The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-03
AN ABSURD POSITION.

The San Jose Mercury reads the Chicago
Tribune stern lecture for assaillng the
California policy OF encouraging the con-
sumption of home manufactures in prefer
ence to those of other States and countries,
and for declaring that this is boycott OF
Eastern manufactures and invitation to
the adoption of retaliatory measures in the
East against the products of California.
cit seems not to have occurred to these
people," exclaims the Tribune, that If
they succeed in putting an embargo on
everything from the East they may I'M
Willingly overreach themselves by includ-
ing in the embargo Eastern capital and
Eastern immigration, both of which are
much desired by jewellers on the Pacific
Slope"
SIT is difficult" says the Mercury, "to
comprehend how the Tribune could have 80
grossly misinterpreted the aims of the Man.
ufacturers' and Producers Association or
the people of California. The only thing
that they are attempting to do is to utilize
their resources to the best advantage" 1t
adds that if we can buy all article made at
home that is equally as good and equally
as low-priced as one made abroad it is
clear business proposition that we should
give it preference, and that the Tribune, if
it is moved by wise business sense and
desire for the prosperity of Chicago, would
advise such policy for its own people.
None of the elements of boycott or an
"embargo" figure in the case at all. There
are millions of dollars that California
must still spend for Eastern manufactures.
We suspect that the Tribune's implied
threat of reprisal discloses general mis-
conception Of the true reasons why Cali
fornians desire so greatly to develop their
State and secure Eastern capital and i'm
migration. The gregarious instinct in hu-
man nature is fundamental and its mani
festations active. A phase of its express
sion is a desire that others should have
access to the pleasures which we enjoy.
Callfornians largely came from the East
ern States, and they know absolutely from
experience that it is better and pleasanter
to live in California; that life here is blessed
with 1nnumerable precious graces denied
to the people of the East, and that re-
moval from the harsh conditions of life in
the Eastern States to California would lend
an added zest to existence.
Those who have seen handsome paint.
ing or witnessed superb play want their
friends to have the same pleasure. This
principle runs all through life. and is one
of the redeeming traits of human nature.
1t is an easily demonstrate fact that with
the exception of the railroad companies
and some colony founders the Californians
who work most assiduously to induce I'M
migration are those who could derive no
financial benefit from the result. A large
immigration would greatly enhance the
value of land, and yet landowners have
never been conspicuous as advocates of i'm
migration.
Taking business view of the matter it
is evident that only an exceedingly small
fraction of the population could possibly
derive any financial benefit from an in
crease of the population; but every one
does know that dense population within
comfortable bounds increases and enlarges
the benefits of civilization, and with refer
ence to California would lead to the devel-
opment of natural resources which would
greatly add to the sum of lifes pleasures.
To make the most of what we already
have, to encourage the industries which
we maintain, would make the State more
attractive to immigrants and capitalists by
giving them substantial proof of the ex-
cellencies of the extraordinary advantages
which the State possesses.
In any light the efforts of California to
be loyal to herself are the best evidence
of her desire to be loyal to the
race and the country, and to that end
everything that we may do to develop our
resources and encourage our industries is
wise, humane, and altogether commend
able.