Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1879-06-27
EDS CALIFORNIA LETTER.

Special Correspondent of the Telegraph.
We have a sNew Constitution n'-our
state has. 1t was conceived on the sand
lot brought forth by convention assem-
bIad at Sacramento, and ratified by the
people on the 9TH of May. It is an exper-
Iment- and as such has diSarTanged the
bnsiIess Of our coast. The labOring man
has an idea that capital is oppressive. The
two have become antagonistic. A sort OF
Communistie party has sprung up IN our
midst, and by constant agitation have
forced a change in our organic law, which
laws greater burdens upon the rich by eX-
cassiTe taxation. The new Constitution
does not take effect until the Isl Of next
January, yet its influence is already being
felt. as rates of interest on loans has ad-
veneed and If the borrower has to pay the
less taxes it will be made up by charging
biDher interest, so it will come out OF the
moor man after all. Its influence has also
paralyzed the industries of our common
wealth. no new enterprises are planned,
nothing now is done outside Of the legiti-
mate and necessary order OF things. Cor
porations and companies arc doing the
least possible. Its influence has, at the
present time, struck q death blow to the
middle class who are conducting the busl-
ness of our coast; also to the laboring man
who depends upon the prosperity Of others
for his daily toll. No system IN our State
what it completely oYerturns. EVERY
one throws up his hands and the state takes
new deal" 1t may in the end work out
good, but at present we stand with folded
arms and wait the result. Election years
and election times always brings certain
excitement which is detrimental to business
prosperity. In adopting this constitution
we have vacated every State office. Just
now the different parties are contendlng IN
their nominating conventions and soon the
tickets will be in the Held. Ihen comes
tbe wranele over candidates, and from now
until the September election the minds OF
tbe neople will be agitated with the at
tendant campaign. The future outlook is
dark. and as Californian can see no way
ont Of our present dull times for year or
two at least, Next Spring and year a
President is to be nominated and elected.
Then comes a national wrangle which un-
settles the general prosperity. Surely our
time of deliverance is q long way on.
These are times that try the metal OF
men. and many take it hard, suicides are
too cannon, TIE old Californians who
have Eeen here since the early days OF our
StaUe's history, and have passed down with
Il through the era Of prosperity, when
WAGES were high, and wealth was within
the reach of any who would use moderate
share of industry and economy. They
monrn. with a sad remembrance, the loss
of the good old times, and would gladly
welcome the return of the stage coach days,
and the slow OK train to cross the plains.
Tbese two threads Of iron which span the
continent have wonderfully developed the
State. bringing in rush Of humanity, who
have scattered abroad over its hills and
valleys until every solitude echoes the hum
of industry, A gradual stream of people
nouring in from east and west have filled
rs s'chock FULL" until they are pushed OF
from the borders Of our rOverfilled commons
wealth and seek in our adj dining State
and Territories some relief from these dull
and stagnant times.
Oregon is receiving large share Of i'm
migrants this season. She is taking away
from US an industrious class OF people.
She IS bound to be Tieh-and in no distant
time-a populous State. Her soil is well
adapted to gram and grazing purposes.
Navigable rivers stretch hundreds OF miles
inland; railroads are beginning to spread
over her face, ike huge-spideF web, maxi
ing of easy access her remotest borders.
And when this vast empire OF rich agTicul-
turesl and mineral lands of Oregon and
Washington Territory shall have been de-
veloped there viii, no doubt, spring up
within their borders, somewhere on tide
water, great commercial city which may
take from San Francisco her laurels,
Notwithstanding this cry Of distress our
people will be lavish with their money, es-
peefslly at worshipping the goddess Of
= I I'D fror 90 n
Francisco. and on bright Sabbath morn
ing took my station on the dock at the
foot of Market street-where nearly all the
street railroads centre-and watched the
coming of the throng. Steamers decked
out with steamers and flags were lying at
their wharves, while bands of music sta
toned near endeavored to attract the
crowd, Here they come! Men, women
and children, dressed in holiday attire,
short scramble by runners to catch for
their respective boats the larger share, and
they move from the dock, and the bay is
Joyous with bunting, music and hurrahs,
as each sail away for days enjoyment in
some shady country grove. Those left be-
hind follow their desires, some worship at
the altar of the true God, others pay hom
age to Bacchus, to whom has been built in
this city temples Of attractive spleDdOr.
Venus Graves, and gets her share. There
is an absence of restraint, a void of moral
ity, pervadIng every department. This
unfettered freedom is what causes our peo-
ple to be such lavish devotees at the shrine
Of the goddess of pleasure.
In strolling around San Francisco one
meets about the same hustle and activity,
but q close observer will notice falling
off in building improvements, and the
number of houses that are placarded-To |
Let-are surely not evidences Of prosperity. |
This city keeps step with the times.
Ever ready to grasp any new idea, and am
bilious to place herself in the front rank. |
Her inhabitants are so cosmopolitan with |
probably fewer native Americans than |
other cities Of our union with half the pop |
ulation. Her wealthiest men are Irish. |
That nationality holding the balance Of
power-thus throwing the influence Of her !
municipal government into the lap Of the |
Catholic Church. The Jews control her |
merchandising, in fact, that faith monopo- |
lizing the wholesale trade of the coast. /
The Italians are an important factor-this |
class supply the vegetable and fish market !
OF the city. While "John Chinaman"
swarms among us in such numbers that he |
rules the labor market. Americans are
chinked in between the different layers,
and are poking their way up through many |
difficulties, turning their hands to anything |
where penny is to be found. Many young
men from the east who have been models /
in their quiet village homes, and would
scorn to do any menial labor, brought up
in strict orthordox manner, come to the
Pacific slope bringing their peculiar views
with them For short time they proudly
stem the current, and defy the food Of lib
eral ideas which seems to threaten them,
unless hasty retreat is made to The land
OF STEADY habits" Necessity compels
them to adopt some mode Of life which
they are careful to conceal from loved ones
at home.
In commercial circles there is but little
activity. The tonnage now in port being