The record-union., 1899-04-01
VOICE OF The PRESS.
EXTRACTS FROM EDITORIAL
EXPRESSIONS.
State and Coast Opinions on Sub
jects Of Living News
Interest.


some extent this may be due to the in
creased Importance of California and
neighboring States by reason of their
situation on the western shore of the
continent. Intercourse with the devel-
oping islands of the Pacific and our new
possessions must be carried on mainly
by or through our ports. But the in
creased attention and assistance given
US is largely due to the splendid work OF
an industrious and intelligent delega-
ton in both houses of Congress. While
they have, with two or three exceptions,
been right on important national mat
[ters they have all worked for Califor-
MAS interests, and have earned the
gratitude of the people of the State.
CHOOSING SENATORS.
Santa Rosa Republican: Two or
three of our exchanges are in dispute
as to which first suggested the nomina-
ton of candidates for United States
Senator by party State conventions.
They discuss the subject as if it were
a new proposition, but it is not a mod
ern idea. 1t dates away back in our
country's history, and has been followed
in number of political campaigns.
The plan virtually takes the Senatorship
Jul VI COlI1iLtICicil politics, anu SlNco
satisfaction whenever a political party
contains a man plenty big enough and
good enough to hold this high office.
| RACE WARS
Santa Rosa Republican,: The horrible
occurrences in Southwestern Arkansas
the past few days are deplorable, but
they are to be expected in many sec
4 tions of the Southern States. Time does
not appear to lessen the number or the
savage character of these race conflicts.
AT this distance it is impossible to de-
termine exactly the cause of sucn dis
1turbances. 1t is scarcely probable that
the negroes are always the aggressors
Bad white men and bad whisky prob
ably play a large part in most Of these
troubles. But there is never any ques-
ltion as to the sufferers. Most Of the
killed are always negroes. If they
bring on the rows by indiscreet talk or
unlawful acts, their punishment is al
ways terrible. In this case conspiracy
to murder a lot of white people is
lcharged. Whether the charge w..s true
lor false, the Write people took the law
into their own hands, the result being
the slaughter of not less than seven and
probably twenty or more blacks.
HOUSE HUNTING.
4 Santa Rosa Press-Demoorat: The
tspectacle of our new ambassador 10 the
lCourt Of St. James tramping the streets
of London for two weeks in an ineffecI-
ual attempt to find a suitable residence
has brought home with new force the
need Of this country's providing 4 per-
! manent Embassy for its representatives
! at least at the more important Euro
pean political centers.
COUNTY EXPENDITURES.
Rio Vista News: Under the guise .,t
economy the Sacramento Board of Su-
pervisors recently decided to publish
Ionly the totals of moneys taken out OF
the many funds. 1t seems that the Su-
pervisors' Convention recently held at
the Capital City decided on this course
but the Sacramento County Board we
believe, is the first to resolve The Sac
ramento Supervisors are a queer lot
The law plainly states that all expendi-
lures shall be shown in detail Take
for instance the taxpayers along the
river. They seldom know what is be-
ing done with the countys money But
little work is done in the lower end of
the county, and the only thing they
have to remind them that they are a
part of Sacramento County is the usual
visit of the Tax Collector.
CALIFORNIA CIMATE.
San Diego Union: The question
whether the climate of California is
gradually changing has been frequently
discussed of late years, and the affirma-
tive has been maintained by some
writer's whose opinions usually have
weight. The most common contention
is that there has been a DETECTION in
the course Of the Japan Current in the
Pacific Ocean, which has injuriously
affected California climatic conditions
Other writers have advanced other rea-
sons to show that the climate has
wonderfully changed for the worse dur
ing the past fifteen or twenty-five
years. The Central Pacific Railway
people believe that these reports are
injurious to their business as we'll as
to the State, and they propose to refute
all stories about California climate de-
teriorating. 1t would appear, too, that
| the task can be performed very eff
fectively. At a recent meeting Of the
railway directors an appropriation was
made, to print a chart showing the
rainfall of California for each twelve
months during the past fifty years.
Statistics of the rainfall, it is asserted,
have been authoritatively compiled and
are now ready for publication. They
show that the climate of the State has
not changed in the least during the
last half century. 1t would be an ex-
| cellent plan to give these statistics as
wide circulation as possible.
CONSCIENTIOUS WRONG.
Fresno Republican: We have recently
witnessed several notable instances Of
that remarkable loyalty of the hench-
man to the boss which is generally ex-
pressed by the phrase, he will stay
bought" The phenomenon is SO COM
mon that We hardly think of it as i'm
portant enough to need an explanation
beyond the other phrase, honor among
thieves" Yet boss rule, with it's re-
sulting corruption and gradual disin-
tegration of our political system, could
not survive for year if it were based
on nothing more than bribery and mar
row selfishness. A successful ma
chine" requires more voters and ofn-
cialS than any one can afford to buy,
and most machines, as matter OF fact,
are run with surprisingly little bribery,
even in the direct form of distribution
of patronage. The fact is that the boss
depends as much on the conscience as
the lack of conscience of his followers
There is primitive notion of morality
that recognizes no obligation that is
not personal. Many man who is in
capable of recognizing the obligation
of abstract duty or public responsi
bility, has something very like con :