The herald., 1894-09-06
DEATH OF GENERAL SroNEMAN.

Of George Stonemau, ex-governor of the
state Of California. and a distinguished
general of the federal army during the
war OF the rebellion.
1t is hardly necessary to speak in de-
tail here of the notable career of Cen
eral Stoneman. Los Angeles was his
home for many years before Se went
east, three years ago. and his two
daughters are now residents OF this city.
He first came to this valley during the
Mexican war as an officer Of the United
States army, and was in military COM
mand OF this city in 1S47. After Cen
eral Stonemsn had filled out his term as
military governor of Arizona, he retired
from the army and came here to live in
1858, having purchased the beautiful
rancho of Los Robles, in San Gabriel
valley. He was elected governor OF Cali
fornia in 1882, and served as executive
from January 10th, 1883. to January
18th, 1887.
He was much shattered in health
when he retired from Office. Indeed,
the general had suffered from painful
disease contracted during the war, and
wss never an entirely we'll man after his
malady had become seated. He. leaves
four children, two young men and two
young ladies', to mourn his loss.
General Stoneman made an excellent
governor. He was man of the strictest
integrity, and watched over the interests
of kko ~kok~ ,i.xtl
that was untiring in it's rigid scrutiny of
it's affairs. He was not popular with
the professional politicians, for he SUBJ
ordinated all their demands to the pub.
| lie interest. He made two serious mis-
takes during his administration. The
first was in calling en extra session OF
the legislature in the vain hope that that
body would legislate go as to secure to
the state the large Gums of delinquent
taxes due by the railroads. The
object was defeated by the detection
of men who had gone back on
thsir word and their record. The next
was in again yielding to the pressure of
an influential call for another extra ses-
sion to adjust the laws and the consti-
tuition to the irrigation wants of the
state. The courts had decided that
under the common law ruling in CAL
ifornia, riparian rights were paramount,
and these rights were inconsistent with
the principle of appropriation of the
waters OF the river for irrigation pur-
poses. But when the extra session was
called the Legislature refused to carry
out the programme OF laws
large majority OF that body had.
in writing, agreed to, so that
the extra session ended in an
expensive fasco, for which the governor
was mot altogether justly blamed. His
confiding nature had been grossly abused
by the very men who were the most
| loud in their asseverations in favor of car
rying the very principles the irrigation
ists contended for into the organic law
and the statutes of the state. Had he
been an acute politician, which he was
not, or wary statesman, which his life
as soldier was incompatible with, he
would not have called the first extra
session, much less have permitted him.
self to have been inveigled into the fatal
folly OF calling the second.
Those who knew the general intimate
ly sympathizsd with him, for they
we'll knew that his motives were found
ed upon the highest sense of duty and
upon controlling desire to signalize his
administration with an act that would
have redounded to the lasting benefit OF
the state.
The most that could be said of his
mistakes was that he was not equal to
contend with the machinations OF de-
signing politicians, and that he should
have sought safety in ignoring altogether
their plausible and sugar-coated de-
mauds. Had he rigidly stuck to the
policy he had outlined in the start Of
his guhernatorial career to the writer OF
this article on the subject Of extra ses-
sions, bis administration would have
been one of the most popular oEes CAL
iforniA ever had. He said when he first
entered his Office, Governor Perkins
made the mistake of calling an extra
session. and the people never iorgave
him. With that example before me,
will be sure to escape the error into
which he FELL" But, alas, man pro-
poses The very pitfalls he knew SO
we'll were the very ones into which he
wrecked his official prestige.
Had it not been for this weakness the
administration Of Governor Stoneman
would have been one OF momsntous
success. 1t did one thing, however, for
California for which the people can
never be too grateful. 1t broke up the
thieving achool-book ring by providing
for the printing OF the text books by the
state and their distribution amongst the
school children at coat. That alone
ought to be a sufficient monument to
render any administration notable and
gratefully remembered by the people.
We have had much brighter and more
acute public men than General Stone
man, but the state never produced
more honest one. nor one who was more
faithful to his duty nor more conscien-
tious in carrying it out, according to his
lights, than the noble soul that took its
fight yesterday morning. Green be