CHAPTER XXXIV.--_The Sins of Our Legislators!_
"'_Assey de Bonaparte!_' cried France, in 1814. Men found that hisabsorbing egotism was deadly to all other men," says Mr. Emerson. "Itwas not Bonaparte's fault. He did all that in him lay to live and thrivewithout moral principle. It was the nature of things, the eternal law ofthe man and the world, which balked and ruined him; and the result in amillion experiments would be the same. Every experiment by multitudes orby individuals, that has a sensual or selfish aim, will fail. ThePacific Fourier will be as inefficient as the pernicious Napoleon. Aslong as our civilization is essentially one of property, ofexclusiveness, it will be mocked by delusions. Our riches will leave ussick; there will be bitterness in our laughter, and our wine will burnour mouth. Only that good profits which serves all men."
Yes, only that good profits which does not represent the misery ofothers; only that wine should be sweet which is not drunk when the tearsof those we have rendered desolate are silently running over pale cheeksfrom eyes that have kept the vigil of want, mourning for the beloved towhom poverty brought death!
In heavenly-inspired words Emerson and Carlyle and Herbert Spencer haverepeated those burning aphorisms, but our California "_Fire Pillars_"differ with them--differ widely and differ proudly.
Mr. Stanford says that if _he_ did not cause misery some one else would,for "_misery there must always be in this world_!" Sound philosophy,truly! Why should he recoil from adding to the sum total of human miserywhen so many others do the same!
Mr. Huntington was about the same time writing from Washington that he_would_ "_see the grass grow over Tom Scott_" before he stopped his workof _convincing_ Congressmen. And he kept his word.
He carried _conviction_ to Washington, distress to the South and ruin toSan Diego.
Mr. Crocker was answering, "_Anything to beat Tom Scott!_" The thing wasto prevent the construction of San Diego's railroad, no matter to whomruin came thereby. "No matter how many were sacrificed."
Nothing was more hopeless, therefore, than to suppose that any of thosemen would swerve one iota from their course of greedy acquisition, outof respect for equity or humanity.
Not a word was spoken until the three saddened friends reached DonMariano's parlors at the hotel. They had walked silently out of therailroad building, silently taken the street car and silently walked outof it, as it happened to stop in front of their hotel.
"Well, we have failed sadly, but I am glad to have had the chance ofstudying that piece of humanity, or rather I should say inhumanity," Mr.Mechlin exclaimed.
"How confident he is of their power over Congress! And he certainlymeans to wield it as if he came by it legitimately. He is proud of it,"added Mr. Holman.
"Yes, but he is wrong to be proud of a power he means to use only forselfish ends. Sooner or later the people will get tired of sending mento Congress who can be bought so easily. I am disappointed in GovernorStanford. I thought him much more just and fair; a much higher order ofman," said the Don. "How coolly he laughed at us for quoting Carlyle andSpencer! As if he would have said, 'You quote the philosophers,gentlemen, and I'll make the millions. You might die in poverty, _I_shall revel in wealth.'"
"I ought to have quoted Emerson, when he says: 'I count him a great manwho inhabits a higher sphere of thought into which other men rise withlabor and difficulty.' This might have pointed out to him how grovelingit is never to rise above the mere grubbing for money. No, he is nothalf as large-minded as I had believed," said Mr. Mechlin.
"How can he be if he is cognizant of the means employed by Huntington todefeat all legislation in favor of the Texas Pacific?" observed Mr.Holman.
"Yes, I fear now the Governor gives his sanction to Huntington's work. Inever believed it before. I am disappointed in the Governor as much asin our fruitless errand," the Don said.
"How irksome and distasteful it is for him to hear about '_the rights ofothers_.' He almost takes it as an insult that any one but himself andassociates should have _rights_; and he seems to lose all patience atthe mention of the distress they have brought upon the people of SanDiego and the financial ruin that their rapacity and heartless conductwill cause the Southern people," said Mr. Holman. "Did you notice how hefrowned at the allusion to the fact that the Central Pacific was builtwith Government money? The mere mention irritates his nerves."
