Year: 1875




Certain journals, whose grievance is that they
cluded from the Associated Press, persstently ret-
crate, day after day. vague and general imputations
against this office By ingenious perversions dis
tortons, they seek to impress conviction upon the
public mind that reports in connection with the
Bank Of California suspension have been fabricated
dishonesty moulded, partly for the purpose of affecting
stock speculatons and partly in the pursuit of what
they pleased to style quarrel between the
bank and the San Francisco Bulletin and CAL,
two newspapers in which the undersigned
has long held proprietary interest l have
waited in vain for any distinct specification
that would enable hold some respectable party
responsible in such way would bring the facts to
judicial decision II assaiants believe a 1.-THE of
what they put forth by of craven insinuation
they false to their duty citizens when they fail
to make such formal complaint as would subject the
undersigned the peris that law which makes
uterance of false for the purpose of affecting
values criminal offence. But that course would
pode the calumnies and expose their uerers to public
reprobation, and they will not abandon safe
innuendo, the stetto with which timid assassins of
character in every age have sought reach their vic
tins. l repel their charges with indignant scorn and
both challenge and defy them.


1t is due those who have learned to the gen.
era accuracy and fairness OF for which this Office





against the ISLANDERS aimed at the integrity of
vice. To that end let say


Frst--Our San Francisco agent has connection
with and is wholly independent of any newspaper Of
fee in that city He has a good reputation fair
and truthful man. His reports regarding the recent
financial difficulties have been uninfuenced by any sug
gestion from this office other than that they should he
full, prompt and accurate. Careful comparison of his
reports with those Of the local journals proves that he
was conservative discreet and remarkably successful





the best informed judgment at the respective
dates of his several messages, and without any bias
way or the other When those who have the right
shall choose to investigate they will find that his
of information thoroughly respectable and
reliable as intelligence and good faith can make hu
falhblty. fail to sec how he could have fulfilled
his duty by emitting anything that he has forwarded


SecondIt is not true that work has been affected
in any way by any 'quarrel" " between the Bank of
California and the San Francisco Bulletin and the Call
1or no such quarrel existed several Oh the most IN
1uental directors of the bank always have been and
still among the sanchest friends of the journals
named 1t is significant fact that none of them par
ticipated in the recent public meeting, orig
mated by personal friends Of the late Mr..
Raston as tribute to his memory, but which
the combined ''ring' interests of California seized
upon convenient opportunity to yentilate their
hate of independent journalists who, during fifteen
years, have stood between them and the people whom
they sought 10 oppress punder Notice you please
that report of that meeting and the HERALD had its
specal claims that the principal speaker Colonel
Barnes added TO the chvaric euogy of his late client
and friend single word that dsrespeclul TO the
journalists who had opposed that friends course in



tleman among the hundreds whose names lamil.a
is reported taking part the denuncatory pro-
ceodlngs appeal confidently to any old Californian
whose character is above reproach to the
assertion that when the intelligence and moral worth Of
San Francisco undertakes to utter indignation will
find some more reputable mouthpiece than the one
selected vitupcrate the press Wednesday night


The notorious Tom Fitch, who did the Blinsgato
on that occasion, piloried in the San Francisco
Bulletin by the undersigned in March, 1868 by pubhca
tion OF testimony taken before Special Treasury
Agent Thomas Brown by order OF President Lincoln and
at fnnlir Qfph itch IN
the sale OF subordinate appointments in the San Fran
cisco Mint for money The disgraceful facts were so
clear that Mr. Lincoln dismissed the then Super
intendent of the Mint account of it, Here you have
Fitchs motive for abuse of us motive intensified,
doubtless by the fact that while have repeated
the publication Of the above recited facts until now
did, within year two past, refuse to meet him,
simply because know that whatsoever toucheth pitch


The books Of Laidaw & Co.. agents in this city of the
Bank of California, show that my partners were remit
ting considerable sums to me through that institution
down to within week of the suspension. Does that
look like a deadly quarrel" between them and the
bankP Nor had they any quarrel" with Mr. Ralston
its president My partners believed his course in
gard to certain well known scheme vitality affecting
the public interest," to be vicious, dangerous and perma
nently injurious to the public welfare Accordingly
they opposed and criticised him IN such manner as
they thought duty required Their assaants, with tho
usual reckessness of unreasoning passion urge that
Mr.. Raston was driven to suicide by these criticisms
and in the breath they protest that his death
accidental as every humane man prefers to believe 1t
They characterize the criticisms brutal and
cite never paragraph TO support the shneking lie.


Whatever the bulletin and call SAID of Mr.. Ralston
was uttered honestly and earlessy when he in full
health and vgor surrounded by powerful friends and
the head financial Institution that had been looked
upon as nvincibe. We have no wish to pursue him in
his grave But something is due also the living, and
1t unmany to demand that the living should be silent
under the blows Of persistent caumny lest their self
defence against moral ASSASSINATION shall reflect by
ference upon the dead. In California securely
upon the people. We know constituency, and that
tue masses approve and sustain the general of
the Bulletin and CdU and we have msgiving5
TO the result The reference herein to San Francisco
journals finds its apology In the fact that in my conncc
ton with them Is sought plausible motive for the base
betrayal of my trust, with which assalants charge



ThirdNo one will be more ready than the directors
Of the Bank Of California to acquit my partners and
recent disaster. Not a whisper of its troubles was
uttered by either of through the press until the bank
had closed It's doors When was in San Francisco in
May last knew that Mr. Ralson on the brink OF
failure but not the least intmaton of the fact was
given through agency. In the general interest we
hoped that the measures then taken would avert his
danger and the panic which his fall at that time would
have brought about, and decided that duty should
seal our lips. Is that evidence of deadly mace2
Again, days before the suspension telegraphed my
partners TO buy no more drafts from the Bank OF
California giving in secret cipher the facts which
dictated this precaution, as hints Tor private
investigation ony.n Not word Of these
premonitons was given to the public by either of
in any FORM and told that the general agent
of the Associated Press breaks banks creates pancs
and smashes things generally some mysterious way
and by such subtle devries that not even
willing able to specify when, where or how
the wondrous work done II looming events cast
their shadows beioren critics evidently appalled,
by the shadowy spectres of their own approaching fate
catastrophe which their reckless economy OF justice
and truth both presages and invites do propose
any further trial OF this by newspaper Time and
inclination forbid it, But any decent opportunity
meet the whole issue in the courts will not be Stunned
by, very respectfully J. W. SlhONTON.