The record-union., 1899-10-07
THE LOCAL DEMOCRACY.


citizen as the nominee for Mayor, Mr..
r. d. Stephens. The most noticeable
feature about it is the eyasive and beg
ging character of it's basic structure.
1t reminds one strongly of the corner
organ grinder with the conventional
sign about his neck please help the
unfortunate" 1t is plainly a bid for
Republican votes, or any old votes as
long as they can be counted from the
ballot box for the 'outs." It is as
plainly stamped a bid for voters of the
other side, as if the party had SO open
ly declared in it's non-expressive plat
form. la
The Republican party, represented
by its local convention, has the cour-
age of principle. It is equally ready
to announce and stand by its principles
in a city, as a State or a national con-
test. 1t has set forth in its platform
distinct, emphatic affirmation of the
policy Of the party on the questi 1ns now
stirring the National pulse. 1t has not
whimpered and crawled under the shell
ter of canvass on the plea that it makes
no difference in a little town election
whether one is for or against the re-
tention of the Philippines; for or
against the sustaining the hands of the
Administration; opposed to surrender of
the fruits of war of humanity or in
favor of the advance of the nation
along all progressive lines, having
faith in the destiny of the republic
manifest in the position it is taking
among the Powers of the earth 1t
stands true to the economic policy
which the Democracy has so bitterly
opposed, but which has ushered in an
era of prosperity and domestic conf
dence such as the nation has not be-
fore experienced.
If the Democracy of Sacramento is
sincere, even admitting that there may
be times when municipal affairs should
be divorced from political party activ
ity, it would, when choosing to act as
party, prove true to its colors in mu-
nicipal as in other campaigns. If it
believes in divorcing municipal affairs
from politics it should not present it
self before the public in a party ca
pacity. The Republicans have come out
as party in this campaign, they there
fore present the party claims and an
nounce party fealty and all that it i'm
plies and failure to do so would have
been poltroonery. On the other hand the
i've party organiza ton, but is as dumb
as an oyster upon its party princi-
pies. If, as we have said it contends
that party politics should have nothing
to do with municipal affairs. then it
should not come to the fore as a party
force. In short, the Sacramento Dem
ocracy stands upon the street corner
and solicits votes regardless Of party
afiliation.
It is silent as to Mr.. Bryan, whom on
all other occasions it glorifies. 1t has
IOL q NOlQ " say III SApROAI VI lAO
position of the many of its party
and it's leaders. in announcement Of
Republican policy, the war in the Phil
ippines or the established financial sys-
tenn of the nation. It is mute upon
every question and issue that is STIR
ring the very fountains of every COM
munity in the land. It has no word
of commendation for the accomplish
ments of the past year, not a syllable
Of expressions by way of commenda-
ton or condemnation of the assault
ing it's authority in the Orient.
The platform prattles generally Of
needed reform in municipal offices, but
does not name a single proposition of
reform; it puts its finger upon no sore
whatever. It declares this so-called
reform movement to be a patriotic
duty" and on that pretense appeals to
all voters of every political creed to aid
the Democracy as party to reform
Sacramento by turning the Administra-
ton over to Democratic control, thus
heralding to the whole country that the
Capital City of California has gone over
to the enemies of the Administration
and the supporters of W. J. Bryan, Ed
mund Atkinson and like ealamityites
The platform speaks sagely of need
for improved school houses, a sewer
system, good streets, a better water
supply and ownership of it vested in
the city; the keeping of the levees in
good order and limit to 81 of taxa
ton. There is not a word of sugges-
ton, however. as to the lines of re-
form the party candidates propose to
pursue if elected. In short, there is
that general, vague, Indefinite and mo-
lasses-like character written all over
it, that diseloses insincerity and deceit.
The Democracy, in short, retains it's
party organization and invites all vot-
ers Of other parties to come over and
help it pull the chestnuts from the
fire. Really do the trainers of that
remarkable instrument take all other
voters to be fools?
The pupils of the San Jose Normal
School are again in revolt. This time
the disposition to run things and be
insubordinate is made manifest by a
rising up against the order of the State
Board of Health that all pupils in
State schools must submit to yaccina-