Year: 1875

AT the present time the press of the
lower counties is paying much attention
to the great tide of immigration now
pouring into this State and it is some-
thing of problem in what manner the
immigrants, upon reaching this Coast, are
to be disposed of and furnished with en-
ployment. The tendency Of men out of
employment is to seek the great cities,
and if we are to believe the accounts of
the Bay City papers, the boarding houses
and hotels of the metropolis are already
filled to overAowing. The immigration
Of the present year can only be compared
to that which flowed here when the news
o. the gold discoveries was first authenti-
cated-when it seemed as If every one
who could get away FASTENED to swell the
coming throng. The citizens of Calfor-
mia then had a different class of immi-
grants and different state Of circum-
stances to introduce them to. Mostly
young, stalwart men, accustomed to labor
from childhood, were the pioneers of Pa
cifc civilization. Before them lay the
State, its ranges of golden mountains en-
circled its northern and eastern bounds,
and presented an avenue for labor such as
the world never saw. In the excitement
Of gold-digging, the thoughts of settling
up the rich valleys and rearing permanent
homes was hardly thought of-the immi-
grants Of that day had not come to stay.
To realize pile" and return to Easterns
homes was the prevailing idea. Then
man needed no capital to begin life here.
The placers offered an unlimited field of
labor and the universal credit system of
the day supplied him with both the means
OF sustaining life and the tools to work
and prospect with.


The immigration last year was large,
and the reports sent back were so flatter-
Ing that now we are receiving thousands
Of people where hundreds came few
years ago. Indeed, the numbers arriving
are SO great that it has become problem
what course to advise them to. None will
deny the benefits reasonably to be expect
ed from the addition Of this desirable class
to our permanent population, if treated in
such manner as not TO cause a reaction.-
Unfortunately the State is in but poor
condition to welcome the great throng,
compared with former years and the grain
fields Of the valleys do not offer the same
field for labor as that following Winter
blessed with heavy rains. The conse-
quence is that employment is not so easily
obtained as the glowing descriptions of the
State published in other years would seem
to indicate. This exceptional state of af-
fairs, followed by an exceptionally large
immigration, is not only likely to cause
much discomfort, but also be productive
Of suffering; especially if the new corners
belong to the poorer classes. This is no
doubt the case with many but with 9TH
ers it is not. Many haye left the East in
vited by cimateric considerations to
whom the accounts Of our pleasant Fall
and Winter, &C impaired with the rigors
they have been compelled to endure must
appear like glmpses OF fairy land.


The duty our people owe to these new
comers is plain one. The immigrants
are our own people, driven hither to es-
cape the curse Of the grassnopper regions
or the cold Of northern Winter. The
record shows them to be mostly composed
OF Northern and Western men and fami-
lies. We should aid them in every posi-
be way. The needy with employment
when We have it to give, to those having
capital, by pointing cut eligible modes of
Investment. 1t is this latter class which
is needed in the mining counties. In the
present season the field Of employment in
this comfy, for unsllilled labor especially
will be but limited. But to those having
capital openings are presented which for
limited outlay can be made to produce
good returns.


In one respect the people of the State
should net as one manly the discharge
of Chinese and the employment of white
labor instead. The State is everywhere
cnrsed by the presence of these hordes
who crowd into every place where work
is offered and keep both the prices and
demand for labor down to the lowest notch.
This evil Of Chinese immigration will now
be shown more luridly than ever. 1t is
idle to talk of legislating against it, or of
making it political issue, though we do
not doubt that the inevitable Resolved,
That we are opposed, etc., ETC." will be
found in every Democratic platform this
Summer 1t is only when public senti-
ment acts unanimously that question of
this character can be dealt with effective
ly. To this end we hope to see all who
have employment to give, give it to those
of their own nationality in preference to
the haf-civilized foreigners who have in
vaded every locality. BY so doing,
double purpose will be effected they will
be doing a righteous net to our needy
countrymen, and at the same time put
check to the coming hither of those Asi-
iatic hordes whose very presence is n curse
10 the community in which they locate.


---------------------