, 1878-01-05
The New Year.

Inc clOSllS VI tuC y cstI Au'
the opening of new ono, is
period for reflection upon tn
last stage marked by this eve
recurring time, and the forma
tion ofplans for the future found
ed upon the experiences of th'
past. We do not propose to in
flct upon our readers homily
upon this subject, but to cal
their attention to the abundant
cause of graduation we have as
a community in view Of many
evils which have afflicted other
sections of the country and the
world during the past year,
showing US to be one of the most
highly favored communities on
tho face of the globe. During
the past year the cry Of "bread
or blood" wrang from the me-
cessities of hnndreds of thoaL
sands of starving operatives, has
resounded across our continents,
from the Atlantic to the Pacific,
accompanied by lswless de-
struction of millisns Of property
and many human lives, without
bringing relief to- the sufferers.
Our great cities are ovcsrun with
pauperIsm and crime; several of
the heretofore most prosperous
Of the Western States have not
yet recovered from the terrible
grass-hopper sconrge; which de-
vastated their fields and reduced
to beggary thousandsof the most
industrious and thrifty of their
population. Continued dr0uth,
for successive seasons, has made
deserts Of the most productive
fields and cattle ranges Of Cali
fornia, and tho Chinese pla que of
cookie labor has not only y reduced
the entire laboring classes Of
California to condition, of me-
NAL servitude, but has taken the
bread from tho mouths Of thou
sands upon thousands Of white
laborers, their wives and chill
dren, and given it to hesthen
dogs. The city Of San Francis
co, the richest city in the world,
in proportion to popasation, pre-
sents a contrast of inordinate
wealth acquired without labor,
and abjcct poverty caused by
no demerit,. which cannot be
found in any other community
in any portion of the earth, and
which never could exist where
the laws afford equal protection
to all and the social organization
is based upon the principles OF
"equal and exact justice to all,
special privileges to none;'
without which the republican
system of government is snare
and a delusion. The millions of
dollars accumulated in the hands
of a few, while thousands are
starving for bread in land
teeming with plenty, is the in
evitablc consequence of special
legislation; special privileges to
the few at the expense OF the
many; taxing all the neeessarles
of life for the exclusive benefit
Of wealthy manufacturers, while
opening our ports to the slave
Iaborers Of heather lands tC
compete with the labor Of oul
own citizens; subsidies of mill
ions of dollars to corporations
which at the same time are vest
: ed with Special privileges which
make thousands Of 1aborers de
pendent upon them for employ
; ment by which they can carr
their daily bread. The men wht
} are enjoying millions from th'
people through special privileg
, es, uniformly make thoir labor
; crs staEd all the losses resulting
: from a stagnation in business, O.
turn them out to starve whel
: their labor ceases to return larg,
profits, regardless Of the immense
wealth their labor had helped t.
accumulate; hence the riots Q
last season. Thousands Of per