The record-union., 1892-05-23

all, to the establishment here by govern
mental assistance of reduction works,
which Will make some central point in
tins country the metalliferous capital of
the world. 1t is absurd. and it has been
standing absurdity for fifty years, that
fnetailIterous country such as is found
west OF the Rocky Mountains should not
nave established at more than one place
perhaps reduction works at Govern
mental expense, where the accumulated
knowledge of the world relating to met
ailurgy would be brought to bear in the
deVelopment OF our mineral resources.
AS 1t is, we must appeal to the knowledge
OIL swansea from the ignorance of West
ern America whenever refractory ores
are discovered.
we have the same interest in COM
merce with the great civilized world as
the people of the East, and the construc-
tlon or the Nicaragua Canal alone will
confer upon us the patrimony of pros
penty which naturally belongs to US
When our natural resources are deVel-
oped, and their development will depend
upon an economic relation with the coun-
tries needing and demanding them. Our
State has products peculiar to it alone,
and 1t has the capacity to produce them
in unlimited quantities. 4 fiscal policy
advised with reference to their develop
ment means the establishment of q
Wealth-producing force in this State
which, while not competing with the
productions of other States, would add to
the national resources. We can make
sugar for the Nation. We eau furnish
citrus fruit for the world. We can fur
nIsn all the nations will consume of the
grape and its product. The Government
of the United States should turn its atten-
ton to the development of these in
dustrles here so that the wealth their
production would confer would be re-
tanned within her own borders
The consideration of questions like
these would constitute natural politics,
ana IN such political condition there
would be some honor in aspiring. But
the question is and has been, not what
can man do for the State, but what can
he do for leaders of political factions in
the way of the distribution of the spoils
OF office; how great is his subserviency to
aggregated wealth, or how complete is
ms bondage to the political aspirations of
otner men? DO you perceive in situa-
tlon Ike this anything which challenges
the interest or inspires the mind OF any
self-respecting man? The old conception
that men were chosen because they stood
forth as the embodiment OF ideas and
principles. or the incarnation OF politics,
has long since passed away.
a new SAence of political economy has
oawned upon the Nation in twenty-five
Years. New relations have been cstab-
lished with the world. New forces have
come into being, influencing production
and distribution. But legislation has not
Kept pace with these, and chiefly because
1t has not been worth while for the stu
dent OF political economy or the states
man to aspire. n single bountiftl har-
vest attended by the accident OF a high
price for breadStuffS produces tenn
porary appearance of prosperity, bat
|, ft,I.,
financial strlngency Will be revived. ard
production and the commerce which il
engenders will go hating on to a lame
and lmpoteIt conclusion. / have been
a student OF current events for many
years, but l see nothing to indicate any
progress in the direction of charging the
commerce of our country On the con-
trary, the carrying trade by sea Is in the
hands OF other nations. Our shipping
Interest IS neglected, and vast Sums are
constantly being paid to foreign peoples
to have our products carried TO market
Recently, when the price of breGdstufis
rose i'll Liverpool, freights kept pace with
1t, and the rate OF freight rose in the
San Francisco tonnage market from six
teen to fitty-two shillings. national
policy which thus forces our home pro-
ducers to dIvide the profits of a favor
able market with foreign carriers cannot
be characterized as wise. Policies are to
be judged by their results, and the course
of national events ami the result of fiscal
policies which have produced this result
are unquCstionably wrong.
But will Il Senator lie chosen from Cali
fOrnia with reference to the adjustment
of these things? Will man be selected
because he favors or opposes any particu-
lar governmental policy? In short, will
elections to the National Legislature have
reference to the establishment Of govern
n1pUt clnSpl Y al lied the in6uStp ~ oil I'd
commercial interests of our people |
think not. a close alliance with the pro-
fessional politicians and those who make
the trade of political manipulation is
worth more TO a candidate for United
States Senator than the profession OF the
protoundeSt principles of statesmanship
In such condition of things you viii
excuse the absence in my mind of all po-
liticaI aspiration. l deSpiSe men who
seek distinction for the sake of diStinc-
| ton alone. Oyerweening egotsm may
! find pleasure in attaching a high-sound-
ing and official title to a name for the sake
of titular distinction alone; but naturally
healthful minds seek distinction only in
the good which corresponds with and
| equals ii. Whenever q man finds him
self desiring official station for the per-
| Sonal power it will confer, or because it
will make him noted and his name ia
miliar to men, let him beware. The lust
| loF HotoIISIy 10 uOlilB us perfect Work IN
| his character, and the distance with him
is short to the point where vulgar fiattery
| will be the only charm for him in life, or
where any censure, however unjust, will
| iutlict the keenest wounds upon his self
! love-
! am not and will not be a candidate for
any official position. Think am vastly
! happier in the line of life | have chosen.
! Please do me the justice to believe that
/ there is no diplomatic double meaning in
! this remuneration OF political ambition.
/ mean simply what l say. and in con-
veying my thanks for the kindly appre-
citation which prompted your letter, beg
you to accept this with the perfect SINGER
! ity in which it is written, and believe me,
Yours, with respect and esteem,
WILLIAM H. MILLS.
| San Francisco, January %, 1892.
i -lr,r-c -,