304 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



market than we are? This is one of the great questions which must yet 

 be solved, and it is an experiment as to whether this State shall succeed 

 as an exporting State. 



We cannot with safety take as a basis the past three years, because we 

 have had more than average seasons during this time; and at the same 

 time we have had a foreign demand that we have no right to expect in 

 coming years. Now, the question presents itself to this society, and 

 every member of this society who expects to be a producer: Can we 

 compete or not? And instead of inducing persons to engage in the 

 products, now we must look to the exportation of what we raise. 

 We must look to our commerce. We must look to the mode and manner 

 of disposing of our crops. This is the question — much more difficult to 

 solve than the one of producing. It would be idle for me to attempt to 

 lay down any rules for this society. I can only suggest that the society 

 take such measures as are in its power for the solution of this question. 

 It is in the power of this society to act in conjunction with other soci- 

 eties to lessen the cost of production. It is in its power to assist in 

 lessening the cost of transportation; to assist in reducing the commis- 

 sions of sale — almost to dictate the terms upon which our products shall 

 be disposed. By the terms, 1 mean mode and manner in which they 

 shall be shipped. Our commerce is impaired by extraordinary taxation. 

 There is, perhaps, no port in the world burdened with so heavy charges 

 as San Francisco; perhaps no place in the world where the freights are 

 so high as they are from any given point in this State to San Francisco, 

 for the same distance. These are the influences with which this society 

 and community have to deal. But perhaps, before looking to commerce 

 we must look to our own immediate affairs, that is, the matter of pro- 

 duction We are now producing at extraordinary expense, by which I 

 mean, as compared with other countries. It is only because our soil is 

 fertile and climate salubrious that we can at the present time compete 

 with other countries. 



In this matter of production we find the labor question one that is 

 much agitated at this time, and has assumed such a shape that, perhaps, 

 it will not become me to discuss it. But I think it is one that every 

 body interested in the welfare of the State must reflect seriously upon, 

 and arrive at some definite conclusion. We need more laborers, and the 

 labor must be furnished at a less price. In order to get that labor, the 

 laborer must be protected in his right to labor. We have been here for 

 3*ears waiting for capital; we have invited capitalists to bring it here for 

 investment. And the first question that capital asks, when it arrives in 

 the State of California, is: Where is your labor. Where is your labor 

 to build railroads, to fill manufactories, to produce tea, coffee, sugar, silk 

 and hemp? JSoone can tell, and capital retires. 



Let this society, then, take some action on this question, and act in 

 unison. Let them see that some particular classes of laborers are per- 

 mitted to come to our State and labor for what we can afford to give 

 them, and not be molested by those who are here, who neither wish to 

 labor themselves or permit others to do so. Without it we cannot 

 expect to have manufactories, nor a large number of that desirable class, 

 the farmers — the small farmers. It is said by some that our farms are 

 too large, and must be sub-divided. I answer that it is at present impos- 

 sible for any small farmer to sustain himself. It is not the enormous 

 profit that he makes in producing, but it is the small profit upon an 

 enormous quantity that enables him to farm at all. In order to have a 

 population of small farmers to enrich our country, as we eventually 



