The record-union., 1895-05-09

the purpose of mitigating the evils OF in
tensiied competition. Laboring men
form labor unions for the purpose Of
conserving the rates Of wages. Lawyers
combine in the form OF bar associations
with view of protecting the profit aris-
ing out of the practice of their profess
sion. Doctors establish codes of pro-
fessional ethics. All these combinations
are legitimate and are in fact indispensa-
BILE to the profit inuring to any field of
human activity. The inherent tendency
OF all things ia toward ruinous oompeti-
ton.
In their unwisdom the people now de-
mand that railroad shall be constructed,
out of private capital, whose sole aim
shall be the public good; that it shall
forego all considerations of enlightened
self-interest; that it shall put at risk the
hard-earned fortunes Of men, and yet
willingly surrender all the natural safe
guards which lead to profit. In connec-
ton with this too manifest illiberality,
the announcement is made that Vice
President Whittier has gone to Europe,
and that President Spreckels is shortly
to follow him.
In the meantime it is significant that
the San Joaquin Valley Railroad has not
made single contract for ties. 1t is re-
ported that a contract for steel rails has
been made, but the rails themselves have
not materialized. The coupon subscrip-
ton has disappeared from our San Fran
cisco contemporary. There is ample
room at the desk where the subscription
books lie open. There is no longer
rush to be first lest all the
stock be taken. There are no longer re-
ports of accessions to the subscription
lists. These things bode no good to the
enterprise and far less to the enterprising
spirit of the State.
In very truth, California has never had
but one set of railroad builders. The
monuments which men leave behind
them are builded of their acts. The
things which men have planned, thought
and devised, when impressed upon ma
terial things, construct for them enduring
mementos. More than any other man in
his time. c. P. Huntington has impressed
his thought upon material things. lie
combined capital of the metropolis OF the
coast, reinforced by sympathethic capital
| in the interior, and backed by what ap-
peared to be an overwhelming public
welcome, fails to build road 800 miles in
length. And this failure is due to the
upon a concurrent individual action.
The capacity to combine in all time has
been the noblest attribute of community
life. If what has been accomplished by
the combination of five men in laying the
foundation of the existing railroad sys
tenn had been attempted with one hun
dred or five hundred it would have failed
Possibly in the time in which they lived
California character was capable of higher
manifestation; but in the existing mean
ness OF public spirit, the undertaking.
which they pushed to such successful
conclusion would have been impossible
| if local combination had to be depended
upon. The personal denunciations o.
men who have achieved great prominence
appear to detract from their just need o
praises but the bitterest words of denun
citation will die on the air. The mouth
ings of discharged employees; the mean
irgless rage of the personal blackmailer
the hypocritical can't of the demagogu'
and politician will be forgotten; but th'
achievements which mark the possession
of great personal attributes will live. Ant
by this token the name of G. p. Hunting
ton will be more honored and more re-
vered as time discloses to the understand
ing of men his just claim to a first place
in the foremost rank of the men of hi
| time.