The Sierra citizen. [volume] (Downieville, Calif.) 1854-185?, 1854-12-16
Steam Shin Monopoly.

| AAoeooiJ ~ pSoPiO oh sAAo SAu~ VI Iu-
rope have been SO outrageously, systemati-
cally, and villainously swindled as the peo-
pie Of California have been and still are.
Indeed, we fancy that we have committed
an error in making any exception, even of
the people Of king governed Europe. No
thing but the prodigious wealth of our
mines ba. enabled our State to sustain
ITSELF and continue to increase in popula-
ton and wealth, under all the burdens
which selfish capitalists-aided too often
by scheming and abandoned Politicians
have ever been laying upon it.
! To the utmost extention Of business
which eau be effected by just and lauda-
BILE enterprise, which, while seeking profit,
aims to bestow commensurate benefits up
on the community, we have no fault to
find, but always "God speed " to utter.
But to that bastard, counterfeit enterprise,
which by deep laid scheming, and by
crawling, lying, swindling devices of ava
ricious stock holders and corrupt politi-
clans, seeks to compel the people of great
State to fill the greedy Golfers Of a misery
monopoly with rewards altogether dispro-
portioned to the services received, we have
a contempt which even the magnifcence
of the villainy cannot change to admira-
ton. Monopolies such as has been at
tempted by the California Steam Naviga-
ton Company-the doom of which is seal
ed, thanks to the honorable exertions of o
portion Of the Marysyille Merchants-are
bad enough, and the spirit which actuates
such attempts deserves severe reprobation.
But tie i'll effects of such scheme are
limited, and can only be felt by a portion
of the State at any time. They can be
readily overcome, too-as Marysville has
proved by an exertion of which even
small ortion of the community injured is
capable.
But in such a gigantic villainy as is per-
petrated by the Steamship Monopoly the
injury is far greater, and far less easily
remedied. 1t is not only that this monop-
oily wrings from those whose necessities
compel them to submit to its tyranny, two,
aye three fold, more than an honest price
for the benefits they receive, that we COM
plain-though this would be enough to
excite the Indignation of State. 1t is
not only because of the private griefs and
wrongs of those who are compelled to re-
main separated from kindred and friends,
on account Of their inability to pay the
Infamous and extortionate prices demand
ed for passage-though this would justify
much more than we have said.
The wrong committed, the evil wrought,
is not confined to portion of our people,
however large. 1t is California that is
wronged-Caifornia that suffers. The
growth of the State is retarded-its re-
sources remain undeveloped-its civiliza
ton is retarded, to fill the pockets of
soulless corporation. Who can tell how
many more Homes would even now be
smiling upon our valleys, and resting, like
CLEANS of sunshine, upon our mountain
sides, were it not for the misery policy
which seeks to wiring the last possible dol
lar from those who are. compelled to bestow
their unwilling patronage upon this Steam
Ship Monopoly?
The people of Sierra County are as
deeply agrieved in this matter as those OF
San Francisco and Sacramento. There
is deep feeling gainst all those who are
connected with this business, whether as
mere spectators, whose miserly souls will
not permit them to acquire colossal for
tunes by generously making their own in
terests, and the interests of the community
coincident-or politicians who may have
prostituted the influence conferred by, and
yet belonging to, the betrayed People, to
the selfish ends prompted by contempti-
bic avarice. x
GLAD TO HEAR IT.-Post Master Ger
non, across the way, contemplates fitting
up reading room in the Post Office build
ing, where information can be had for a
very triaing consideration. God speed