The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-10-23
Affairs I'm orDIs-AnonaIous State OF
Vhings-AdNIees by the why OF EN-. land.

Affairs In Cajrrornis-Anon state OF
VhiDss-Adviees by the way OF Eng lands
From the London Chronicle, September %
The FL Dorado OF modern days still continues to
offer a seeming realization Of visions OF wealth
which hitherto were engendered in the heated
brains Of Eastern romancers alone. The tide OF
Western emigratiOn'stlll sets Calitornia-ward; aud
discoveries are Photographed, and wages of labor
ale quoted, which make US, OF sober mind, who
stay at hCme and work tor bare existence, some
times impatient that England possesses no such
golden land as falls 10 Americas share. They
seem scarcely on the same planet, these two spots
of earh-the rich tract of California, and that psor
room Southwark, where the stay -stltcher oan
earn but one paltry shilling IN The week, let her
work from sunrise TO sunset, and include the day
Of rest in her weary catalogue. single acre Of
the golden region would, one fancles, clohe and
feed hundreds Of such starving wretches; and it
were blessed thing it California could be made a
natural amshouse treasury, where the poor might
be relieved, and the destitute restored. And yet
we need not lament that England has 10 such
country among her possessions-ior we, no more
than the Americans, would have converted It to
purpose OF benevoence. IL is more than probable
that this influx of wealth will not prove tina, n,ssss-
ing to the world at large which some favored tesv
among the earher discoveries may have found H..
IL Will not open the hearts of men towards their
poorer brethren; 1t will but increase that cursed
lust OF gold' which has worked enough mischief
already to humanity.
Neither is 1t always an advantage TO a nation to-
possess such kind OF wealth. The downfall of Spain
was primarily in her golden lands of Mexico; anG
when property was most rapidly accumulated ~
our own Indian possessions, they were not more
| prosperous, nor were we more viruous, than to-
| day. Nations are under the same laws of compen-
satlon and consequence as individuals; and wealth
gained by other than worthy means does the State
| no more real good than the gamblers winnings or
| The forger's notes. Labor seems to be ultimately
| the only prosperous mode OF obtaining wealth. IL
has an innate dignity that is reflected on the char
| acter, and 1t contains moral influence by which
| even the worthless improved. If we look to
| the condition of cenvicts and prisoners, we find
larger returns OF .'good conduct' IN those who are
set TO work with an ODJect-whose happiness iS
made to depend somewhat on their own exertlons
than in those who kept in comparative or
| total idleness, or whose meaningless and unpre-
duetlve task KS is merely an engine OF punishment.
Without falling into the current cant Of the day,
| (which eXtravagant praise OF manual labor is a
| favorte theme, we must all confess that there is
something ennObing IN work, and that riches gain
! ed by perseverance and industry contain blessing
denied to gains iligotten or Overhastily amassed.
All the best productions are the longest in their
| forming Who shall count the years that 1t takes
| Nature to make diamond! But the dropping-welt
| OF Derbyshlre deposits encrusatlOn while you look
at It. The man whose fortune Is the result OF moral
or mental exertlon-who, to gain wealth, has been
obliged also to gam temperance, patience, fore:
sight, and fortitudeis more likely to be benefited
| IN The eDdeavor than fugitive hOusebreaker who
digs up from one TO two ounces of gold daily, or
clever young rogue who can get three or four
| thousand dollars a year for his salary as a clerk.
Such Misunderstanding tales are fit to be
ranged ride by side with the books of those
employers OF the poor stay-stitcher, Gather
Inc Brown, who wished to cut down her
| earnings from shilling TO sixpence a week
beth members Of this strange antthesls re-
presenting facts IN the history OF nations speaking
the same language, processing the religion,
and sprung from the same stock. Yet that poor
woman, working patiently, unwearledly, uncom-
plajniDgly, was not other than ennobed by her
drudgeIy Painfully, but surely, she learnt such
virtues from sorrow as none OF the advenurers
thfongDg to San Francisco will ever acquire I'm.
