The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1895-12-30

SACRAMEN
cities, the same species of monopoly in
the rural districts also initiates against
settlement and Improvement there.
A MINING BILL.
MarySville Democrat: The present
law of Congress relating to hydraulic
mining provides that restraining works
must be erected by the owner or owners
of the mines, and at no time shall any
more debris be washed from the mine or
mines than can be inpounded in the re-
strafning works erected. The only rec
ommendation made by Board of Gov
eminent Engineers relative to restrain
ing works to be constructed at Govern
ment expense in California is found in
the reports of 1893 and 1894 of the Chief
Of Engineers of the War Department.
And this refers to the wall or barrier at
Deguerre Point, in the Yuba River,
above Marysville. And in this recon-
mendation they distinctly say that this
work is not intended to facilitate hy
dreulic mining in the future but to re-
strain great mass of heavy material
now in the channels and ravines above
there, the accumulation of mining de-
bris during years past. This is the
nearest approach to Government aid di
rectly from the treasury in the interest
of hydraulic mining that can be found
recommended by a Beard of Engineers,
and in this they declare that it is solely
in the interest of betterment of the Sac
ramento and Feather Rivers. The
principal involved in the bill of the
Miners Association cannot be adopted
by Congress without opening the door
tC the other industries, each having the
same right before the law to ask for
Government aid. And in considering
the claims of the applicants who seek
Government aid through the bill in
question, there seems to be no real
merit to appeal to the candid judgment
of the members of the National Con-
gress.
ONE GOOD RESULT.
Los Angeles Times: If the present
war-cloud proves to be charged with
nothing worse than wind, 1t will at least
serve one good purpose 1t will empha-
size the necessity of strengthening our
defenses on land and sea, and of hold
ing ourselves better prepared than we
have been in the past to repel invasion
or act upon the aggressive, as may be
necessary. Such precautions would be
rather in the interests of peace than of
war; for the surest guaranty of peace
is the ability to carry on a successful
war if occasion arises
The American people have too long
rested secure under the idea that war
with a foreign country was virtually
impossible. The events of the past few
days have fOrcibly illustrated the false
ness and danger of this notion.
If the United States is to maintain
the place which of right belongs to it
among the great Powers of the earth, it
must be prepared to enforce it's rights
and protect its interests wheresoever
they are menaced.
THE REPUBLICAN PROGRAMME.
Los Angeles Express: There cannot
be much doubt but that Speaker Reed
is going to be decidedly more of a factor
III shaping legislation in the next Con-
gress than his predecessor was in the
past. Reed may never be President, but
he is and always will be a leader Men
look to him for advice; they willingly or
unwillingly submit to his dictation in
many matters; therefore it is of more
than ordinary importance to know what
are Reeds views on the policy his party
should follow in Congress this session
He has not made a mystery of his
views. either. He declares that strict
economy is the first thing to be consid-
cred; secondly, the increasing of the
revenues to meet the expenditures; and
lastly, a short, business session. Of
course there are minor numbers on the
programme, but these three ideas are
the principles upon which it is based.
Undoubtedly the Republicans in Con-
gress will take the same view Of the
matter and the appropriations will be
cut down to the lowest possible notch.
A PRINCIPLE INVOLVED.
Santa Rosa Democrat: There is no
need of undue excitement over the Ven
ezuelan boundary question.
The Monroe doctrine promulgated
seventy-tWo years ago was the express
sion of a principle, or general policy of
this country, to the effect that any at
tempt to colonize any portion of the
two Americas by any European power
would be regarded as an act unfriendly
to the United States. This doctrine has
since been frequently re-asserted, and
will be maintained at any hazard.
In effect, it meant that Americans
would not interfere in European politi-
cal differences, and Europe should not
interfere in like disputes in America, or
found new colonies therein, or acquire
them by the overthrow of existing Gov
ernments. 1t is a broad, a correct and
just principle. 1t was not intended in
| any way to be retroactive in its opera
tons, or to in any way interfere with
! the then existing "statu quo" of Euro
pean nations on the American CONT
nent.
The question in the present issue is