The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-09-07
q John raui /. ON Ral.ton.

l W
York Tribune: 80 10 = q l4S
William G. Ralston WIS the most restle|
and ambitious man I ever knew, aud amor
restless and ambitious men nv 10. has .'>".--1.
| paIly fallen. Nothing short of all coul
satisfy the man. As IN business, so Wit
pleasure. For pleasure In itself he did M
really care-indeed, much doubt il b
Ikcew what it was. Lavish surrounding
contributed little, to his happiness, but b
maintained tbs establishment of prince.
For horses as horses he cared very little
and about horses as horses he knew less
but his stables were full OF the most famou
goery For wine he bad no inordinate fond
ness, think, but down 10 his cellars yol
found brands which are commonly supposed
to be reserved for the tables Of royalty alone
His hospitality" was marvellous; but
do not know that any one can say be wa
hospitabe. Go to him with q letter Of intro
duction-or without one if you happened t.
| be an eminent editor, prlze-fgbter, lawyer
theologiap, horse-thief, or member OF any
one of the learned professions-and he In
ssts upon you making his house yoar hons
while you stayed, furnishing you with
horses, mboats, palace-cars, or anything
else you wanted to 60 with when you
went. Invited down to his country seat, you
were at liberty to remain as long as you
pleased, and perhaps you would not zee your
host more than once during your visit. The
whole rancho and all il contained were at
your disposal, however; and II man could
not enjoy himself with such freedom OF
range as this the fault surely could be but
bis own. have heard it said that the Bank
of California allowed him S25, 900 year
wherew,h to entertain eastern visitors.
Again. have heard it stated that no limie
was fixed, but that a carte blanche was given
him To entertain valuable visitors as he
pleased, and that at the end Of the year he
drew for the total expense incurred.
You have heard of the Bank Of California,
of which William G.. RsIston was president
at the time Of his death, perhaps. DO you
know what it was! No? Well, the Bank
of California was William G. Ralston. AS
for the directors or trustees, all. they were
good men and rich meD, undoubtedly and
as such they, in common with other stock
holders, will now have an opportunity OF
performing the first real duties which the
honorable situation Of stakeholder or direc'
tor makes imperative Paying in u
handsome assessment to make their STOCK
good. Thus the end crowns the work, and
perhaps some day the day of dummies will
be done.
The Bank of California was restless and
ambitious. in direct response to the charac-
teristcS OF its founder. The TWO pulses beat
together. Asa synony me Cor strength, its name
on the Pacific coast long ranked next to that
of the Bank OF England. AS power, the
Bank of England was but country school
master in comparison with this most dcspotlc
Caliph--locally considered, L mean. The
Bank of California either controlled, or meant
ultimately to gain the control, of everything
on the coast. 1t was al any time ready TO
contract to take all the quicksilver, all the
cattle, or all the wool that the country pro.
duced. 4 shall slice Of valuable mine
would not be touched at any price. But 60
10 it with a controlling interest to dispose OF,
and you could name your own ternS--that
is to say, if William G. Ralston wanted it.
Anything he wanted, from 4 Congregational
church to mountain in the utmost W lder-
ness of Nevada, the Bank of California was
willing to buy or take on deposit.
1t never seemed to me that William c.
Raston did business for The purpose OF
making money exactly. He did business
merely for the sake Of doing business, and
this, to my thinking, is not he legitimate end
VI IL luC tASiItulCuh aiOuS
is wanted, why not gamble! Why do bust
ness unless you do it with money success
in view: If it's to come to the same thug
at last |, for one. had rather lounge than
seize the greasy reins Of commerce in my
mad grasp. Sooner far would go chario.
teerng through the world in an oX-cart than
to drive at random tandem. So with plea.
sure. II there's no fun in it, | don't want
any. The MN who doesn't like drinking
for its own sake is q fool 10 get drunk; and
why should one who's not toud Of riding take
the risk OF b, oxen neck simply because bis
neXi-door neiShbor joys round on horse.
buck?
RalSton was not bad man in reality.
True, he did many things which are COM
monty esteemed tad; but l do not think
that he put much heart into them. There
was little of earnestness or vim about any OF
his designations seeing another person DO
thing be thought it was the thing to do, and
there must be fun in il. He never wanted
to be counted out On anything. In very
similar way be did much good. So did the
Bank of California. 1t encouraged many
praiseworthy enterprises. developed valuable
lent its shoulder frequently to
public improvements where banking n-
stiluton conducted on prudent principles
would not have lent fiGger. On Que occa-
sion 1t even lent money to me-ls there need
to say more: