New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-02
TO DIVIDE CALIFORNIA.
AND TO PURCHASE BAJA CALIFORNIA FROM
MEXICO.
TWO PET PROJECTS OF THE SOUTHERN coux
TIES WHICH WILL PRESENTLY BE URGED
WITH GRpAT YIGOR

WITH GREAT VIG0R
FROM An OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF rHg rRrBnr2l
Los Angeles, Cal. Jan. 1s.-TIlcre are two matters
OF vital interest TO California, and NJ general interest,"
TO the outside world. OF which very little fptimston
is ever gven except through the Southern Californian
press, which unfortunately cannot yet make an I'm
nressioa on public opinion east Of the ROCKY
Mountains. These questions are State division, eDa
the ACQUISITION OF Baja California The former Is v
no means new proposition. II was born with tho
STATE in 1850, when California was admitted To the
Union. The southern COMMITTEES formally protested,
but the documents through some hocus pocus, fsled
N reach the attention Of the senate The matter
was not allowed to drop, however, for snfhcent IN
epcnce was secured in 1850 to secure legislative con-
ont % the secession OF the southern counties on
thirds affirmative vote OF the residents. THIS
w.s given but in the hurry burly OF war times no'h
ing further was done in the matter.
II was lust as well that the movement oicd whcn
IL did for IL was supposed 10 be IN inc interest," o
the slave States. With the ending OF inc war ana
the consequent rapid development OF the ststc. inc
matter did not obtdc itself tie public until 1880
when ex- Governor John G.. Downey ana commHtes
of the finest legal talent in the southern par' OF '"e
state declared It their opinion that the enactment o.
1859, the subsequent election and all inc 'echn'oA
requirements had been properly observed anu 'o"'
Piled WITH and that the only remaining rcqureme"'
TO secure division the consent OF Congess inoe
tho matter stands at present, though inc as''ao""
has been consistently kept up here In the sou,n' oy
well organized though small party During tne ias' Wv"
months the campaign has become decidedly aggressive
and the rural press as well as nearly all OF the Los
Angeles and San Diego journals, have In the ma'h
expressed themselves In favor OF the PROJECT
geographically the division IS indicated naturally
rs expressed by a recent writer on the subject, AZ
follows: Southern California IS a distinct topo'
graphical division from Northern California From
Isnfr fatf linda
is high range Of mountains that run across the state
Bortheasterly latitude SO degrees, and efectuaiy
divide the State into two grand Typographical us
tricts. The influence OF these di, ding mountains
commonly known the Sierra Nevada Is very great
on the climate. Their high altitude OF 5000 feet and
MORE wrings from the southern trade winds their
vapors and shields the south from the northern wntry
blasts No more marked are the differences between
France and Italy on their respective sides OF the
Alps than are Northern and Southern California on
their respective sides of the Sierra Nevada
Industrally, the two sections are far apart, with
interests very little in common, and an intense
jealousy existing
Politically Aye. there's the rub The immigra-
ton into Southern California has been mainly from
Republican States with the result that at the last
Presidential election, the south saved the state no
being Democratic The argument s az arSe repre
sentation from its larger population. WIZ become =
powerful Democratic state, while me south VIII %
an uninfuental Republican one TINS Dy no means
follows however for purely party lines. North Gs4
fornia can be counted Republican. The probabilities
are that both states would be Republican oftener tnin
one would be Democratic. There be question but
what the issue will in short time become very i've
one and IL Is not unlikely that the division VIII take
place, The South is ambitious it is able TO PIT on
Statehood and 1T has about made up its mind that
will do SO.
As q rcsnt Of the discussion OF State division has
sprung ND the proposal TO acquire the peninsula Of
Baja California. geographically; glance at Tue
map shows that the peninsula Is simply an extension
~ Southp
Mexico by water It Is no uncommon 81, ma sis
on their way to San Diego and thence south 70 theI
posts The Territory Is eeetuaiy Guy c on iron
lis Mexican population is decreasing constantly while
the American and English are lust as rapid; IN
border line of San Diego County to swarm over by
hundreds in defiance Of exclusion acts, and ~ faet
almost nnumerable arguments showing that the United
states should obtain control Of the Territory are cited
by advocates of the scheme. s. -, All.
In discussing this subject, b. A. stephens; OF this
ments advanced against the proposition as follows
California; This is not Official. Minister Romero,
in recent magazine article on that subject spoke
o%y fG Se Tn s states about 1Sr
offered once to sell the peninsula for OF that
sum- She may again agree to sell, especially to a
Nation to whom She owes debt OF gratitude for hef
~ The Mexican Constitution forbids the sale Of
snch clause exists in the Mexican Constitution. In
Mexico Arizona. Nevada and California for 81 1000.
600. In 1854 she sold the GadSden purchase. IN
1850 she negotiated for the sale OF the peninsula.
Lower California is only federal territory like Alaska,
and is saable. a, vii, =.
3. The United States does not need it, This is
the expressed desire of Northern Caf0rnians who OPP
pose State division, and probably of foreign colonies
on the peninsula. A large number OF Mexican cltl,
zcns on the peninsula favor annexation. southern
California needs it, for IL will double her area ana re-
move the last objection to her getting statehood INC
United States needs it to prevent foreign power Is.
tabshng q vassaage there. She needs It to prevent
Chinese smuggling themselves the border, she
needs il to bring the waters Of the Colorado River
back into the Camilla Valley. She needs IL for the
proper protection OF the many American interests now
being established there
General William IL. Vandcver, Congressman rom rom
which was buried however, which provided for the
opening Of negotiations for the purchase OF the Terri
tory This he will again the subject ana
he is we'll backed by other members 1t is his pet
measure and IL persisency and eaInesness VIII Dflhs
the desired result, he will effect It,