The San Francisco call., 1899-03-10
THE CLOSING SCENES.

Asst week it was announced by authority that
Burns would be elected Senator on Wednes-
- dav. But that days ballot was taken and
Burns was as far away from the prize he covets as he
was on the first ballot last January The Wednesday
ballot and the days session had features that sug-
gested the miscarriage of plan. The element IN our
population which backs Burns was missed from its
accustomed walk and conversation, for it had all been
summoned to Sacramento The general public was
glad OF its absence but Sacramento did not rejoice at
its presence Least of all was the Legislature graft
fed, for the chambers wherein the two houses meet
are not we'll ventilated at best, and can stand only
slight mephtc additions to their atmosphere,
The plan, whatever it was that had caused all the
forces to be ordered to the front failed in execution
and caused an ebuition OF bad temper exceeding any
other outbreak of the whole session A potency
OF passion was shown by the Burns forces that for
time broke down the order and discipline OF the
House It was testy gnat-like temper, under which
the tide OF battle rose and rolled from the Legislature
into the hotels ending in personal encounter and the
challenge and threat of further blows and bruises All
this is to be regretted But it must be added to the
dry year and other passing mishaps and msfortunes
which aict the State 1t originated in defiance OF the
will OF the majority. The Republican majority in the
Legislature and in the State has taken position on
the candidacy of Burns from which no intrigue has
moved it That majority has patiently waited to hear
what Mr. Burns proposes, and then 1t disposes by
standing firmly against every plan laid by him to elect
himself
Every expedient known to the art of intrigue has
been resorted to by him. 1t was announced that he
+La fret hall he
majority lined up and he did not win. Again and
again it has been announced that he was to Win at
certain moment Stampedes have been forecast and
oretold but when the moment came the same patient
majority stood its ground and there no stampede
Then came the Pronunciamento of the Junta, in
which Burns dwelt on the charms OF majority rule
in caucus in terms of praise equal to the phrases OF
the Song of Solomon the Passionate Pilgrim
But again the majority stood unmoved declaring that
only could order caucus and would refuse in the
interest of party character and success
So, in whatever direction Burns has turned he has
encountered that solid wall the majestic bulwarl OF
party purity and trustee of the partys future, the
jorty. 1t has not banded epthets with him, nor
blushed at his caolery, paled at his threats 1t
has simply stood for the highest aspirations OF the
party against the lowest aspirations OF the defers OF
party No wonder that his simulated hope and pre-
tended patience and professed superiority OF plans
have hammered against this solid wall of the majority
UNTIL mad with many bruises, temper, and very bad
temper, expressed in unprntable language displaced
all pretense and left the Burns fight standing in its
natural cOlors.
The majority meantime only stand where it
planted its feet and formed its line when the session
began against the election OF Burns. And to prevent
that it should not relax its vigilance nor forget the
challenge and password until the gave falls and the
houses adjourn without day.