, 1873-09-11
TIE CALIFORNIA RING.

1ho IAto election in California rreaonta some
foatures OF groat interest to eyory mau who do
siros q reformation In politics. Tho iBsuoB In
that State woro not undclnod nor uncertain,
nor "aa tho strength Of tho Republican and
Domocratio parties 30 unequal as to make
third party essential to spirited campaign. On
tho contrary, the State has always been very
evonly divided, and party linos hayo boon drawn
worry close, 30 TINT both OF the old parties folt
highly confident Of victory. Undor these cir
oumstanoos, It is ovidcnt that for any third party
to achieve succese, or oven respectable vote,
thoro must have been : general foeling tbat
from neither Of Tho existing parties could
any good bo expected. That this WAS tho case
tho result OF the election has nbundantly proven.
During tho last six yoars, California, and, In
fact, the whole Pacific coast llaB been dominated
by Railrond Ring that for autlacity aud tyranny
has novor beon surpassed. While this Ring ro-
mainod nnbrokon no man could eafely oppose 1t.
businoas men dared not malse tho least opposl-
ton, lost they should bo ruined by discrimina-
tionB against themselvcs. No politician could
vonturo to speak or not agniust Stamford, Hunt
ington, and Crockor without boing consigned to
oblivion by thoir influence.
The revolution which has now been succoss-
ful VAS finally forced upon tho people by tho
continual encroachmontB Of tho mon who had
absorbed the Central Pacific Railroad. The oloo-
tion Of the last previous Legislature was made
the teat, and two tickets only woro practically in
tho aold,-tho Railroad ticket and tho Anti-Rail-
road ticket. The latter waa generally HucceHs-
ful but whom the Legislature mot it vss found
that tho Ring had simply been playing gamo
Of "hoads win, tails you loHo," md t1,nt thoiz
power raa avon greator than boforo, The aamo
trick was again attempted at this election,
and the Republican md Democratic nominees
throughout tho State were equally committed to
tho railroad interest," Tho Autobiography party,
headed by Gov. Booth and tho Sacramento
Union, now made q determined bolt. The
pledge required was merely to support Booth
for the Unitod States Senate. Tho tost would
eoem to bo an inadequate ono but for the threat
which thia nomination implied. It moant COM
ploto Investigation Of the affairs and manage.
A4lpAt VI tA40 SG4blAl IAE1uC COMPANY,
and tho opening to public inspection Of awin-
die creator in amount and moro acandalous in It's
character than tho Credit Mobilier. This Con-
tract and Finance Company, as 1t is called, was
engineered by Stanford, Huntington, tho two
Crockers, and one or two oshcra. These
mon have accumulated in few yearB
fortunes reaching far into tho millions, and thoy
naturally objected to any investigation into tho
manner in which their plundor Was acquired.
Ono California Congressman, Luttrcll, from tho
Third District, iB already preparing for cam
patgn in tho noxt Congress- aganst this oombi-
nation, and, if Booth goes into tho Senate, it ia
likely that tho Contract and Finance Company
will DO hauled over tho coals with as little regard
to the ancr feelings OF human nature aa was its
slamoHo twin, tho Credit 1robilier Of Amorica.