"Does he suppose we don't know that they had no money, and that it waswith capital _given_ as absolute gifts, or loaned to them on theguarantee of the Government, that they built and are building theirroads?" said Mr. Mechlin. "I never saw such complete subversion of thelaws of reasoning as these men exhibit. Good luck has made them thinkthat to genius they owe success. Thus their moral blindness makes themtake as an insulting want of proper deference any allusion to those_rights of others_ which, in their feverish greed, they trample. Forthis reason they hate San Diego, because San Diego is a living proof oftheir wrong-doing; a monument reminding California of their deadlyegotism, of the injury done by unscrupulous men to their fellow-men.Hence, my friends, I say that San Diego must have no hopes while thosemen live."
"I am afraid you are right, and as I have invested in San Diego all Ihave in the world, I see no hope; nothing but hard-featured povertystaring me in the face," said Mr. Holman, sadly.
"If it were owing to natural laws of the necessities of things that SanDiego is thus crippled, our fate would seem to me less hard to bear,"said Don Mariano; "but to know that the necessities of commerce, theinevitable increase of the world's population, the development of ourState, all, all demand that Southern California be not sacrificed, _andyet it is_, and our appeals to Congress are of no avail! All this addsbitterness to our disappointment. Yes, it is bitter to be reduced towant, only because a few men, without any merit, without any claims uponthe nation's gratitude, desire more millions."
Thus the disheartened friends discoursed, fully realizing their terribleproximity to that financial disaster which was sure to overtake them. Inthe generosity and kindness of their hearts, they felt added regret,thinking of so many others who, in San Diego, were in the same positionof impending ruin; so many good, worthy people, who certainly did notdeserve to be thus pitilessly sacrificed; so many who yet clung to thehopes of '72, when all rushed to buy city lots; so many out of whosehopes three years of disappointment had not quenched all life. Thefailure of Jay Cook in the fall of '73 had made the financial heart ofAmerica shrink with discouragement and alarm, but San Diego did notrealize how much her own fate was involved in that sad catastrophe, andcontinued her gay building of proud castles in the air and humble littlecottages on the earth--very close to the earth, but covered withfragrant flowers, with roses, honeysuckles and fuchsias. These littleone-story wooden cottages were intended for temporary dwellings only. Byand by the roomy stone or brick mansions would be erected, when theTexas Pacific Railroad--the highway of traffic across thecontinent--should bring through San Diego the commerce between Asia andthe Atlantic seaboard, between China and Europe. San Diego lived hershort hour of hope and prosperity, and smiled and went to sleep on thebrink of her own grave, the grave that Mr. C. P. Huntington had alreadybegun to excavate, to dig as he stealthily went about the halls of ourNational Capitol "offering bribes." But such "foul work" was then onlysurmised and scarcely believed. It was reserved for Mr. Huntingtonhimself to furnish proof that this was the fact. His letters were notpublished until years after, but the world has them now, and themonopoly, with all its power, cannot gainsay them.
The three friends were yet discussing this painful topic of theirpilgrimage, when Mr. Mechlin observed that Don Mariano was looking verypale, and asked if he felt ill.
"Yes," Don Mariano replied; "I feel very cold. I feel as if I was frozenthrough and through. When we were at the Governor's office I felt verywarm, and when we came out my clothing was saturated with perspiration.Now I feel as if I had been steeped in ice."
"This won't do. You must change your clothes at once," said Mr. Mechlin.
Mr. Hol
man also became alarmed at seeing the bluish pallor of his face.
"Why, this is a congestive chill," said he, hurrying off to call thedoctor, who resided at the hotel, and who fortunately was at home.
Prompt and efficient medical attendance saved Don Mariano's life, but hewas too ill to leave his bed for several days. His two friends remainedwith him, writing home that business matters detained them.
Dona Josefa did not feel anxious; she thought that her husband was busynegotiating a loan on his land, and this detained him.
Gabriel and Lizzie also were in constant attendance, and thus the sickman was kept in a cheerful frame of mind, a thing much to be desired insickness always, but more especially in his case, accustomed as he wasto be surrounded by a loving family.
Still he was anxious to return home. Reluctantly the doctor allowed himto do so, hoping that the salubrious climate of Southern Californiawould be beneficial. But he said to him:
"I let you go on condition that you pledge me your word to be verycareful not to get into a profuse perspiration and then rush out intothe cold air. If your lungs had not been originally so healthy andstrong you could not have rallied so soon, if ever; but they are yetfilled with phlegm, and the least cold might give you pneumonia." ToGabriel the doctor repeated the same words of warning, adding: "Not onlyis the condition of your father's lungs very precarious, but also thatof his heart. He must not task either too much."
