Year: 1879

10 I0oUt 20 one ieature oI tue new
(yonstitution, viz, that which re-
models the whole scheme for the
government OF the city of San
Efaucisco and Of the State. The
provision which creates two houses
" legislation for San Francisco,
and which permits q number OF
ward politicians to frame its char
tor, the Legislature merely having
The power to reject it as a whole on
= two-thirds vote Of all the MEM
bers elected to both houses, Is the
watering wedge for the capture of
our leading city by the politicians
of the Sand Lot; aud, through the
capture OF the city, the capture of
the State, as well. Under such o
system San Francisco would be at
the mercy of mere majority, with
no checks or balances, and no re-
vlsIon from tho rest Of the State;
and this majority, through the
large delegation it would send to
the Legislature--a delegation FORM
idabie as much from its compact
meas as from its numbers-would
rule the State. The farmers and
people Of the rural towns and cities
would have absolutely nothing to
d. With the government of San
Francisco. while the city would
govern imperiously the rest Of the
State. We might soon, all Of US,
look for proconsuls from the Sand
Lots, who would relieve US Of all
tho trouble of local government,
should this precious new Constitu-
ti0n be carried through.


A scheme so threatening to both
our leading city and to the State
st large, we may be very sure, had
: vital purpose underlying all its
most innocent looking pro-
visions. Every one knows that the
evolutionary element Of Califor-
mia, the Soci alists, Nihilists, lev
elers aud fanatics, who regard prop
erty and vested rights as an inher-
ont violation OF the rights of man,
are pretty we'll concentrated in the


metropolis Of the State. Should
this element succeed In securing
the adoption Of the new Constitu.
tion, it would be immensely
Strengthened. At a bound it would
recover the prestige it has lost
through the waning popularity OF
Ksarney.


With the Sand Lot politicians
safely entrenched In power in San
Trancisco, considering the rev.
stationary and radical character OF
that element, and that its success
would rally to its support every
vena', every vacillating, every
tlsmagogic man in California, and
nearly all the professional politi-
clans Of both the old parties, there
are two provisions of the new in
strument pregnant with extreme
political danger. One is that
which permits the Constitution to
be amended within q brief period
after its adoption. Ordinarily,
amsngst a sober, thinking people,
this would be wise and safe pro-
vision, and would enable dispas-
slonate commonwealth to amend
Its organic law in such details as
experience might prove it defect
i've. With flushed and revolu-
tlonary populace summoned to the
control of the State, and strength
sned in the interior counties by
their permanent influence in the
center Of wealth and power, there
would be no obstacle to the most
radical changes in even the radical
new Constitution.


II is not straIning the imagina'
-tion to suppose that, with Sand
Lot Legislature, Governor, Jus.
tIees OF the Supreme Court, and q
sort Of Sand Lot Emperor in the
person Of Chief Justice with tre-
mendous power, these worthless
could then bethink them of that
provision OF the new Constitution
giving the Legislature power to
provide by election or appointment
1.-THE alternative is clearly express
ed and can only be evaded by say
ing that the new Constitution don't
mean what it says-for the filling
Of all local offices. Under this pro-
vision, the Sand Lot Governor
could be empowered to appoint Of
flcials In sympathy with the Sand
Lot oligarchy in those sections
where the people would not elect
persons belonging to that political
breed.


We may be told that these dan
gers are purely imaginary. We
answer that their accomplishment
- not nearly SO incredible as the
supposition would have seemed,
three years ago, that Denis
KeaFney was to- be elevated
Into the position of autocrat Of Cal
ifornia. The occurrence of the
things we have limited at is not
only possible but highly
probable. The dilettanti gen.
Ilemen who are patronizing the
ksarney crowd in the hope Of office
Ehink that they can control that In.
1Ivfdual should full power be mt