders have been posing as educators in the