Evening star., 1936-03-13
CHAPTER X.

THE crying need for organization.
for law and the protection of
individual rights in property
Il and person forced California
into statehood in 1850, and it was the
pride and boast of the new citizenry
that she entered the SiSterhood of
States without ever having been Ter
ritory. Joaquin Murietta marked this
swift advance of progress with deep
satisfaction. Already he had seen
more thievery, more murdered men,
more shooting scrspes and more lynch
in9s for minor crimes than he cared
to remember. However, even after the
election of the first Governor, the Leg
islature and the selection of the now
booming city of Sacramento as the
State capital, the task of subdividing
the State into counties and the or
ganization of county governments pro-
ceeded slowly-wherefore, to a con-
siderable extent, men, so long lawlesS,
continued to cleave to the law of the
yigilante and the unorganized mob.
The vicious law imposing tax OF
$40 per month on all foreigners mining
in California was a direct reflection OF
the intolerance and tyranny OF the
native-born Americans, a proclama-
ton to the world that California was
their land and they were Of the elect,
and that emigrants from other lands
we're unwelcome. 1t was coarse and
blatant admission OF greed. and the in
Justice of this law. plus the weakness
of the legal machinery of the time,
rendered enforcement Of 1t sporadic
and negligible. Irish emigrantS re-
fused fatty to pay the tax, but joined
with the Americans to force 1t from
the French, the Chilenos, Chinese,
KanakaS and Hispano-Californians-
in fact, all MeXicanS, whether recent
arrivals from Mexico or those born in
California and now citizens of the
United States by virtue of the treaty
of Guadalupe Hidalgo, were regarded
as foreigners, and desperate measures
we're taken to impose this vicious and
unjust tax upon them-eforts which
we're more fruitful of success than
with any other race because of the in
fusion of Indian blood, which made
them sullen, hopeless and Intellectual.
In an effort to protect themselves and
evade the tax, the Mexican element Of
the so-called Northern mines aban-
doned their claims and moved down
to what came to be known as the
Southern mineS-i. e., the Southern
extension of the famous Mother Lode.
They established the camp Of Sonora.
Thus. almost before he realized 1t.
Joaquin and his family were the only
Mexicans remaining in Sawmlu Flat
and its vicinity, and although Jesus
was engaged in farming and Joaquin
dealt monte and neither of these voca-
tons were taxed, nevertheless their
continued presence was resented by a
certain worthless, drifting, demagogic
element of the communicative sort
that in all lands and in all times has
set itself up as the leaven in the loaf
of our civilization, the saviors and pro-
tectors Of a so-called Americanism. a
word that has ever been camoufage
for intolerance, cruelty and greed.
Doubles it was the contemplation of
this class that moved a certain phi
losopher to declare that patriotism is
the last refuge of a scoundrel.
Nevertheless, despite the irritations
to which they were subjected. the Mu-
sietta brothers prospered. One day
Jesus, coming into Sawmill Flat with
two pack mules laden with fresh veg
etables, was accoSted by a troop Of 10
gold seekers passing through from a
distant camp. They commenced bar
gaining with him for his produce. and
since they could not speak Spanish
and Jesus could not speak English, the
situation had reached an impasse until
local citizen, sensing this, called
Joaquin out of the saloon where he
was dealing monte and announced to
the miners that here was an inter-
prefer for them.
Graciously Joaquin named the prices,
whereupon there was an uproar of
protest. THE damned greaser must
think they were crazy" The saddle
colored horse thief was trying to rob
them in daylight Firmly they an
nounced they would pay certain
price and not a penny more. Take it
or leave it.
Joaquin consulted with his brother,
then turned to the miners. "As you
must be aware, gentlemen, the prices
for all food are very high and fresh
vegetables are the highest Of all, for
the reason that all men dig for gold
and only occasionally does one raise
vegetables. The prices quoted you are
the prices this farmer receives in Saw
mill Flat and not a penny more. He
is willing to oblige you by selling to
you at that price, but he can see no
reason why he should accept less. He
has no difficulty in disposing of his
vegetables locally. Indeed, the de-
mand for them far exceeds his ability
to supply
He's a robber," one of the miners
protested.
Joaquin's face whitened. but he
merely bowed and said with a bitter
smile; You, senior, are obviously one
not qualified to render such a pro-
nouncement The farmer will not sell.
Neither will he be frightened into
yielding to violence and abuse"
A voice clamored: Lets help our
selves and give him what we thinks
right" other voices roared approval
of this suggestion and the mob closed
in around the mules with the intention
Of lifting the bulging panniers from
the cross-treeS of the pack saddle. But
Jesus struck the mules and the animals
bounded forward and clear of the
mob, one mule planting both feet in
the chest of a miner at the moment Of
starting. The mob, turning to pursue
Jesus. found itself gazing into the long
barrel of .44-caliber cap and ball
pistol held in the unwavering right