The record-union., 1897-02-23
A LAMENTABLE SPIRIT.

The San Francisco Bulletin" says in
its legislative correspondence that Sac
ramento asks for more appropriations at
the hands of the Legislature than any
other county, and adds that that fact is
used as an argument for removing the
State Fair Heavens, what stupendu-
Gus idiocy. Sacramento does not ask
for and will not receive a dollar of
money from the State. On the line of
the Bulletins" argument what does
San Francisco ask for and receive from
the State for the support of the Supreme
Court, the various Commissions and Of
ficials located there; the several
branches of the State University in that
city, the various State department Of
fees maintained in the metropolis, ETC.
Now the fact is that one of the State
Prisons is located in this county, we
think unhappily for the county; that the
State Capitol is here, which is matter
of just pride. That the first of these
institutions must be supplied with
is a lamentable fact, but Sacramento is
not surely chargeable with 1t. That the
other suffers wear and tear under use
and must be cared for is natural and
inevitable fact.
But honestly, what a narrow con-
tracted, mean and ungeneroust thing such
conception of a State interest is as this
representation necessitates. No matter
where a State institution is located 1t
must be maintained. 1t is as unjust to
say that because money is appropriated
for such maintenance, therefore it is
asked and received by the territory
within the metes and bounds Of the po-
Iitical bit of the State we call a county,
as it is to say that because the chief
departments of the republic are located
at Washington, therefore their support is
a reproach to that city, and the cost
draft made byit upon the public treasury.
is it just to say that Alameda asks and
receives large appropriations because so
many and the chief of our State institu-
tions are located in that county? Is it
honest, honorable or decent to say that
because there is an asylum in Stockton
another in Napa, and others in other
parts. therefore the counties of their To-
cation draw down coin from the State
treasury? Will those who indulge, as
unhappily so many do in such localism
pirate as that of which We complain, in
dicate how it viii be possible to locate
institutions Of the State, and not place
them within county bounds?
The truth is, and it is not by any
means inconsequental. but a serious and
important one. that we are injuring the
State, debasing public sentiment, and
corrupting public opinion by the itera-
tion Of these charges Of localism. 1t is
something that must be corrected and
abandoned. or we Will be voted by sensi-
BILE people a parcel of nagging. quarrel
ing and contemplate communities.
What must the visitor within our gates
think who reads such statements in
leading San Francisco journals as that
to which we refer. that Sacramento for
instance. asks for and receives State ap-
propriations and therefore should be
disciplined when he learns that there is
not one word of truth in the charge, but
that our communities esteem and treat
each other as spoils- seekers, cormorants
feeding upon the States vitals. wolves
bowling for State prey.
Years ago the Record Union" entered
it's protest against the spirit of local
ism in considering State subjects and
economies 1t has with regret noted
that many of the press have grown
more offensive however in promoting
that Jealous, mean and contentious
spirit, while we are gratified to say that
not a few journals once offenders have
wholly abandoned their errors and con-
slider the State now as unit and treat
of its interests from the standpoint of
iustfce economy and wisdom regardless
of spoils-seeking by place, or the pla-
catinr Of communities. Until such