Gabriel was thoroughly alarmed at hearing the doctor's opinion, andimmediately wrote to his mother how careful his father ought to be, andhow she should watch him.
Don Mariano tried to be careful, but having been very healthy all hislife, he did not know how to be an invalid, nor guard against freshcolds.
About two weeks had elapsed since his return from San Francisco, when anotice that many of his city lots would be sold for taxes brought DonMariano to town. He still held to the belief that a railroad to SanDiego would surely be built at some future day, but had ceased hoping tosee that day. However, he would willingly have waited for a rise in realestate before selling any of his city property, but he saw it wasruinous for him to pay taxes--taxes for town property and taxes forsquatters--it was too much; so he reluctantly concluded that it would bebest to lose a great many lots (yes, whole blocks), permitting them tobe sold for taxes, hoping to redeem them on the following year if TomScott was more successful with the Texas Pacific. Mr. Mechlin and Mr.Holman did the same, and many other unlucky ones followed theirdiscouraging examples. Thus city lots by the hundreds were sold everyyear.
Don Mariano saw his city property thus sacrificed before his eyes atpublic sale, just as he had seen his cattle buried under the snow. Hesubmitted in both cases to the inevitable without a murmur; but thistime the blow seemed heavier. He was pecuniarily less able to bear it,and being in bad health and discouraged, his misfortunes were moredepressing. He rode home saddened indeed.
Victoriano, who was now able to be about (but said he _mistrusted_ hislegs), was with him.
"Father, why don't you use some of that money Clarence sent you? I amsure he would approve your doing so, and feel glad, _very_ glad, indeed,that you did it," said Victoriano, when they had driven for a long timewithout uttering a word.
Don Mariano turned sharply and said: "Why should I use Clarence's money?If I had delivered the cattle to Fred Haverly, as it was agreed Ishould, then I would have a right to take from Clarence's money theprice of the cattle delivered. But having delivered no cattle, I take nomoney."
"Everett was saying that Clarence distinctly stated to his father thatthe cattle in the Alamar rancho with your brand were all his, and wouldbe driven as soon as the weather permitted. Mr. Darrell thinks that thecattle lost belonged to Clarence, and not to you."
"Mr. Darrell is wrong, then. I cannot expect to be paid for cattle I didnot deliver."
"But he says you had sold them already. If they were lost on the way itwas neither your fault nor your loss."
"No, but was my misfortune, not Clarence's."
"The cattle were going to Clarence's mines, which goes to prove thatthey had been bought by him."
"I cannot view the matter like that," Don Mariano said, and Victorianosaw his mind was settled upon the subject, and it was best not to annoyhim by insisting in opposition.
When they arrived home they found that Dona Josefa had received atelegram from Gabriel, sent the night before, saying that he, Lizzie andthe baby would spend Christmas and New Year's Day at the rancho. Thiswas glad news, indeed, and most unexpected, for inasmuch as Lizzie hadjust been down on a visit and hurried back, so that Gabriel would not beall alone on Christmas, they did not think that Lizzie would want totake the trip so soon again. But Lizzie would travel many more miles tobe with her family. And the reason that Gabriel had for coming was,moreover, a most powerful one.
He had one day casually met the doctor who attended his father, andafter inquiring whether Don Mariano was better, added:
"I tell you frankly, Don Gabriel, your father may yet live many years,but he is in danger, too, of dying very suddenly."
"How? Why so?" Gabriel asked, pale with alarm.
"Because his heart may give out if his lungs don't work well, and as heis not very careful of himself, you see he might task his heart withheavier work than it can perform. If he is kept from excitement and getsrid of all that phlegm which has accumulated in his lungs, he will bewell enough. So write to him to be careful in avoiding colds," said thedoctor.
"I will go and tell him so myself," Gabriel said.
"That is right. The case is serious, I assure you."
This short dialogue brought Gabriel home.
From the time he had entered the bank he had never been absent from itone minute during office hours, so a three weeks' vacation was readilygranted to him.
