Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-10-09
such an incubus and such barnacles to its

such an incubus and such barnacles to its
prosperity as are the Chinese.
As an illustration of how they retard
the progress of the State and check deslr-
able immigration. let me cite a case in
point A personal friend who for many
years has been extensively engaged in the
manufacture of cigars in the State
of Connecticut, and who was also
n Of the visiting members of
the Grand Army, told me on his
way out that If California impressed him
favorably he would most likely remoye his
factory there, including the greater part of
his hands, many of whom had expressed q
strong desire TO live in California. / met
him in San Francisco a few weeks later,
and asked what conclusions he had arrived
at. He said he. was thoroughly pleased
with the country; that it more than fulfilled
his expectations; hat he SHOULD very much
like to live in California, but that he would
have to abandon the idea, as he found that
the manufacture of cigars was controlled
by Chinese, and from the wretched and
miserable manner in which they lived he
and his men could never hope to compete
with them unless degraded to their level"
"If the hundred thousand or more COO
lies now in California were to attempt TO
settle in any one of the States east of the
Rocky mountains it would ~precipitate
inevitable war and bloodshed. Nor
would any other city government
in the Union tolerate so much filth, dis
ease, vice and degradation as is permitted
to exist by its municipal authorities in the
Chinatown of San Francisco. If California
will derive no other benefit from the Grand
Army -Encampment, it will at least have
made many influential converts to its anti
Chinese feelings among the visiting COM
rades-converts who, in the near future,
may be of great service towards securing
such Congressional anti Chinese legislation
as may be of material benefit to the Pacific
coast"
But what about the persecution and
abuses to which the Chinese in California
are subjected, and which we frequently
read about in the East?"
"They are base libels on a most peace
able and kindly people. There are more
instances-yes, two to one-of such few
Chinese as live in cities like New York or
Chicago being abused and stoned, than in
all California. During all the time that |
was on the Pacific coast l never saw the
hair of a C~hinaman's head touched. They
go about everywhere, and at all hours of
the day and night unprotected and uumo-
Tested, unless by the proverbial small boy
who occasionally will throw a stone at a
passing Chinaman, but who is invariably
checked and reprimanded by the first
pasSer-bv. No, sir the stories you read
and hear about the Chinese in California
being abused and maltreated are downright
lies and unworthy of belief"
"Outside of San Francisco, what part of
California impressed you most favorably ?"
Twas much charmed with the southern
part of the State. The vicinity of Los
Angeles and Riverside is a perfect paradise,
and is almost beyond description. There
is nothing like it elsewhere on the Contin-
ent. Within the past few years large
fortunes have been invested in that partic-
ular section of the State, and Improvements
on a grand scale have been made. The
cultivation has been brought to SO high a
standard that what was formerly a barren
wilderness has been transformed into a
Garden of Eden. But there are other parts
of the State that possess equal merit. The
Sacramento valley, also the counties of
Amador, Placer, Butte and others have
great possibilities before them. But, from
lack of energy or enterprise OF the part of
its people, the merits and resources of these
upper counties have not been made so gen.
orally known. Why, for years before l
visited California, | heard of no other sec
ton of the State but the southern counties,
until | began to imagine that that was the
only part of the State of any value. Dur
ing the encampment numerous excursions
were held, and among them was one to a
large vineyard about fifteen miles out of
Sacramento, known as the Natoma. 1t
was the good fortune of a number
OF friends and myself TO attend
this excursion, and what we saw
was a perfect revelation to us. Most of US
had never seen a vineyard of over three or
four acres. Imagine our feelings when we
found ourselves dropped in the heart of
two thousand acres of vines. 1t was a sight
long to be remembered; while the treatment
received at the hands of the management
of this noble vineyard was truly Cali
~fornian. All the choicest wine and
fruit that we could eat and drink
and carry away were showered upon
us. We were generously extended the
freedom of the vineyard, and many went
among the vines and cut off enormous
clusters of magnificent grapes, some of the
punches weighing six or seven pounds.
What we saw at this vineyard and all
along the route of the excursion convinced
US that all of that part of Central Cali
fornia possesses wonderfully productive
soil, and is destined to a great and i'm
portant future"
The above is but one of many similar
conversations that the writer has held,
since leaving home, with people who re-
Gently visited California. In this particular
case, as well as in most other circum-
stances. the parties interviewed were not
aware hat your correspondent is a resi-
dent of California. 1t is, therefore, safe to
assume that the opinions expressed were
not mere flattery to a Californian, but the
sincere and honest expression of intelligent
observing visitors.
The golden opinions formed of California
by the Grand Army guests must certainly
be gratifying to the people of our State, and
in more ways than n are sure to be fruit
full of good results. H. w.
Fair Woman at the Bank.