National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-12-19

THE MINERS AND THE LOBBYISTS.
The people of the Pacific coast, especially those
particularly interested in mining, are far away
from the national capital, and have few oppor-
tunities, except through their Senators and Rep
resentatives to speak or be heard in behalf Of
their rights when their interests are at stake.
Miners are accustomed TO great risks, sacrifices
and dangers: they are a bold, energetic class of
men, through whose enterprise and hazardous
undertakings the financial world is kept health
Jul and strong. But they pale before the mere
rumor Of a distant danger, which is beyond their
power TO grappIe with, and the report OF a scheme
to pass laws 10 impose burdens upon them, which
fOreshadOW future litigation and enormous fees to
lawyers, or which threatens to rob them Of their
castles in the air, while they are hopefully
scratching gravel, or hammering rock on bleak
deserts and in inhOspitable regions depresses
their spirits and causes them to tremble at the
very name Of some enemy whom they would de-
spise TO notice amid their sage brush hills, or in
their rugged mountain camps. Sutro was the
butt Of their Iokes-the smallest man in camp
while in their presence during the recent cleo
lions in Nevada. Ills pretensons to the United
States Senate only caused them to smile and
touch the crown Ct their heads with significant
shake and a LOOK Of pity, or perhaps they would
get him in a corner and ''iOsh' him lust for
luck" but when it Is noticed that Sutro has
eLaLlGN lOA AuO A1del-lVI W usullH lOu-lOT eOLuG
where, no one knows where-then visions Of
schemes, oppressive laws and distant contests
among people who are like foreigners to their
interests; they tremble like children lest some
unexpected evil should be plotted while they are
defenceless and poTerless to be heard.
Our exchanges indicate the fact in many in
stances. The brave man guails before the rumor
that the lobbyist is at work, and why not? His
interests are at stake when their character
=
prompted to these remarks by noticing recent
comments on the departure Of Mr. Sutro from the
Pacific coast for the East. While there he was
the subject simply Of light remarks; now he is
again the subject Of speculation and supposittious
comment. 1t is evidently feared that he may
spring SEINE new device TO cover his scheme to
extort, through the power of Congressional act
q royalty or subsidy Of $4,000 day from one
community Of miners, expressing all others, per-
haps, by general enactment to secure his own
designs. He is looked upon as a dangerous man
when at distance, when his statements are made
TO men who are little qualified to Judge of their
merits. Some notices Of his departure seem to in
dictate, however, that the miners take comfort in
the fact that his recent foolish campaign in Ne
vada has exhausted his funds, and, therefore, his
power to injure them. The Sacramento Record,
which has just come to our desk, in an editorial
headed ''To Lobby for the Bore" says:
"Sutro, like his dissOlving views, has gone
from the gaze Of the Nevada public, and will be
billed for New York, Philadelphia, Washington,
Baltimore, or anywhere else where an audience
may be had to witness HIS magic lantern perform
ance. Mr.. Sutro is not flush, and his lobby oper-
atoms for this winter will he, perfOrce, honestly
devoid Of cOrruptioDs In fact, Sutro has fallen
into disfavOr with the trustees of his company,
and it is said that each is applying TO the other
the TeiTigerating process known as freezing out.
Prior 70 the departure Of Mr.. SutrO he leased to
J. q. Lewis, formerly Of the Reno Crescent, the
Virginia IHdcpendent for the nominal sum Of one
dollar per month. Prior to this lease the paper
cost SutrO $50 per week. Lewis hopes and eX-
poets TO make 1t stand alone. In the meantime
work runs low on the tunnel: but sixty men are
employed, and the rate Of progress is but four
teen feet per day."
We think, however, that the miners need not
be so nervous about the security Of their rights
or course it is difeuIt in the rusbof legislation,
as during the last session, when amendments
were tackled on by SutrO to innocent bills and
passed without examination in committee, to let
the miner be heard; but there always comes a
check to such schemes, and the exposure which
inevitably follows kills forever the lobbyist to
undertake to perpetrate a wrong. Mr.. Sutro as
a tunnelist is in legitimate business, and 1t is
not in the power Of Congress to deprive him Of
his rights nor can private parties deprive him Of
his rights in court; but when Mr.. Sutro under
takes to tunnel Congress for mine Of plumber,
under the shield OF his legitimate enterprise and
to build up a ruinous monopoly on the properties
Of enterprising, daring and successful American
miners for the sole benefit Of European capital
lists he becomes bore himself that will not be
tolerated. HIS scheme was too we'll ventilated
last spring TO be revived again, and he himself
as q lobbyist has lost his influence to do the
miners harm. The miners need not fear; the
present Congress is not we'll constituted or tenn
pered for big Jobs and the nation is never going
to kill the goose that lays its golden egg.