The record-union., 1899-10-02

principal factor that defeateu an lTIl-
cation system in Colusa and Glenn
Counties, and it has prevented the
erection of at least a half-dozen school,
houses and the dotting, of the plains
with small farms and happy homes.
Cross over the river and opposite TINS
53,000-acres farm there are the Reavls
tract, the Bidwell farm, the Wilson
place and others which have held that
part of Butte County in bondage these
many years.
SUBSIDIARY SILVER.
Oakland Enquirer: The Government
having directed the mints to coin sub
sidiary si1ver-dimes, quarters ana
halves-in response to an increased de-
mand for small change-ex- Congress
man Mcguire, who was an enthuslas-
tic advocate Of free silver, takes ad-
vantage Of the opportunity to raise
shout for silver This would not be OBJ
jectionable if he did not attempt to
confuse the facts; but this last is just
what he does. He assumes that the
demand is for silver money in general
not chiefly a demand for small change
and that it indicates general turn
appreciation of silver. Now while
there has been some demand Tor Sill
yer dollars--a demand which can be
met by turning in very small part OF
the silver certificates-the bulk OF the
demand is for change, and that will
soon be fully supplied. As for the sill
yer dollars there will still remain in
the sub-treasuries hundreds of millions
which nobody will desire to draw out
and use so long as the paper substi-
tutes exist
WHERE THEY WOULD LOOK BET
TER.
Los Angeles Times: The Boston
Anti-Imperialist League, which has
been having another fit, says that
neither the country nor any political
party in it is responsible for Mr.. Nc
Kinley's war;" and vindictively de-
clares that the President initiated the
slaughter in the Philippines" These
Boston copperheads and traitors utter
such foolish falsehoods as these in the
face Of absolute knowledge that the
present trouble in the Philippines was
caused by the acts of the Filipino SOL
diers in killing our men at arms. The
members of the Anti-Impefialist
League of Boston would look better in
the Philippine Islands with guns in
their hands and wearing the uniform
of Aguinaldos soldiers, than staying
in Boston and issuing pronunciamentos
that reek with rot and treason.
A RIGHTEOUS VERDICT.
Stockton Independent: A suit has
just been decided at Modesto after an
eight days trial that should be a
warning to obstructionists. A land
owner named Hughson refused to al
low the Turlock irrigation district to
construct ditch across his land. He
was offered 5000 to compensate him for
all damages, but declined the offer. The
district brought a condemnation suit
and now the jury has decided that he
is entitled to S421 damages, but an
nounced a counter judgment to the
effect that the canal will benefit Hugh
sons land to the extent of $4,000
The better sentiment of the people
is expressed in the verdict. A man
who stands in the way of the irriga-
tion Of his neighbors' dry lands as we'll
as his own, should be made to pay we'll
for his obstinacy The land holder who
obstructs irrigation stands on his sole
! individual rights without regard to the
rights Of others. But land holder is
only tenant after all and the power
that protects him in possession is am
pie to dispossess him if it be for the
public welfare An irrigating canal
will benefit all land that it traverses
unless it is already supplied with
abundant water. 1t is, therefore, graf
flying that jury has been found to
| render justice and help irrigation along
in this valley.
We fear that too many California
land holders have hitherto been OBJ
structionists because they failed to ap-
preciate that there is a community in
terest, State interest and a national
interest inotheir possessions that often
becomes superior to the private in
terest. Land ownership is in one
sense a public trust and whenever the
private interest runs counter to the
right Of eminent domain the individual
must render an account of his trustee
ship.