The record-union., 1899-12-22


makes it a "copious downpour," but
that is a variation that is not material.
What we want to say is that the farm
er is not out in bflly-goat whiskers, cut
ting a ridiculous figure, any more. The
chances are that he is in. reading the
market reports and figuring on wheth-
er he had better sell his wheat or hold
on little longer. You can't tell the diff
ference, in many instances, between
sthe farmer and the country banker.
The world has moved along. The trad1-
tional agriculturist has vanished along
with the stage Yankee and the prepos-
ferrous red-shirted miner.
OFFICIAL SALARIES.
Santa Rosa Republican: All official
salaries should be based on the import
ance Of the work attached to the posi-
ton and the character of ability re-
quired in discharging its duties. They
should not be SO high as to tempt men
to abandon almost any private business
to secure a place at the public crib
more for serving the city, county, State
or nation than they can earn out OF
Office. There should certainly be re-
adjustment of salaries, and they should
be put on fair and equable basis.
The grangers are right in this matter,
as they are generally in their positions
on public questions. Salaries should be
fair, but not extravagant, and people
should be expected to work about as
hard in office to earn their wages as
people out Of office have to work to
secure the money with which to pay
them. 1t is to be hoped that the
Changers will continue their investiga-
lions, not with the idea of Gripping,
but of improving the public service
Doubtless there can be a considerable
saving in salaries without damage to
the service but there are other lines
along which there is greater waste of
public money, and that should also re-
ceive attention.
TO SEND EAST.
Fresno Republican,: What shall we
send East for Christmas? Surely no
perfunctory gift, for such can be pur-
chased in Eastern shops, better and
cheaper than here What the whole
world has, we have, too, plus certain
freight charges which it is wasteful to
duplicate by sending the Goals back to
Newcastle where they came from. But
what the whole world lecks we also
have, and If it were possible to send
East a ray of California sunshine, a
breath of California air, glimpse of
California winter verdure, all other
gifts would shrink to nothingness in
comparison. The sunshine and the air
won't stand transportation, put the
things in
they can carry with them something of
the warmth and brightness that made
them. California is prosaic enough to
US, who have not distance to lend en-
chantment to the view, but to the resi-
dents Of the frozen East this land of
sunshine is still enveloped IN the halo
of romance. To send them a piece of
California is to send them a bit of that
halo. So let our Christmas giving be
loyal to the faith that is in US, that
we live in the best country in the world,
and that, because the luxuries of the
rest of the world are our commonplace.
they are none the less worthy gifts, to
send little of ourselves and the spirit
of our life as a remembrance to the
absent ones far away.
A SUPPOSITIOUS VIEW.
Yreka Journal: Suppose Mckinley
had followed the example of Abraham
Lincoln, who sent Vallandigham into
the rebel lines for his opposition to sup
pressing the rebellion during the civil
war of 1875. and served Bryan in the
same manner for encouraging the
rebels of the Philippines, possibly the
Bryan kickers would respect Mckinley
to greater extent in later years. Lin
coin was virulently asEailed for such
action, but the same men have great
reverence for that patriotic and hon
ored President now.
THE ROBERTS CASE.
Marysville Appeal: It is astonish-
ing the number of papers which in de-
Tending Roberts, Congressman elect
from Utah, for his polygamous prac-
tees advance as one point in his favor
the fact that SO many other men lead
immoral lives also. Suppose they do,
and no one with eyes and ears need
doubt the charge, what excuse is that
for the Mormon who openly and in de-
fiance of State, national and moral
law lives with multiplicity of women
whom he calls his wives by right of a
ceremony of his church? immortality
will exist as long as the world stands.
no doubt, but common decency requires
that it be kept as much under cover
as possible. Because one man leads
an immoral life does not justify an
other in doing likewise The fight
against Roberts is not waged against
him as an individual, but as the rep
resentative of the evil practices favored
and nourished by the Mormon Church.
An open and notorious violator of the
law has no right to a seat in Congress.
LOCAL LOYALTY.
Contra Costa Gazette: In San Jose
the three great dailies of San Fran
cisco are delivering their papers before
the local papers can get out. In ad-
dition they have made an ARRANGEMENT
whereby a sheet is to be folded into
the papers after their arrival. This
VIII have all the news of Santa Clara
county. The San Jose papers are
f1ghting the project, and with good
reason. The aim of the city dailies is
10 DIVERT the trade Of San Jose to San
Francisco, and the chances are that
some Of the metropolitan merchants
are behind the move. 1t is the duty
OF the people to patronize their home
papers and their home merchants. No
balder piece of effrontery was ever
before attempted to be carried out.
SUPPOSE THE CASE.
Portland Oregonian: Abraham Lin
coin commended for the equal rights of
the black man to life, liberty and the
pursuit of happiness under the Ameri
can flag, but this contention did not