Los Angeles daily herald., 1875-09-10
The sentiment of the People.

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept 9.-At the
vast meeting of the friends of VIM.
G. Ralston, yesterday evening, at Un-
ion Hall, speeches were made by Ma
jor Smiley, Col. w. FL. L. Barnes,
Hon. Thos. Fitch, H. L. Williams, DR..
Shorb, Col. Donahue and Mr.. Boruck.
Col. Barnes, in answer to the Rul-
letin's charge of Mr.. Ralston's impli-
cation in the diamond swindle, said it
was said that he was responsible for
what is known as the diamond swim
die. Gentlemen, l have something to
say on that subject. In the course of
my professional business, it became
my duty to prepare the preliminary
papers for the organization of that
diamond company. know what Mr..
Ralston thought and what he felt. /
know that in his confidence iu the re-
port of one of the most distinguished
scientific mining engineers of this
country or any other, who declared
that to be genuine and most aston
ishing discovery, Ralston put his mon
ey in it. If he ever said one word in
its favor to a friend, or anybody
through hisinfluence; when that thing
was over, when the fraud that was
perpetrated upon every man concern
ed In that company had been disclosed
to the world, what did he do? This
man who undertook TO rob the public
with the diamond swIndle? He gave
them back their money out of his own
pocket (applause) aud it cost him over
three hundred thousand dollars; but
he did it like man, without mur-
mur or quiver. (Applause.) That
record, like every other record of that
mans life of which 1 ever heard, in
stead of containing for him a single
spark of dishonor, is but another trib-
ute to the honesty and integrity of his
life, and his willingness to suffer
to the last dollar and the last drop,
rather than that any man should
look him in the face and say: III suf-
fer through you." (Applause.) Mr..
Fitch was very severe in his remarks
on the Bulletin and Call.
He asked what part of human speech
can fully eulogize the man we have
lost? What brush of an artist or pen
of dramatist can depict the benefac-
tions of his generous life and the trag-
edy of his heroic death? His deeds
speak for him in tones that sound like
the blast of trumpets; his monuments
rise from every rood of ground in your
city; his eulogy is written on ten
thousand hearts.
Commerce commentaries his deeds
with her whitening sails and laden
wharves. Philanthropy chimes the
bells of all public charities, in attesta-
tion of his liberality; patriotism sings
M ff.ph ~ wi n n Nf hn
nations struggle, sent the ringing
gold of mercy TO chime with the flash
ing steel of valor. (Applause.) Un-
numbered deeds of private generosity
attest his secret charities. Sorrow has
found solace in his deeds. Despair has
been lifted into hope by his bounty.
There are charities whose heaven
blessing spires chronicle his donations
to the cause of religion; schools claim
him as their patron; hospitals own
him as their benefactor; art has found
in him supporter; science leaned on
him while her vision swept the inf
mite. The feet of progress have been
sandaled with his silver; he has up
held invention while she wrestled
with the dead forces of nature; he was
the life of all enterprise, the vigor of
all progress, the epitome and the rep.
resentative of all that is broadening
and expansive and uplifting in the
life of California. (Applause.) Would
you show honor and hospitality to
travellers renowned in letters, arts or
arms, Ralston was the princely host.
Did you wish to forward public or
private charity, RalstOn headed the
subscription list. Would you develop
new industry to enlarge the resour-
ces of the city, start new manufac-
ture and add wealth to the State, and
furnish hundreds of fathers with con-
tented and well paid toll, you went to
RalstOn for advice and assistance. He
impressed you with his power, he in
fused you with his energy, he tonched
you with his princely generosity, he
conquered you with his magnetism.
His vitality was like the flash of steel,
his enduring energy was like the
steady and swift flow of cataract,
His benelicence was like the copious,
searching philanthropy of the summer
rain. (Applause.) OF all her posses
sions the Commonwealth of Califor-
mia never owned anything more valu-
able than this mans life. (Applause.)
Of all her shrines there should be none
more sacred from desecration than his
rnapoory iAnplauSa \