less they open their hearts to the better things of
liie. The laborer who works with manly industry
and manly patience will be a nobler specimen of
humanity than he who goes out to the ''diggings,"
making haste TO be rich, because he has not per-
severance enough TO follow those honorable paths
at home which require exertion befors their prizes
are attained. Not that they who 60 to California
are necessarily immoral, In any way !; and, at the
worst, they do but give more palpable proof OF
their allegiance to the God OF the day-of their
worship OF gold-than others who pay the divini-
~ more secret court. To get money Is the one
great thought, the one great endeavor; and he who
has got the most has also secured the most honor,
respect and consideration. Even virtue, or Its re-
puiatlon, may be bought. Who so hardy as TO hint
at defects In "A nch SPECTATOR, or lucky milhon-
are-unt reverse OF fortune awdkens our DOR
mant ethical sensbes, and reinstates the court
OF conscience In lis forgotten prerogatiyes.
Last summer 5000 men were at the 'sdlggirgs;"
this year, 100000 were, We are told, prepared for
work, as soon the rainy season should be passed.
The treasures Of Californian land seem inexhausti-
BILE and almost every arrival brings reports or ru-
mors OF fresh stores in this natural mint. There's,
II seems, another nver OF gold-lhe river ella
about eco miles south OF the present scene of opera
tons, which deposes rich offerings along It's
banks 10 the head of the Mexican Gulf, and
which, perhaps, VIII one day rival the San Jo-
achim and Sacramento, whlther men have hi,her-
Ia gone out-as Juno To The Fountain of Calls
ta-but for wealth, not tor youth or beauty.
Yet, IN the midst vi all this golden luxuriance, are
hsrdshps and prlvatons, udlcrous as well as pain
full, making us involuntarlly reflect on the folly of
those who have crowded, like ilcs IN honey-pot,
TO this sweet polson-thls moral brdme-this
golden temptation. Lodgings are not 10 be had,
for all that yellow ore, by more than one-third oil
the adventurers-and this at San Francisco, too.
Squalld rooms there let for two and three thousand
dollars month, and more; eggs are three dollars
the dozen, and dinneis-think OF dinners at san
Francisco ARE two dollars each. The really be-
nehtted are the merchants, whose money bags the
poor laborers Gil, when they return from the - Dig
gings"-lor they have II all their own way; and.
since men must eat to live: they can make their
own prices. An hotel, at san Francisco, not only
lets tor s95, GOO year, but single rooms ia the
same bring in a rent OF $1,000 dollars each
All these details bespeak such discomfort and
hardshlp-not 10 mention the forays of the Apache
Indians, private quarres and murders, and a few
deaths, from fatigue and prIvaton-ihat we think
there is here enough TO cool IN emost ardent blood
and to quiet the most restless spirit of adventure
But, If danger has terror TO some, land TO many
u has an irresistible charm, IN aud for i,sef) yet
there are other reasons, more weighty, though not
so obylous, why we would desire see the Ctlifor-
man fever abaied, and men returning to common
everyday industry. It's not prudential weighing
al REX and right-lt is adhesion to right, without
excitement or iomance-a quiet, calm. and, there
fore, most noble adhesion content with the sinh
pie consciousness oi doing what IL our duty, that
we would now impress on our readers. Aad this
rs not TO be found IN such mad thirst for wealth as
the present age displays.
Our sgc is steadily advancing towards good in
much but IN one thing it shameiully goes astray.
In lie humanity, u Is grand-ln it's lust Of gold,
most pitfu, most mean With us the great social
sin is pOverty-the great incentive to .crime the
possession OF wealth. Not for passion, not 40 mad
ness, have any 1T the late murders been committed.
simply, IN some cases, 10 gain a few, very few,
extra pounds, have we seen murderer after mur-
dcrer lift his guilty hand. Each crime il more
revolving than ITS prcdecessor-each revelation
more degrading to human nature than the last.
IL was relief to know IN Annette Mycr anotner
motive for crime than ayarice-sIck and sated as