CALIFORNIA. 



73 



is equal to one fifth of the area of the Sacra- 

 mento and San Joaquin Valleys. For the pur- 

 poses in view this statement of the area may 

 be extended to the altitude of three thousand 

 live hundred feet above the sea. The soil of 

 this vast extent of territory is rich and warm. 

 The abundance of volcanic clay, formed from 

 dissolved lava, provides it with a recuperative 

 power within itself. This clay, -under the in- 

 fluence of water and exposure, slacks, and in 

 this form it is easily combined with vegetable 

 mold, and the result is a good manure. The 

 climate of this region, so far as temperature is 

 concerned, is essentially the same as that in 

 the Sacramento Valley. But the absence of 

 malaria and the presence of resinous matter in 

 the air, added to the benefits derived from ele- 

 vation, result in a climate far superior to that 

 of the lower valleys. It is more agreeable and 

 healthful. Bilious diseases and lung troubles 

 are comparatively rare in this region, while 

 the general vigor of its permanent inhabitants 

 will be above that of the Sacramento Valley. 

 It produces everything that is raised in the lat- 

 ter; and the peach, apple, plum, and ordinary 

 garden vegetables reach a degree of perfection 

 which can not be attained in the valley. It is 

 also asserted that in one notable instance this 

 region has produced oranges which have been 

 pronounced by travelers superior to any oth- 

 ers raised in the State. The availability of this 

 region depends, however, upon facilities for 

 irrigation ; and, if this can be had, it will offer 

 inducements to agriculturists superior to those 

 of the great valleys. There is water enough in 

 the Feather River, unclaimed by anybody, to 

 irrigate the whole range from Red Bluff to Fol- 

 som, and the practical use of it is entirely fea- 

 sible. In addition to this source, there are 

 other and more limited sources which are suf- 

 ficient for the wants of a considerable acreage 

 in this vicinity. 



An unusual excitement was raised in San 

 Francisco, in the early part of the year, by the 

 demonstrations of workingmen. The occasion 

 of the excitement was chiefly the reckless and 

 violent language used by some of the leaders in 

 their harangues, rather than any disorderly con- 

 duct by the workingmen. Application was 

 made to the Legislature for the passage of more 

 stringent laws, and an act was passed which 

 contained the following provision: 



Any person who, in the presence or hearing of 

 twenty-five or more persons, shall utter any language 

 with latent either to incite a riot in the present or 

 in the future, or any act or acts of criminal violence 

 against person or property, or who shall suggest or 

 advise or encourage any act or acts of criminal vio- 

 lence against any person or persons, or property, or 

 shall advise or encourage forcible resistance to any 

 of the laws of this State, shall be deemed guilty of 

 felony, and on conviction thereof shall be punished 

 by imprisonment in the State prison or in the county 

 jail not exceeding two years, or by fine not exceed- 

 ing $5,000, or by both. 



During the debate in the Senate on the bill, 

 the following address was sent to that body 

 by the leader of the workingmen: 



SAN FKANCISOO, January 19, 1878. 

 The Honorable the Senate of the State of California. 



GENTLEMEN : The undersigned are the .President 

 and Secretary of the Workingmen's party of this 

 State. We have read your speeches on the new gag 

 law with astonishment. We were not aware before 

 we read it in the papers that we had used incendiary 

 language, had fixed on Sunday, the 20th, for a gen- 

 eral uprising, had proposed to plunder and burn the 

 city and kill the people, or even to incite so much 

 as a riot. We have been examined once and dis- 

 charged, not for any defect of the law, but from want 

 of facts. You read the reports in the papers, when 

 you should look at the sworn testimony. We need 

 your assistance, arid not our adversaries. They alone 

 have violated law, created riot, and trumped up 

 charges based on false newspaper reports. Tor our 

 part, peace, law, and order have been our motto, and 

 will be. The ballot-box is our battle-field. But win- 

 ning there, we do not propose to be cheated out of 

 the result by any indiscretion. The capitalist, the 

 land-grabber, and the Chinese Six Companies see 

 the death-knell of all their hopes in our numbers, 

 our strength, and our calm resolution. They have 

 falsified our unguarded speeches ; they have done 

 all they could to provoke us into disorder; and now 

 they charge us with crimes they can not prove, and 

 ask for new laws to give effect to their persecutions. 



Gentlemen, you are supposed to be the guardians 

 of the public liberties and the friends of the people. 

 If you are, show it now. Hear us before you strike. 

 Rsad the sworn testimony in our case, now given 

 before ajury. Do not hasten to do wrong. 



The Workingmen's party is a great power now a 

 respectable and orderly and resolute power. It is 

 destined to rule this State by law, and at no distant 

 day. We aver to you that we have never incited to 

 or contemplated any riot, any killing of men, or de- 

 struction of property ; never so much as broken the 

 peace or held a riotous meeting.^ We are simple 

 workingmen, who speak to our fellows from our 

 hearts ; theirs respond in thousands. This is what 

 has alarmed our enemies. This is what they can 

 never avoid until the interests of the people are con- 

 sulted, and the Chinese pest abated, if not removed 

 altogether. 



We are rapidly forming in two ranks in this city 

 and in the State : those who will have the Chinese 

 nuisance abated, and those who have conspired with 

 the Chinese Six Companies to keep them here. Be- 

 tween these two there is no peace, and there can be 

 none. 



If, as is claimed, there is a middle party, who are 

 n-t with us, because they have been led to believe 

 us too violent, now is the time for them to step to 

 the front. Their assurance that this thing must and 

 will be done, speedily and peaceably, will give calm 

 security to both. Let them move solidly, and we 

 will wait patiently. But while they content them- 

 selves with menacing us, and array themselves with 

 our enemies, we can not abate a jot of our zeal and 

 devotion to our own interests. 



Respectfully yours, D. KEARNEY, 



President of the Workingmen's Party. 



II. L. KNIGHT, Secretary. 



A Convention of the workingmen was held 

 at San Francisco about January 21st, at which 

 the following declaration of principles was 

 made : 



j The Government of the United States 

 has fallen into the hands of capitalists and their will- 

 ing instruments ; the rights of the people, their 

 comfort and happiness, are wholly ignored, and the 

 vested rights ot capital are alone considered and 

 guarded, both in the State and nation. The land is 

 fast passing into the hands of the rich few. Great 

 money monopolies control Congress, purchase State 

 legislation, rule the courts, influence all public oifi- 



