Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-12-17
The New-sta,e aues,ion.

The HERALD, in favoring the question
IF State division, has been actuated by a
belief that it would be better not only
ior California, but the whole Pacific
Coast. However much the idea may be
derided, it is fact that groups of States
having parity of interest in Congress
sional legislation are successful or not in
Washington just in proportion to the posi-
tive representation they have in Congress.
We all know that with reference to appro-
priations the Lake States secure all the aid
they demand for improvements along
the inland shores, simply because of their
great power in Congress. The same is
true of the Eastern and Middle States
with reference to appropriations for har-
Dor improvements, coast defenses, etc.
So with the group Of States bordering the
Mississippi river, when they require the
government to make improvements
in. that great water channel. On
the other hand, the Pacific Coast
has been treated by Congress in
most niggardly and parsimonious
manner. Does anyone suppose that
such a work as the creation of new
harbor at Wilmington would be sn1bbed
with SO contemplate an appropriation as
$2s, 600 this year if we had the influence
in Congress which a new State would
give us? Is it not probable that if this
Coast had the influence which an in
crease of Senators would give it, the har-
Dor wants of San Luis Obispo, Santa
Barbara and Ventura would have re-
ceived some adequate consideration be-
fore this time? Nothing whatever has
been done by Congress for Port Hartford,
yet perfectly safe and commodious
harbor could be made there at very little
outlay.
The principle of local self.government
lies at the root of the American system,
and the nearer the governing forces of
States can be brought to their constitu-
encies the greater will be the benefit de-
rived by the people from their respective
governments. 1t is fact that the in
terests of Southern California have here
tofore been treated by the Legislature in
about the same way that the interests
of the Pacific Coast have been
treated by Congress. But let US sup
pose that after the next apportionment
of representatives in the Legislature We
should have counterbalancing power
to the north in that body, what would
be the result? The legislation we would
require with reference, let us say, to
irrigation, would be opposed by the
northern counties, and perhaps the
legislation they would require
on other subjects would be
antagonized by the southern
counties. Here is the groundwork for
an irrepressible conflict, in which the
interests of both sections would neces.
sarily be made to suffer. The benefits
of local self-government cannot accrue to
the people of either section under such
circumstances, for whether legislation
come to deadlock or is in favor Of either
section, important interests north or
south, or in both sections, must
suffer. But if the State were divided,
there would be none of this clashing OF
interests. The Legislature of each State
would be in perfect accord with its con-
stituency. Their respective interests
would be understood and guarded. The
government OF each would be brought
nearer to the people of each, and there
would be harmony and homogeneity in
both the separated sections. 1t is the
merest fustian, in this practical and pro-
gressive age, to talk about the hallowed
memories of our common history, etc.,
so blending California into an indivisible
whole that separation would be a crime
against our glorious traditions. That
kind of talk may furnish themes for
schoolboy defamation; but we are deal.
ing with hard facts, with question that
must be answered upon its merits
as touching the actuslities and
the future progress and prosperity
of both sections of the State. We yield
to none in love for California, in pride
for its auspicious American birth and in
admiration of its wonderful development
and its rapid advance from pastoral to
condition of matchless industrial wealth
and power. But we are not foolish
enough to let sentiment interfere with
manifest and logical destiny.
Our interests require that we should
have increased influence in Congress.
This we shall secure by making two
States out of California. Our interests
require that we should have legislation
specially suited to the wants and the de.
velopment of our section. This we can
only get by the erection of Southern Cali
fornia into sovereign State. We would
leave the old State with regret, but we
would hail the new star as the harbin-
ger Of the grandest commonwealth in the
whole galaxy of American States.
AFEw months ago, under Chief of
Police whom they were trying to hound
out of office on false issue, our amiable
and able cOntemporaries raisad a oroot