The morning call., 1893-05-28


knowing that my criticisms OF the valleys con-
diton were both true and moderate. the oppo-
nents OF reform determined that | must be
broken down. They first endeavored TO prove
that bad been guilty of fal~ehood in dsayow-
ing attacks upon them that had been falsely
attributed TO me by reporter; then they in
vented out of whole cloth a blood relationship
b tive II myself and Frederick Law Olmsted,
whom had suggested as a comp tent person
| to put III charge of Yosemite; then they ruled
me out of court as an interloper and an Eastern
man, though so far Yosemite is concerned
the act of cession of 1864 makes all Amerl-
| cans citizens OF lifornia. Ii is because you
| are holding this great wonderland 10 trust for
Us that we have IA special right to insis that IL
shall he put in compelent hands. In official re-
ports and In large and small newspapers l have
| been abused by these gentlemen and by their
! Sc wants for a respectful and mode ate in
| sisiance hat Yosemite Valley is OF suffic! MT
value to be properly taken care of. l have
! hitherto paid no attention TO these personalities.
| AS nothing can harm man but hi, own
/ actions, have not considered myself Injured.
! l am. moreover, sure that these gentlemen
| have excited no malice i'll Inc, and | do not be-
| lieve, were any one of them to go into COM
! mitlee OF the whole with himself, he would fnd
any malice toward me In his own motives.
/ Their object has been simply TO discredit every
opponent of Yosemite Encouragement. But
what 4 spectacle this sort of treatment of
citizen by bis servants" will be in The twen-
! t1eth century.
shall not dscredit the inte lligence OF Cali
fornians by assuming hat there is any longer
doubt as 10 the fact that thugs are IN bad
| way In Yosemite. Three special agents OF The
! Interior Depariment after careful inveStiga-
ZION at different times within three years, have
ieporied that the condition OF afIdirs was such
| that II could only be remedied by national con-
Itol. The testimony of pho ographs recently
! taken show the rdyageS OF the ak and the
| runing-knlfe near the Stoneman House. The
.''uudef brushing in that negnb0rhood has al
eady confirmed the worst fears. In brtef,
there is no lack OF testimony TO he main lacts
Of my contention in the Century Magazine and
eiSewuefe, viz:
FifSt-Yosemte Valley being a phenomenal
scenic region should have the best expert care.
Second-It has never had adequate care OF
this sort.
lhmd-It has, moreover, as matter of posi-
tive acl been specifically iil-treaed III its scenic
aspects.
Fourth-This treatment, at first careless or
from lack of knowledge, is now deliberate
| policy.
Ftfth-The conclusion is that the present
system is radically wrong, and that the valley
| should now revert to the United States by the
repeal OF the act of cession. The Legislature
has thr times had the opportunity TO provide
Il more capable supervision OF The valley, ana
has failed to act. So long there was any
hope of reform through official State agencies
| have refrain~d from advocating repeal. Now
| there is 10 alternative
| And what argument is there against the re-
conveyance OF tue valley TO the Government In
be merged into the Yosemite National Park
r. r-.s
! Government, which ought never 10 have parted
! with II, Will have the expense of maintaining
| the valley. Now it is scandal 10 the State. a
| we-known citiZen, a. X. Ward OF Alan eda,
does rot hesitate 10 say: SAT present he
valley Is in the hands of a ring who run II for
| the number of dollars they can make, caring
nothing for the public or their obligation to the
| Stale government"
The repeal of rhe grant will remove this blnt
upon California aud give assurance of skilled
super vision oil the future.
WEatthen VIII be the last resort of those
@ho faIuously think ii Will against their In
terests 10 change the control? State pride !;
sim ply State prIde. They who have humilaIed
California Will cry out that repeal VIII humill-
ate her. So. he ere in New York, Gammany's
fidiculous and disefaceful quarantine service
numates us. But do consider national
quarantine disgrace upon New York? Not
al all. What we wish is an efficient quarau-
tine-not by Croker's brother-in-aw, but by
experts. In such state of affairs State pride
Is false pride-a pseudo patriotism OF the sort
that Burke characterized "the last refuge
OF scoundre - Bac of the cry OF Sta'e
pride in defense OF an evident wrong you may
always find tme-Selving politician or a
bl ant demagogue.
No; we who are joint owners with you OF
California in the great valley have right to
expect better thngsi l. Is no disgrace 10 con-
fess failure You confess it daily 10 one an.
other. The important thing is to save he val
ley. First OF all. 10 prevent the continuance OF
the present policy of GU ting out all the under
brush and trees OF thirty years growth-a
ocy which tie foremost landscape gardener
in he country-Mr. Olmsied, who. al jackson
Park, has added new EonOrs TO his fame-has
laid would be "a calamity to the civilized
world" Yosemite has already lost he beauty
of @ildness, but 1t may become even more arti-
fetal. In the past four years, among the n-
provements suggested by Commissioners have
been railway to the cliffs. ar Arizona garden,
and now electric lights at The falls. With such
! projects finding harbor IN the official mind and
with The uneducated handling OF the scenery
| still going on, it's hieh rime for 4 change
There remains nothing bur repeal OF the
grant of 1864. Marinosa County. learn, has
already taken tn lead in this d ecioB. The
duty OF Californians Is 10 organize to sustain
tHG iHoNSlntit duu 10 ma e me Will NI TIE y o.
ple so evident during the summer that the
States own Representatives. and Senatorslwil
promote his policy at the coming session of
Congress. Once in The hands of the Govern
| ment the valley can again be spoken of wi h
entire pride. Nav, l believe this disposition of
tile matter TO be in The interest of all parties,
even OF The corporations who reap an annual
harvest from the vail Y, for "a light principle
| works well in all directions"
| cannot cla-e without expressing publicly
my appreciation of Tie great service THE CALL
has rendered TO California by It's advocacy OF
the public interest IN this question. For this
all lovers OF nature and OF good government
owe you Ct iaieiul thanks. l no e thai your wise
and enlightened locy may arouse your read
eisioa successful campaign for the preserva-
| tion of the valley.
Rsesx N.7 7ok~ SON