All the Mechlins would come to Alamar to pass the holidays. George toldhis father that they might as well go back to their home again since hislameness did not require daily medical attendance.
Mr. Mechlin replied that they would decide upon that after New Years,but he was evidently pleased at the prospect of returning to Alamar.
The Alamar house looked once more as it had in the days of old, beforesquatters invaded the place; it was full of people, and music andlaughter resounded under the hospitable roof. Mercedes, however, satsilent, and though she smiled her own sweet smile, it was too sad; itfailed to deepen the cunning little dimples as it did in other days. TheDon and Mr. Mechlin, too, were not as cheerful as they used to be. Inthat visit to San Francisco "_a change came over the spirit of theirdream_," and it seemed to have come to quench the light of their lives.
But the young people wanted to decorate the house with green boughs andhave a huge Christmas-tree, and the Don himself went to help them to getpine branches and red "_fusique_" berries. The tree would be in honor ofhis two grandchildren; they were now eighteen months old, and the proudmammas said they were so intelligent that they would surely appreciatethe tree.
Everett, Alice, Rosario and Victoriano were the committee ondecorations; Carlota, Caroline, Lucy and Webster were the committee onrefreshments. While the laughter of the young people came ringing outthrough the parlor windows, Don Mariano and Mr. Mechlin slowly walked upand down the back veranda in earnest conversation.
"Yes," Mr. Mechlin said, as if to reiterate some previous assertion,"yes, I have lived my allotted term; my life is now an incumbrance--nay,it is a burden on those who love me. If I were not living, George couldtake his wife, his mother and sister, to reside in New York, but becauseI cannot live in that climate, all those dear ones remain in thisexile."
"But why should you call it exile? They don't think it is; and even ifit were, my friend, you have no right to cut your life off at yourwill," said Don Mariano.
"Why not? Life is a free gift, and often a very onerous one. Why keepit, when to reject it would be preferable? when it would release othersfrom painful obligations?"
"But are you sure that the grief and horror
of knowing that you tookyour own life would not be a million times worse than the supposed exileyou imagine to be so objectionable?"
"Perhaps so; but I assure you, since I have lost all my money, and whenI am too old to make another fortune, my health has begun to fail again.I hate life without health, and these constant annoyances of financialdifficulties will end by prostrating me on a sick-bed again. Now, when Ihave lost nearly all the money I invested in San Diego, now they comedown on me to pay a note of ten thousand dollars which I endorsed, withfive others. Why don't the others pay their share? I am willing to paytwo thousand dollars, but not the entire sum."
"I don't see why you should, either. What does your lawyer say?"
"He shrugs his shoulders, caresses his side-whiskers, and says he_thinks_ that some of the other indorsers are insolvent, because theirproperty has depreciated so much that it would bring nothing if sold;while those that have some means, no doubt, put everything out of theirhands, so I am left alone to pay the entire sum."
The sad dialogue of the grandpapas was now interrupted, as they werecalled to witness the glee of the babies at the sight of the illuminatedChristmas-tree. When the surprise of first sight was over, littleMariano Mechlin stretched out both hands for the colored candles. Hisuncle Tano gave him a tin trumpet, teaching him how to blow it;whereupon baby Mechlin gave the company a blast, and looked so surprisedat his own performance, and gazed around so triumphantly and yet soperplexed, that he made everybody laugh. Josefita looked at her cousindistrustfully and gave her arms to her papa, as if she thought Marianitowas entirely too martial for the vicinity of peaceful babies likeherself. Gabriel took her near the tree to select any toy she liked. Shefancied a string of bright balls, which her father gave her. The babieswere allowed to be in the parlor for nearly an hour, and they were sobright, trying to repeat what was taught them, that it was reallyamusing to watch them. Marianito sang for the company; all weresurprised to hear so young a baby sing so well. None enjoyed moreheartily their cunning ways than the two grandfathers, especially DonMariano, and both babies clung to him when the nurses came to take themto bed.
