New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-02-09
UNDER A NEW CONSTITUTION

CAUsE AND EFFECT OF KEARNEflsM'
49,, ,,.yc,sco rxyrRrp BY STOCK sPECULA rIoNs
Aypc CHINESE CHEAP LABoR-A RECKLESS LEADfh
or . DISCONTINUED PEOPLE-How THE PROMISE
OF REFORM HAS BEEN KEPT.
The social and political condition of Califor-
MIA. which rendered it possible for party LED
by Denis Kearney to triumph at the re-
cent election. is ascribed by q correspond
ent of THE TRIBUNE to the Wild STOCK
specuations OF the past ten years, when nave
rendered the people dissatisfied with the re-
suits of steady industry, and to the lntrOduc-
ton of Chinese labOrers in such numbers as 10
reduce wages and throw many young men
out of employment. The discontinued classes
found leader in Keamey, and the WORKING
mems party won q victory with the cry OF he
form. How far the promise OF purifying the
City and State Governments has been Kept Is
told by the correspondent.
NOVEL REFORM METHODS IN CALlFOkNlA'
CAUSES WHICH LED TO THE woRKINGMENs VIC
rony-A CITY GOVERNMENT WHICH WOULD
FURNISH SIDE SHOW FOR A CIRCUs-THE LEG
IsLATURE WRESTLING WITH THE NEW CONsIl-
TUITION.
fFaoM an OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
San Francisco Jan. 26.-The recent election In
Mountains on account of its peculiar character and
the promise which it gave OF reform in state Gov
eminent Distance lent an added attraction to this
promise but of the struggle between the conendinR
factions there could be only one opinion. 1t pos
sessed the perennial interest of dog-hght Inc
most yrtuous observer felt an unregenerae pleas
ure in the spectacular ou-cropping OF those pas
sions which are seen In all their ful-bown beauty
at Democratic conventions. There was SO WHO "a
tapRIe Of beasts and 80 fearful an uncertainty about
the result. To drop metaphor, when the votes were
counted. il was found that the Republicans had Sc
cured the State officers that the Workingmen had
gained control of che city government; that the
Democrats had obtained a few officers and repre-
sentaton IN the Legislature, and that the New Con-
strtution party (alias Honorable BilksD that had
tried 10 affiliate with everyone. had got nothing.
The Workngmen won their victory by the cry, so
hackneved to the New-York ear, OF reform. Ii had
very little more of the genuine ring here than at
ALBANY but il had not lost It's freshness by TOO ire
quent use II was attractive and IL led to the pas
sage of the Constitution, and finally to the victory
of the PARTY that camored against capital and de-
rnanded impossible rights for labor. The state
has now been under the new Constitution for nearly
a month reform has ruled the city government Tor
two months What 1t Is natural to ASK have Deem
the results Of the policy which first found express
sion on the Sand-lotsi What are the first fruits OF
reform and what is the promise which 1t holds out
for the near futurei
The answer is moi d ieult for the local city gov
ernment: for the State Government 1t ls The city
owes its woes mainly to the stock Exchange and to
Chinese immigration Ten years ago 1t was at the
height of its prosperity The debt was light; real
estate had risen rapidly in value; the growth IN
building and improvement was maryellousi the
great ComstOck Lode was beginning 20 podr INTO IL
The stream of treasure which was maintained tor
five years; the surrounding country was ming up
RAPIDLY with Eastern farmers who were demon
strating that scientific agriculture paid even on rich
land Then came the season of wild stock gambling
and the rush OF Chinese cheap labor Ola meth
DDS of making q fortune became too slow for the
ppeculator Everyone caught the fever Of specula-
ton. Capital came from all quarters OF the state
and by the law which applies equally TO stock gam
bling and TO faro II passed into the hands Of the
few Inside dealers. Business became demoral-
lied. manufacturers struggled to keep up the sem
blauce Of life ana the whole city was cursed with
the reaction which follows strong speculative ex-
element. Those who were not ruined by stocks
continued 20 dabble in them from force OF habit,
and the assessment machine, which was worthy OF
The ingenuity OF the devil, began 10 grind the faces
of the credulOus poor. Since then II Is no exaggera
ton 60 say that the hard-earned savings OF fully
twothirds of the laboring people OF tins city have
a,ne into the pockets OF the managers and manipu-
lators of the Bonanza and other mines. The per-
es;ence with which people will pay assessments and
cling TO the forlom hope of ultimately making
fortune has been we'll understood By the large deal
efs
Then mon the tor of these evils came the cry
ing abuse Of Chinese labor. The supply OF un-
skilled labor was far IN excess Of the demand, and
Iii Ia her TX
up class of young people in this city who could get
no work In the East they would have sought en-
ployment in factories in the many places which
provide work for those who have simply q common
schooY education Trades Unions helped TO keep
them out of the few factories here, and the tempta-
lion toemplOy cheap Chinese labor was too strong
for large con tors farmers aud others TO resist
The result has been the uprising OF the hoOdlum.
With him has fraternized eIrish day-laborer. who
has los, money in stocks and has become embttered
by this loss and by the rivalry of the Chinese. lie
has seen his wages gradually reduced. and In toe
many eases taste OF the pleasures of loaing about
the Stock Exchange has untitled bin for any steady
honest work
To this Uniformed element Of disaffec-
tion came Kearney as Prophet, breathing ven
aeance against capitalists, mineowners and all the
allied forces which oppressed "labor." He found
the time ripe for his demagogism. He secured a
following because he gave expression TO the Wild
longings for an overthrow OF the established order
OF things. On the Sand-lot-the place where the
bones Of the first settlers had been deposited-he
held his meetings. aud poured out the torrent of
SANDER aud blasphemy which delighted his audi
snce His speeches reeked with the gore of monopo-
iists and bondholders; he Wanted his courage TO
follow the oppressors TO the death ne held out the
prospect of rich municipal Offices to those who fol-
lowed him. His listeners were ignorant. fanatical,
credulous. They acted as one man. and almost in o
A., locau,a a formidable Doliticai mower With the