Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-06-21
THE APPEAL TO TIE RECORD.

THE APPEAL TO TIE RECORD.
When Judge Temples decision in the
Gold Run mine case was rendered, we
stated that the position taken by the
Court was identical with that which this
journal had held throughout the discussion
OF the debris problem. Some of our con-
temporaries thereupon undertook to ques-
ton the accuracy of this statement, and we
then offered to prove the truth of what we
had said by extracts from our own files.
This morning we redeem that promise, and
present to our readers compilation from the
editorials which appeared in the RECORD
UNION last year, which fully and even re-
marksbly bears out every word we have
| said. We have headed these extracts
with one, from an article printed last Sep
TENDER, which expresses with really siDgu-
lar resemblance the theory embodied in
Judge Temples decree. The other ex.
cerpts will repay perusal, for they conclu-
sveIy prove that those of our contempt
raries who have SO freely charged US with
being in the interest of Che hydraulic
miners, and against the interest of the
valley, have shsmetully libeled US, and
| that our position from first to last has been
| guided and controlled by the desire to
secure the best possible arrangements for
all the interests concerned. Oar editorial
extracts, published elsewhere, show that
the RECORD UNION has faithfully and con-
sistently upheld the equities of the valley
| that it has at all times conceded the neces-
sity of stopping hydraulic mining if no
means Of holding back the debris could be
found that it has insisted upon the abso-
lutte right of the farmers to complete pro-
lection that in fact it has for years advo-
Gated precisely the same course which
Judge Temple has taken in his recent de.
cision.
Oar contemporaries who SO rashly ven.
tured to take issue with us upon this
question will now, we trust, be candid
and manly enough to admit that their
memories deceived them, and that they
had unintentionally misrepresen.ed the
RECORD UNION. We could easily have
multiplied proofs of the perfect consistency
of our position, for out Of Several hundred
articles written upon the debris question
it will be difficult to find one which does
not recognize the necessity of protecting
thu valley lands at all costs which does
not recognizs the entire justice of the
position of the farmers and which does
not advocate the cause of the valley resi-
dents, even while seeking remedies which
may permit the preservation of the mining
interest also. The truth is that this Jour.
nal was the first to point out the dangers
incident to hydraulic mining, and that it
has ever since been the most unfinching
defender of the rights of the farmers. It
has, however, not permitted extremists
aud shallow thinkers to control its course
Recognizing as the first duty OF its position
the conservation of all the interests in
yolved, it has resolutely refused to become
the channel of passion and prejudice, and
has as resolutely pursued those lines
which seemed to promise the most econom-
ical and least destructive settlement of the
whole question.
We have refused to admit the necessity
of stopping hydraulic mining until that
necessity was made apparent. 1t has not
been made apparent up to the present
time. The engineers, who are alone com.
petent advisers on such questions, have
after full examination declared it practical
bic to protect the rivers and the valley
lands without requiring hydraulic mining
to be abandoned. We believe that this
can be done. Judge Temple believes that
it can be done. But the RECORD UNION
and Judge Temple agree that until it is
done the working of the hydraulic mines
should be suspended. Our platform to.
day is precisely what it was last Septem.
ber as shown by the editorial of that date,
reproduced this morning. We say that if
remedial measures are feasible they should
be applied. But "if no such measures
can be devised, then, in natural justice,
hydraulic mining should cease, unless
"those directly proited by such operation
"shall prevent, at their own cost, all in
"iury to private property, and all damage
70 ba =
We say also that while the farmers are en-
titled to full protection, they ought to rest
content with that, and they ought not to
insist upon the destruction of great in.
dustry if they can secure themselves with
out such recourse
The positions of the RECORD UNION on
this whole subject are assuredly not such
as we have any cause to be ashamed Of
There is not an editorial expression on this
problem, from first to last, which we
should not cheerfully republish if occasion
arose. We. took at the outset course
which was based upon sincere determine.
ton to achieve the greatest good to the
greatest number, and we have followed it
logically and consistently to the present
hour. Neither Misrepresentation nor pref
udice nor ignorance nor perversity have had
any power to change our course in the past,
nor will they have in the future. Each
fresh development in the case has served
to vindicate our judgment and to confirm
the wisdom of our provision. Every
authoritative expression upon it has been
in full accord with the opinions of this
journal. The men whose experience,
learning, skill, render their views weighty,
have all been and are now with US. We
have endeavored to treat with moderation
and patience the querulous, frettish, or
aggressive attitude of those who, though
wewere battling for their interests, couldnot
or would not understand US. There is only
one charge which we will not bear, and
that is the charge Of inconsistency, and of
claiming for ourselves positions which we
have mot held. To such accusations we
shall reply as we have to day, by reference
to the actual language of our past editori.
ais. We shall also, as we do now, chal-
lenge our opponents to produce from our
files any editorial expressions which do not
consist perfectly with the extracts we here.
with present. We are not in the habit of
making dishonest or invalid claims, and we
may be supposed to know what we have
said in the past. The present recapitula.
tion proves that we have perfect light to
stand upon our record, and that our con.
temporaries who ventured to take issue
with us did not know what they were
talking about. The next time they invite
an exhibit of this kind they will do well to
make sure beforehand that they have some.