The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-03-14
crate judgment of their fellow parti-
sans and supporters.

crate judgment of their fellow parti-
sans and supporters.
Plainly, then, it is the. duty of the
eighty-five Republicans in the Legisla-
ture to choose Senator They have
a wide range of choice among the
strong men of the party. They have
but al few days in which to reach a de-
termination of this great question, and
they should seriously consider the con-
sequences to the party and to their
own political fortunes of defaulting in
this duty. The Republican press Of the
State, with perfect unanimity, has
arisen to declare that it is the duty OF
the representatives of the party in the
Legislature to choose a Senator To
the Republican press of this State the
Republicans of the Legislature owe
their seats in that body, and are in
debted for the majority which enables
them to make choice. The warnings
the Republican press has given forth
will entitle it to demand that every man,
whether leader or follower who has in
any manner participated in the be-
trayal of the party shall be relegated
to political oblivion, and this will be
the inevitable result. The partisans OF
the various candidates who have d.
vided the councils of the party will re-
main partisanS OF their respective lead
ers in the legislative campaign of $500.
Il will nfr them
with the power to maintain another
deadlock at = the behest of the selfish
ambition of the man whom they have
supported. No protestation on their
part that they will act otherwise, if
they receive second election, VIII
be received at the hands of the
rank and file of an intelligent consult
uency. What they have done in this
session of the Legislature will be in
dicative not of partisanship, but OF
something far worse. 1t will indicate
that fealty to the political fortunes OF
men whom they supported in this body
proceeded from other motives than that
Of party loyalty. 1t will be conclusive
that they were bound to the candidate
by personal considerations which they
were 1oath to confess, and which would
not bear the light Of day. No honor
able obligation to a candidate could be
superior to the duty which these men
owe to the Republican party, and The
most respectful reason that any one of
them can sustain hereafter for his con-
tribution to the betrayal of the Repub-
lican party will be that he was under
obligations to the candidate he sup
ported, and his adherence to that can
didate in preference to the discharge OF
his plain duty to his constituency
brought him within Dean Richmond
definition of an honest man.
In government where the majority
rules all legislation is the result of
compromise Under the Constitution
of the United States the election of a
Senator is a legislative prerogative. 1t
is therefore the subject of compromise.
The uncompromising attitude of the
partisans of the various candidates is
capable OIL no OlIeT alttIpl cldliOA "a
explanation than the existence of a
species of obligation which put letters
upon the freedom of their political
agency. Mere personal loyalty to the
political fortunes of an individual could
not do this The rancor Of opposition to
opposing candidates does not suifl-
GENTLY account for or excuse a Sena-
torial deadlock.
These considerations are obvious, and
their severity finds ample apology IN
their justice. 1t is the plain duty Oh
the Republican members Of the Legis-
lature to meet in council, under such
rules of compromise, under such stip-
ulations of arbitrament, as will give
to the Republican party the victory it
won at the polls last November. Fail
ing in this, the warnings of the press
Of the State will confer upon it I'M
doubted right to see to it that new
leaders and new men, more loyal par
tisans and better patriots, are intrust-
ed with the fortunes of the party at
the next election.