The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1893-05-14
A NEW RICHMOND IN THE FIELD.
Abbott Kinney Will Write on
State Division.
An Article From Him to Appear In
the Californian.
Some Pioneers in This Line-Later
Writers on the subJecb-what
the Argonauts Had
fin View.
by B. A. c. STEPHENS ]

COueu. ADDObU hluuoY has Dotu III
vited by the Californian illustrated
MAGAZINE to contribute to its handsome
pages an article on the subject. There
is no doubt that Mr.. Kinney will treat
1t in novel manner. He has written
deal lately on sociological questions,
and aroused considerable criticism. II
is TO be hoped that his forthcoming
article will provoke like discussion. II
may hardly seem fair to thus give Mr..
Kinney away in advance, and perhaps
may not be to his liking, but special
writers on the subject are so few that
it is encouraging to have new one Zip
his pen for the fray. NJ
The question is broad, and no one
article can cover or elucidate every
point. Upon the main subject there
are certain great landmarks, which, like
paintings OF Old Badly, will ever remain
the same. Each one will fill in the fore
ground to suit himself. The diversity
of interest, the local, economical and
historical points have long ago been
fully written up by Ex-Governor J. q.
Downey, DR.. J. P. Widney, Judge r. M.
Widney, Hon. Scipio Craig, Mr.. J. D.
Lynch, Col. J..J. Ayers, ]. Mills Davies,
and score of other able writers in times
past, extending over period of 80
years. Most on these of late have not as
actively used their pens as formerly for
state lewiston. Perhaps they are wait
ing for the campaign to get heated.
In 1881 Governor Downey published
his famous article on the law of 1859,
which resulted in convention being
| held in Los Angeles. About the same
time DR.. Widney published in the old
Californian magazine paper on the
Pacific states, growing out of natural
divisions. The doctor stirred up a
vert BILE hornets nest among the nom
think ers of the northern citrus belters.
To the doctor 10 largely due the credit
for the present agitation, for he 1t was
who stirred up the local chamber of
commerce to encourage the introduction
of the Vandever bill in 1888. That cpl.
sode brought host of new advocates, who
have never ceased to let their light
shine.
| 1t is curious to note the manner in
which the subject is generally treated
by northern writer's. One and all, they
fail TO comprehend that it grows out of
natural causes. They regard it as
purely an arbitrary freak On the part of
the south, as though it were mere
within to be stamped out by threats or
coaxing. Therein is where they fail.
To one who travels over the whole
state, and carefully studies it's climates
and resources, Southern California
strongly impresses itself upon the mind
as separate and distinct section. ex-
tremely peculiar to and in itself. Under
no circumstances can it harmonize with
arate state. The main reason is that IUs
peculiar interests require suitable leg
| islation, which cannot be given by
another section which has for it no nat
ural sympathy. :.
This is the m ain bulwark OF state di-
vision, This ia why France ceased to
rule Italy, and England no longer legis-
lates for France. 1t ia, as Cowper says,
Mountains ipterposed makes enemies of ma
who had else like kindred drops been mingled
into one"
There are other arguments which
naturally group around this first and
greatest one, such as the great and un-
wieldv size of the state, the social and
commercial questions, but they are all
outgrowths.
1t sounds queer to hear the howl OF
state unity, ae though the great state OF
California is kind of holy fetich to be
worshipped, and upon which the pro-
fame hands of progress were never to
be laid.
Appeals are made to state pride, as
though neither the argonauts nor native
soma would suffer the fabric of '49 to
be destroyed.
The appeal is ridiculous. The very
founders of the state were agreed that
the state should ultimately be divided
when there should be sufficiency Of
population to justify the STEP. Read
the debates of that convention sitting
in old Cotton hall at Monterey during
the month OF October, 1919.
Southern California on the floor o.
that body, and by large and formal con
ventions held in February, 1850, at Loi
Angeles and San Diego, earnestly pro
tested against being incorporated in thu
state, That was what the argonautf
did, Will their sons do less? Where
. does the sentiment come in? Is it al
one-sided? Is it all for state unityP HI
who answers in the affirmative simpl.
writes himself down as an ignoramus
unacauainted with the glorious histor,
of his own sunny southern home ant
unmindful of the long and brilllan
struggle of Southern California for
period extending over eight decades y
Tree Itself from HOIVHcih iulos
Yes, there ia sentiment and lots OF II
!, and on the state division side, too. VIII
u witnesses the great growth of the sout
y in every line as contrssted with tn
. northY Who witnesses the push, tn
, enterprise, the activity of the south
L Who witnesses it's prosperity? VIII
sees all these things and does not fe'
proud of South California
:, A land of competing railroads, OF sma
u holdings. of liberality, of great ente
~ prises. who is not proud of it?
u The northern people are merely tel
:; ants unon the land of great rallros
q CORPORATION. Their individual holdinl
y are growing larger. Its great cit
- plethoric with the gold dust OF '49, be
a a for a million-dollar subsidy for compe
g Southern California did notwilling
70 enter the state, nor has she ever Who'll
20 acouiesced. Nor has state dlvielon be-
wholly con fined to the south.
In 1856 bill to divide California IN
N three eousl states, each about the 81
~ Of Ohio. was narrowly defeated. Itw
"a strongly advocated by the nortne
~ counties. In 1859 state division ls
v was passed, and is still In full force q
effect.
youug vickery Released.
"a SAN BEnNARDrSo. May l3.-Osc
~ "a II -