Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-01-01

are now clogging the Treasury vaults to no
purpose. AS matter of course the pub
lie had no use for a deprecated and over
valued money when they were supplied with
all the paper based on gold they needed. The
| danger, however, was and is that by coming
silver plentifully it may be forced into circu-
lation, when its effect would be to drive out
gold, and to give the country single silver
standard, with greenbacks based on silver,
and following its depreciation. That was the
most serious danger in the currency situation
a year ago, and it remains so to-day. In
regard to the financial heresies with which
politics have swarmed SO many years, the
Greenbackers appear to be the sole survivors
of the crowd, and now they have changed
their position without appearing to realize
the fact.
As a very practical answer to great deal
of demagogic froth and clap-trap, the Secre-
tary of State instructed our Consuls in
Europe to collect labor statistics in the coun-
tries where they resided. The result has been
a series of very valuable reports, showing
/ conclusively that labor is better paid and fed
in the United States than anywhere else in
the world. This exhibit came in good season
to stop the mouths of certain canting impos-
| tors who had undertaken to persuade the
| American workingmen that they were some
| how crushed and trampled upon 1t has
| proved, furthermore, that not only are the
| United States the Paradise of Labor, but
! that California is the most eligible part
of the United States. Yet, in despite of
these facts, it is in California that Kearney-
ism has had its origin and maintained
its existence. The general and quite
rapid growth of all kinds of business and
manufactures, however, put an end, at least
for the time, to those movements on the part
of Labor which threatened disturbance in
the spring. Quite a general and extended
strike was abandoned, and in full work and
good wages were speedily forgot TIE themes
which during periods of stagnation and press
ure enlisted all their attention. Had the
United States possessed a merchant navy,
and been unfettered by protective tariff, the
past year would undoubtedly have been far
more prosperous than it has turned out.
For under existing circumstances the people
have had to struggle at every upward step,
and they have been weighted and handi-
capped by the barbarous fiscal system
whose retention gives the lie so fatty
and persistently to our vain-glorious
boast of national intelligence. We have
therefore done as well as we could, though
not as well as we ought to have done, and the
same causes must render all further progress
difficult and laborious. In politics, the year
has not been remarkably productive, the
theft of Maine at its close being decidedly
the most sensational episode of it, The
! Democratic programme of the extra session
OF Congress was simply bold but ill-advised
attempt to provide the means of counting-in
Democratic President, in advance of the
election. 1t did not deceive the country for
moment. The purpose of the Democrats
to employ force at the South and fraud at the
North was everywhere recognized, and the
answer was series of crushing Democratic
defeats all through the November elections.
A feature of the year deserving special
mention was the enthusiastic reception ac-
corded General Grant on his return from a
two years tour of the world. Some time
previously an attempt had been made to
arrange a political reception, but it fell fiat.
Finally no political significance was attached
to the demonstration. but it was so emphatic
and pronounced that it seems to have been
generally regarded as an indication that
Giant can have the Presidency if he wants it.
The influences which have wrought SO extra
ordinary change in popular sentiment since
the departure of General Grant after the
close of his second administration deserve to
be analysed, if only to show upon what Pc
culiar and irrelevant grounds public opinion
may be established Whatever the causes of
the change, however, its existence remains
the same, and at this moment it seems
scarcely doubtful that General Grant is the
foremost nominee for the Presidency During
the past year several enterprises have been
begun, looking to the development of those
immense resources which the West contains.
and which, notwithstanding all that has
been written about them, are still
scarcely more than scratched. Railroad
building and settlement and cultivation have,
as always, gone hand in hand The Southern
Pacific has been quietly pushing southwark
through Arizona and New Mexico, and lay
ing the foundations for very important ac-
cession to the trade of California. The ia
ciities for shipping the produce of our har-
vests to Europe are in fact being increased so
rapidly that in few years this freight will
beyond a doubt find its way overland to tide
water on the Gulf of Mexico, and thence to
Liverpool and London by swift steamers,
thus putting the long passage around the
Horn in the limbo of obsolete institutions,
and discounting the best results OF whatever
interoceanic ship canals may be constructed.
The future indeed is full of promise, and the
year now closed has seen the commencement
Of many undertakings which will ameliorate
the lives of millions and elevate the human
race.
The PRIZE STORIES. There have now been
fled three stories in competition for the
REcoRD-USIoN $500 prizes. The lists remain
open for competitors for the prizes up to
January 18th inclusive While SO many COM