Year: 1867


of feeling engendered By the advocacy of par
tisan policies involving principles by which it was
sought to conduct the National Administration.
1t is contended that such principles are involved in
the present campaign. bat If So they have been
generally ignored in the quarrel over men. The
partisan principles which gave rise 10 the war.
were settled BY the result Of the war. Slavery is
conceded to be extinct By its former cham pons.
and they themselves now the loudest to cry out
against the introduction into California Of cheap
"Coolie' latnr. The doctrine of States Rights,
which was asserted more particularly for the pro-
lection and extension of African Slavery, of
went down with the close of the war; for the sece-
ded States were lighting for States rghts-the
right to secede and to establish such institutions
within without the pale of the National Admin
istration, the States themselves might determine.
Upon this issue the popular ballot was against
them, and when they appealed to war they were
overthrow by the wager of battle. If the doc
trine is asserted at all is with the still vain
hope Of wardng of universal suffrage from the
Southern States, when it is already irrevocably
fastened upon them by act of Congress. Assert it
partisan politicians and stump orators may. there
no National issues involved in the present
paign that have not arisen since the close of the
war. And these are embraced in the programme
established by Congress and in the policy sou ght
to be enforced BY the President And, indeed, so
far these issues concerned. that of Congress
is already the law Of the land, and the Executive.
in the discharge of his official duty. is sworn 20
carry the law into effect. The satisfaction of en-
dorsing the the other of these past issues is
about all there is left for the people of California
to do by the result of their present election.
II is true, there some pending amendments
to National Constitution and it has been asser-
ted. with what truth not prepared to say)
that the present election in California is necessary
to their adoption. These amendments are, lst:
Declaring all persons born in the United States
citizens thereof and of the State wherein they re-
side, and requiring that no State shall make
force any law which shall abridge the privileges
immunities of citizens of the United States. ID:
Disqualifying persons from holding any Office who
may have engaged in insurrection or rebellion
against the General Government Sd: Citizens of
the United States, who not permitted by States
to exercise the right of suffrage, to be excluded
from the basis of representation of such State in





National debt and repudatng that incurred i n aid
of the rebellion. These amendments pen
ding but their necessity. it is claimed, has been
superseded by the various reconstruction acts of
Congress now in force Whether such is the fact.
is an opinicn only. which person may not enter
tain. The amendments now pending, and will
be adopted or rejected by the State of California,
as may be determined by the people at the ap-
preaching election.


The question of comforting the right OF suffrage
upon the coored population of California is not
directly issue in the present election, because to
do that the word "whte" must be stricken from
our State Constitution, and that cannot be done
without direct action of the people.


An economical admistratiou of public affairs, is
something that is always in issue in erery State
Election. and it is something to which all parties
pledge themselves before election, and sedo m prac
tce il afterwards. So far the subject of eeono-
my is concerned the people Of California have ex-
perienced the action of both of the prominent par
ties and should therefore. be qualified to judge in
telsently. For ourselves we repudiate tine charges
Of dishonesty and corruption that have been hurled
against either or both Of the the prominent cand.





them to be honest and capable gentlemen. each de-
srious. if elected. of giving to the State popular
administration That either will be subject however
to some extent, to the exactions and dem of
his party, is quite probable For that has been the
the history of politics for past centuries. Shak-
speares politician is not the stranger of to-day:
'.Octavius, 1 have days than you,
And though we lay these honors on this man,
To ease ourselves of divers slanderous loads.
He shall but bear them as the ass bears gold
To groan and sweat under the business,
Either led or driven point the way
And having brought our treasure where We VIII,
Then take we down the load and turn HIM of,
Like to the empty ass. to shake his ears,
And Craze III commons.


So forgetful of the issues involved have most OF
the partisan press been during the canvass. that
they have very generally personally assaied the
candidates So fierce and unrelenting have been
these personal assaults and Misrepresentation that
the heads of both the prominent tickets have
deemed it necessary to publish cards in their own
defence. While this is perhaps no reflection on the
candidates themselves. or the mass of the people,
it shows the length to which partisaa politicians
allow themselves to be carried in the advocacy OF
their men and measures. Doubles the mass Of the
people will exercise a more calm judgment at the
polls remembering that the questions involved are
not wholly as to what particular men shall be cho-
sen to office but the decision, so far as California
is concerned. of her own future State policy, and
and an expression Of sentiment on the re-construc-
ton measures that have arisen since the close of
the war. There is question but that the election
of Mr.. Gorham will be endorsement Of the re-
construction measures of Congress while the cleo
ton of Mr.. Haisht will be their reputation by the
people of California. The balance is partisan froh
and hlagree engendered BY partisan zeal and per
sona animosities and should have no weight in
determining the popular verdict. 1t is for the peo
pie in their sovereign capacity TO decide on next
Wednesday. marshalled on by their chosen local
leaders.


'.Wsv- Munich. sll thy banners wave.
And charge with all thy chivalry-


THE Boston Commonwealth tells the following:
The railroad conductor. with flower in his mouth