Year: 1875

When announced myself an Independent
candidate for District Attorney, l hoped to
be treated at least fairly so far as going before
the people was concerned. In seeking to
avoid the issue by not accepting my invita-
ton to canvass the county, the discretion of
my opponents was greater than their valOr,
and perhaps more to their advantage. But
let that be as it may, did it not that l
thought that / had the advantage OF them in
getting off Fourth of July Orations" and
''windy respirations OF forced BREATH" but
thatI simply desired fair and equal fight
before the people, cenceding to them the ad
vantages OF being the nominees OF two pow
erful parties, together with many Of the
elements of genuine Oratory," added to
"highly prepossessing personnels;" for these
are, indeed, qualities that are by no means
undeserving of notice, and was very much
puzzled to know, when l read the Express,
which toadmire most-the chronicled or the
chronicter. All desired was to have a fair
showing. To go through the country and
talk to the people, and then let them judge
of the man they would prefer to vote for.
may have been beaten by the contrast, but
it would have been at least fair. But my op-
ponents have chosen to rest their rights un-
der the protecting wings OF their respective
Conventions. Be it so. II they succeed by
that means in capturing the free votes of the
people OF Los Angeles county, they have
link added to the chain that binds the peo-
pie. II am successful, running independ-
ent, as do, l shall regard if as a victory for
the people, and not for me. For claim no





better fitted for the position than either OF
my opponents. When it comes to that,
what do the people OF this county know OF
our qualifications? We are all comparative
strangers in the county. Embryonic lawyers
commencing the practice Of a profession
which takes years of toll and study and
practice before we can gain even respectable
ity in the rank and file Of our profession,
much less to gain eminence and reach the
coveted distinction of great lawyers. never
offered myself as candidate for any Office
hnf. Il
Office that is outside of the legitimate busi-
ness of my profession. The field of politics
has no alurements for me. It's flowers are
trodden down by the hoofs OF demagogues,
and to pluck them you must fish with un-
gloved hands in the Shiny cesspool.


have no quarrel with my. opponents on
the ground that they have fortified them
selves behind the influence OF popular men
on partiZan tickets. That Is an advantage
they have right to take. But do say that
the cry OF being "truly independent" "the
his own merits, comes with bad grace from
the lips OF a man who is the nominee Of a
party beg your pardon, my friend; dou't
forage" on the unpledged suffrages of the
independence, their votes belong to me.
Come, be fair. Stay on your own side of this
Independent fence. If you consented to be
their nominee, stick to them, Acknowledge
that you are an exponent of the party pro-
claim its principles; help it fight Its battles,
and then, If successful, enjoy the victory, in
common W1tn IIle OtnerS OF une party, DuJ
don't storage" upon the unmonopoliZed vote
OF the county. / claim them for my own,
and think they will vote for me. Webster
says nothing can be more grateful to man
than to be elected by the unbiased suffrages
of free, enlightened citizens, and If l am
elected, hope it will be by such votes.


AS to the merits OF my opponents, / pre-
sumo they are both honorable mon. know
nothing to the contrary. The papers TEEN
praise and high-toned titles Of their fathers.
That is all right 1t is good thing to have q
father who is % great man. AS to the great
ness of my ancestry, l have nothing to say.
But, however, there is one pleasing consOla-
tion: would rather be the man whose fam
lily greatness commenced with him, than he
whom family greatness ended with him.


''IIonor and fame fLom no condition rise,


Act well your part, there all the honor lies"


To the free, intelligent voters OF this coun-
ty, | have this much to say: That l believe
that a man should be selected for District
Attorney unpledged to any partiZan ring;
upon his merits as man and a lawyer, and
not as n politician. / believe that the voter
right free, unpledged and unbiased, and east
his vote conscientiously for the man he be-
leves to be most worthy. Let ii be decided
by the uninfluenced judgment OF the people,
And believe when the people wake to that
fact, they will have better officials. The
election will then depend upon no strapping
and harnessing in Conventions. 1t will de-
pond upon the intelligent judgment OF the
people = the solid massive columns OF Los
Angeles toiling sons, moving quietly To the
ballot box to deposit their votes, unpledged


j. H. BLAND.