The herald., 1893-07-02
THR GREAT WEST AND THR EASTERN
SNOB0CRACY-A MEMORABLE RECORD.


What has given this country pre.emi-
nence amongst all the nations of the
world for its ability not only to main
tain itself but to feed the people OF Eng
land and OF other European countries
1t has been the states OF the great west
and of the south.
1t is from these regions that have
come the wheat, and cotton, and corn,
and thousand other products, that
have held the balance OF trade in our
favor, or. in years in which it has not
been in our favor, has prevented it from
being disastrously against US.
This is the most salient aspect of the
question which we are presenting to our
readers. But there is a far more in.
structive phase of it. While the great
west and south have been the means of
maintaining the solvency of the United
States. there is very much more inter-
esting phase of the matter, and of this
presentation of the subject California is
the keystone.
Where would the United States stand
today if it were not for California? We
are now reducing the whole question to
the Golden state alone, for the sake Of
argument.
The visitor to the New Orleans expo.
sition was struck with indescribable
admiration on entering the building
devoted to the states by the California
exhibit, and ths most distinctive things
about the California display were two
immense globes, one representing the
gold and the other the silver production
of California, which footed up to that
date 81, 100 900, 900 in gold and $50, ,OOo..
600 in silver. Both figures were founded
on the official shipments as recorded by
Wells, Fargo & Co. Since then at least
100000, 900 has been added In gold from
this state and at least $25, OO0,O in
silver.
OF course this figure of'sl. 200, 900 900
propsbly only represents 80 per cent or
less of the gold transported to the east
since the days of "forty.nine." The
hardy miner himself carried immense
quantities back to the east. Itia mod
crate estimate to say that $4,000, ,0O0,000
of gold were sent from this state to the
east during the past forty-four years.
As there are said to be only $500 ,000, 900
in gold coin in the whole of the United
States today, it follows thst, had it not
been for California, there would not
only not be gold dollar in these United
States, but that our obligations for
billion and half dollars in gold would be
held in Europe. in some shape, as rep
resenting the absence of California.
That ia to say, we would not only not
now have gold reserve OF $500, 200, 900,
but we should be s1,5oO,O 900 worse
off than nothing. These figures state
one form of the indebtedness of the
United States to California.
But that is by no means ell the debt
the United States owes to the Golden
state in making up it. balances with
the outside world, or, in other words, in
enabling it to either increase or keep
down our balances in our dealings with
Europe. During the last 40 years Cali
fornia has exported an average of
$30,00o.000 worth OF its products to
Europe and other foreign ports, which
gives US the comfortable additional total
of at least $1,000. 900, 900 in keeping
down the accounts which have been
sent in from abroad for settlement. We
thus find the Golden state contributing
in the neighborhood of three billion dol
lars to keep the United States solvent.
This ia only California'a contribution
to the eolveney Of the country. 1t takes
no account of the great west and north
west and south.
From 1855 to the present date the
Comstock lode alone, in the state of
Nevada, yielded within fraction OF
$500, 900, 900 in gold and silver, reduced
to the gold standard. When to this are
added the tremendous treasure yields oi
Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana,
Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Ari.
zona, the obligation OF the east to the
great west swells to incommensurable
Gums. When upon this colossal pile OF
moral obligations are added the prodig.
ious sums received from the cotton,
wheat, corn and pork OF the great north
west and south. where do New York
and the New England states come in
in the upbuilding Of the fabric of oui
national prosperity?
1t is true that they have figured, and
figured largely, but only as parasite.
They have been able to wax fat On
wealth they have not earned. They
have been the ''sweaters" of the ma
tional growth. If it had depended on
the gold bug states the United States
would never have entered upon their
imperial career of progress. Wall street
and its affiliations have been the Old
Man of the Mountain that have sat
upon the shoulders Of the young giant,
and illuetrated the true meaning of the
word handicap. New York has princi-
pally figured in the struggle for ma
tional supremacy by sending her snoba
over to England and Europe generally
to squander the money earned in the
great west.
And 1t is frord this pampered eastern
region that the insolent command comes
that we must SHUT down our mines and
surrender great regions of infinite prom
ise to the COYOTE! Edmund Burke. in