Every year, about election time – 27 August 1873

In our “Somethings never change” department:

Every year, about election time, disappoint-
ed politicians, finding themselves in a minor-
ity in the dominant party, pretend to have all
the political virtue of the time, declare them-
selves alone worthy of holding office, and get
to work to make the people believe their pre-
tensions. No art of demagogism is neglected.
Every prejudice among the multitude is pro-
voked; every device of malice and falsehood
is adopted, under the maxim that all is fair in
politics. Many of the people want to be de-
ceived, and they are gratified. Every year the
excitement comes round with some variations :
and thousands of voters imagine that they are
saving the country when they are merely try-
ing to elect the most unscrupulous and skillful
demagogues, who claim to be anxious to pu-
rify the Government, and yet are more cor-
rupt than their enemies.

Daily Alta California, 27 August, 1873