When the babies had made their exit, the children of larger growth hadtheir music and dancing until ten, supper being then announced. Onreturning to the parlor, after supper, the clock upon the mantel strucktwelve; at the same time a curtain ran up, and an altar was disclosed toview, tastefully decorated in the Roman Catholic style, having statuesof the Virgin Mary, the divine infant, enveloped in fleecy drapery, andSt. Joseph standing by his side. Behind the cradle were three magi, andfurther off, the hills of Judea were seen. As all the company were RomanCatholics, all entered into the spirit of the commemoration, and joinedwith true feeling in the carol led by Mrs. Darrell and Alice. Othersacred songs were sung, and then all retired for the night; the Darrellspromising to come on the following evening to have another dance,because--said Victoriano--it must be celebrated that they had heard fromClarence, and that he had found his legs, meaning that he (Tano) hadagain the use of his limbs.
Christmas Day was passed very happily, and in the evening the youngpeople assembled in the parlor for a dance. Don Mariano excused himselfto Mr. Mechlin, saying he felt badly, and thought that he ought to be inbed.
At about eleven o'clock he sat up in bed and looked around as if wishingto speak. Gabriel and Mercedes were sitting by his bed, and promptlyasked if he wished for anything.
"The sins of our legislators have brought us to this," he exclaimed,leaning back. Presently he said: "Call your mother, my son."
Gabriel called his mother, who being in the next room, talking with Mrs.Mechlin, was quickly by his side.
"Call Elvira and Tano. Call Carlota and Rosario and George. Call all,all, quickly! I fear, my beloved son, I fear I am dying! Bring all mygirls; I must bless them all!"
Mercedes had her arms around him. He looked at her lovingly.
"My baby, kiss me. Tell Clarence I bless him with my last breath." Hisvoice began to fail him, but his eyes seemed glowing with an intensitythat was startling. He sat up again, looking at each one of the anxiousfaces around his bed. "God bless you all, my beloved ones," said he,hoarsely.
"Papa, darling, can't we do something to relieve you?" asked Mercedes.He shook his head and whispered:
"Too late. The sins of our legislators!"
"Do you feel pain, father?" Gabriel asked.
"Not now," he whispered, extending his hand to George as if to saygood-by. He looked again to see whether every one of his family wasthere; he forgot no one; he seemed anxious to see them all for the lasttime. He extended his arms to his wife; she came to him. "Pray for me,"he whispered, moving his lips as if in prayer, and leaning on Gabriel,who held him, closed his eyes and sighed. A few aspirations followedthat last sigh, and all was over--his noble soul had passed away.
For some moments no one believed that his lofty and noble spirit hadleft the earth, but when the truth was at last realized, the scene ofgrief, of heart-rending agony, that followed would be impossible for meto describe.
Closely in the sad train of this mournful event, and as a fitting sequeland a complement of such dire misfortune, another disaster, moreunexpected, more dreadful and tragic, followed, which must now berelated. It shall be told as briefly as possible.
A few days had passed after the funeral, and the Alamar family werestill in town. Dona Josefa and Mercedes were at the Mechlins.Victoriano, Carlota and Rosario were at the Holmans; that is, they sleptthere, but as Mercedes was again prostrated with fever, they, as well asthe Holmans, divided their time between the two houses.
One morning Mr. Mechlin arose from the breakfast table and said he wasgoing hunting.
"Don't go far, James; you are too weak," said Mrs. Mechlin.
"I think, papa, you ought not to carry that heavy gun. You eat nothing,and walk too far, carrying it," Caroline said.
"Will you carry it for me?" he said, smiling.
"I will," Gabriel said; "I'll take George's, too, and go with you, ifyou'll permit me."
"It isn't necessary," he replied, going towards his room.
"I think papa has taken to heart the death of Don Mariano more than anyone sees," said Caroline.
"I know he has; he has hardly slept or eaten enough to sustain lifesince that awful night," Mrs. Mechlin said, "and constantly talks aboutsoon joining his best friend."
"I have observed how very sad he is. I wrote uncle to come; I think tosee his brother will be great consolation to him," said George.
The report of a gun was heard in Mr. Mechlin's room, and all jumped totheir feet. Gabriel was the first to run and got to the room in advanceof the others. He found Mr. Mechlin shot through the heart.
"Oh, God! Was it accidental?" Mrs. Mechlin exclaimed, clasping herhusband to heart. The dying man smiled, whispering:
"Do not mourn for me; it is best so; I shall be happier." He lookedlovingly at the anxious faces surrounding him, and closed his eyesforever.