The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-03-24
VOICE OF The PRESS.
EXTRACTS FROM EDITORIAL
EXPRESSION.
State and Coast Opinions on Subs
jects of Living News
Interest.

of war with Spain, was passed by the
vote of Congress, every
thereof voting and not single
vote was cast against it. This causes
the hearts of Americans everywhere 10
swell with pride, patriotism and deVo-
ton 1t shows that there is no division
in this country; that we are united
people, standing firm for one country
and one flag
PROTECTION. AND SHIPPING.
San Jose Herald: A protectionist con-
says there is no reason why
protection should not be granted to our
interests as well as to our own
agricultural and manufacturing indus
tries. OF course not, but how is 1T to be
done. The protection extended to other
industries has ruled our shipping in
terests in foreign trade. How shall we
protect an interest that has to compete
openly with the rest of the world on the
high seas?
SANTA CLARA'S REASONS.
San Jose Mercury: The contention Of
the citizens of Santa Clara County
that its roads and road system are far
superior to those of any county in Cali
in mind that road construction is pro-
ceeding continuously; that every year
the sysetem of water pipes and tanks
for road sprinkling is largely extended.
and that in bridge construction the
county is equally progressive. There
is no longer any haphaZard road and
bridge building in Santa Clara County.
All is systematic and enduring. The
Supervisors for years have been work.
ing along definite, far-reaching lines.
Their system is comprehensive, and
each year we are getting more and
better roads. There is economy in
this, comfort also for the residents,
and prestige for the county abroad
For several years past the Supervisors
have had the able assistance of County
Surveyor Mcmillan, whose thorough
knowledge of the details of civil en-
gineering and of construction has been
highly valuable to the county. In this
county the days of wooden bridges have
gone by Now when an old bridge IS
replaced, it is by a concrete or a steel
structure, built for all time. Since last
July the Supervisors have constructed
three steel bridges with solid concrete
and one combination bridge-that is,
of steel and wood-with solid timber
floor covered with bitumen. This last
was built as an experiment, and so Tar
it has proved a success. All OF these
are permanent structures. 1t is be-
cause Santa Clara has expended so
much money on its roads, maintains
so perfect a road system and is 50
we'll assured of its permanency, that
it's citizens object to being taxed Tor
the construction of roads in other colln-
ties even under the plausible prctext
of inaugurating a system Of State
roads.
THEY CLASP HANDS.
Los Angeles Times: If there is any
American who thinks that the North
and South have not clasped hands
across the bloody chasm he should
have been in attendance at the last
sad rites over the mortal remains of the
hero of Stone River, held in this city
on yesterday. The sight was one to
stir the heart of the patriot and to give
assurance that we as a people are at
the republic!
DRIFTING TO GOLD.
Santa Barbara Press: Advices from
China show that the silver dollar which
was. by imperial decree of 1890, made
current money throughout the Empire,
is becoming extremely unpopular and
unsatisfactory because of fluctuatlon
in the price of silver, it's value, of
course, being determined merely by the
market price of the silver which it con-
tains The same reports indicate that
China is rapidly advancing toward a
condition at which she will follow the
steps of Japan, by the adoption of the
gold standard.
WAR OR PEACE.
Humboldt Standard: There are things
more dreadful to a nation than war.
The loss of national honor, patriotism
or love of country, the decay OF the
true national spirit, always followed by
supineness and the decline Of the ma
ton in true greatness and glory, are
more to be dreaded than the ravages
of the most desperate and bloody war.
Our national honor is at stake. ana
our bearing in this case, if we show
the proper spirit, may prevent future
wars with other nations, which might
be able to infiict tenfold more injury
upon US that Spain can possibly do.
Shall we show the people of the world
that we are in the first stages of ma
tional decadence? Rather let US say
to Europe, with her five millions of
armed men, that while we are peace
full and peaceloving people, we will
leave the pillow in the furrow, the desk
~, h.
the store, the fire smoldering in the
forge and gather under the folds of
"Old Glory to fight for justice and
national honor if the half of Europe
take up arms against US, and show
them how easily and with what rap
idity nation of farmers and shop
keepers can become a nation of SOL
diers.
LABOR CONDITIONS.
Riverside Press: Has the condition
of the workingman really gotten worse,
as is constantly asserted by the pro-
fessional fault finders in political life?
The United States Commissioner of
Labor thinks not, and he bases this
conclusion upon very careful study
of the subject ranging through a long
term of years. The Commissioner, Hon.
Carroll d. Wright, in a recent article
on the subject in the Forum states
that the number of unemployed people
in the United States and in other parts
of the world is now less than it was
under the old system Of production and
hand labor now displaced by machin-
cry. He further states that the aver
age rate of wages now paid to labor is
higher than under former conditions,
While the introduction of machinery
has greatly reduced the cost of the
articles produced, thus giving treble