USA > California > Santa Barbara County > History of Santa Barbara county, California, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 41
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The City Council of Santa Barbara offered $500 for the apprehension and conviction of the parties who set fire to Johnson's office."
A communication signed " Lignum" appeared in the Press, which will show the animus of the contest between the two sides :-
To THE PEOPLE OF SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, GREET- ING: Only a despicable coward strikes a man from behind. Only a vulgar fool sends him anonymous threats of assassination. Only a shameless tool of a dastardly sneak lights the torch of arson at midnight. In the great excitement of a closely contested can- vass, extravagant words and angry feelings are ex- pected. To these things we pay little attention. To but few persons is the result of an election a matter of absorbing moment. So long as these persons use manly weapons and hit above the belt, the masses of the people look on with comparative indifference.
" But the contest here and now is suddenly thrown out of the field of politics. It has become in a moment a question that effects life and property, the rights and priviliges of every one of us. The right of free speech is assailed among us. Threats of vio- lent death pursue respectable citizens. The agent of a drunken mob assaults with the horsewhip an un- armed and prostrate editor in his own office, and that office is fired at night. Look at the list of crimes. Study the climax. Consider how the impunity of the first produces greater boldness. It seems the law is powerless. Have we no protection save in the pistol and the knife ? Must the days of vigilance commit- tees return again? Are we at the mercy of the mob? Is there no public sentiment here to frown on crime ? Is there no public spirit to uphold the laws? Shall the Grand Jury tell the victim of lawless vio- lence, that he has no redress ? Can we sustain a newspaper which does not pander to the class of loafers and noisy rum-drinkers and their blatant ignorance? Are we afraid of the class which elects our officers, and leaves others to pay the taxes which support them ? llas our laziness no limit? Our easy-going good nature no boundary line? Are we in free America or in commune-ridden France ? Are we civilized or barbarians ?
Look the matter in the face. The editor brings certain definite specific charges against certain officials. Those charges are most damaging in view of the approaching election. Ile offers his columns for a reply. But deeds which will not bear exposure, do not seek such methods of defense. The offer is not accepted. But an anonymous letter of the genu- ine Ku-Klux style comes to band. Threats are darkly uttered, of forcing him to leave the country. Rule or ruin is the motto of the ring. What an open, manly, dignified reply ! Other charges are made plainly and squarely in the paper, with a hint of more in reserve. These receive a column or two (in another paper) of senseless abuse and feeble and ungrammatical reiterations of a potent argument contained in the convincing words, " You lie." But hold; another answer is evoked. In the darkness of midnight forked flames surround the press that issues these annoying questions and rankling charges, and the stealthy footsteps of the sneaking burglar hasten away in the gloom. Is the question silenced ? Are the charges at rest? Are the minds of the voters convinced ?
"We do not say who wrote the letter. We do not say who uttered the threat. We do not say who fired the building. We do ask, as we have the right to ask, who were to be benefited by the destruction of the Press and ostracism or death of its editor. That question always comes up in criminal trials.
" We appeal to you citizens and people. Will you have men in office under whose administration these things are possible ? Men who empanel grand juries which make justice a farce. Will you be gov- erned through your own inaction by loud-mouthed
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proletarians who select your officers ? We appeal to you who own a farm, a house, a lot, property on which you pay heavy taxes. Will you have officers elected by voters whose easy virtue yields to the cogent argument of a glass of whisky? Will you have your county a reproach and a by-word? Will you check emigration (for the account of these out- rages will spread far and wide), destroy values, ban- ish capital, make your lands unsalable, and increase your taxes ? The course is left easy. Indifference will accomplish it.
It is time to arouse ! Trumpet tones sound the warning to-day, and red flames blazon it by night. Law and order must and shall be restored. Liberty of speech shall be unrestrained, and those who fight for us shall be sustained. ' LIGNUM.' "
The attempted destruction of the Press office by fire was doubtless the work of personal enemies. All the circumstances, the locations of the three dif- ferent places where the fire was kindled with the aid of kerosene, the time of the night, the studied attempt by his enemies to prove that it was a design to get insurance on the part of Johnson, and a hun- dred other things prove this supposition. The destruction of the Press office by fire, or even the assassination of the editor would not have been, and were not, considered improbable. The violences spoken of are but a short step in advance of what did actually occur, and usually succeed as a logical sequence. This reflection is not applicable alone to the Press, but to the Times as well.
The Times wrote a three-column article explaining how and why Mr. Johnson might have set the fire, might have written the Ku-Klux letter, and winds up with a kindly suggestion that the next time he essays the manufacture of a crime, with the inten- tion of fastening it upon others, that he prepare a better story in explanation.
DONATION TO THE "PRESS."
If the Press had its enemies, it also had its friends. Money did not seem to be wanting. It was grad- ually enlarged until it rivalled the metropolitan papers in size and appearance. At a dinner given in honor of the paper, and to celebrate a removal of the office into more comfortable quarters, a substantial gift demonstrated, beyond a doubt, the standing of the paper among its citizens. The dinner was given at the Morris, and after the editor and proprietor had received many compliments and congratulations on his success, Mr. Huse arose and said that the citi- zens had a more substantial compliment than words for the proprietor of the Press, and emptied on the table a purse containing $1,925 in gold coin, which the citizens had contributed. John P. Stearns was the active agent in persuading the citizens to sub- scribe. It was an acknowledgment of the benefit the Press had been to the town, and was a testimo- nial which admitted of no doubt as to its meaning.
CHAPTER XXV.
HIGH TIDE OF PROSPERITY.
Father Gonzales-Local Option-Movement for a New County -Attempt to Build up Manufacturing-Booth, Pacheco, and Geo. T. Bromley at Santa Barbara-The Alta on John- son and Richards-Candidates for Offices in 1875-The Republican Meeting-Press Ranting-Returns of Election 1875-Returns for Judiciary Election 1875-Humor-Fracas -County Jail-Campaign of 1876-Election Returns 1876 -Statistics-The Big Grapevine.
THE missions had many noble men connected with them; men of culture, refinement, and broad charity, whose beneficent actions were for the benefits of all mankind -- true Catholics. Among the most noted and beloved was Father Gonzales. None knew him but to love the man. Whether in his church or among those of different religions, his face wore the same benevolent, cheerful feeling. With him his religion was a golden cord, which ran through every action of his life, endearing himself to all, whether Protestant or Catholic.
Father José Ma. de Js. Gonzales was born in Guadalaxara, Mexico, in 1802. He came to Califor- nia from the Convent of Guadalupe, and was a mis- sionary at old San Jose for many years. On the death of Bishop Garcia, the first Catholic bishop of California, at Santa Barbara, in 1846, Father Gon- zales, who was his Secretary. was made custodian of the mitre and administrator of the church and college property, remaining in charge until 1850, when the vacant see was filled by the appointment of Bishop Alemany. He was the superior of the Fran- ciscans on this coast, and remained so until about three years before his death, which occurred Novem- ber 3, 1875, at Santa Barbara. His missionary career lasted two generations, and he was, at the time of his death, the oldest missionary on the coast.
Professor Gleason says of him, in the history of the Catholic Church in California: " He is the oldest missionary now (1871) in the country, having come to California in the palmy days of the missions, when civil and religious prosperity were everywhere to be seen; before the avarice and cupidity of the Govern- ment had altered the relations between the mission- aries and their charge. But the most unjustifiable acts by the authorities would not induce him to abandon his post, even when necessitated to depend for food and raiment on his former attendants, and now, after a missionary career of nearly two gener- ations, devoted exclusively to the interests of the people, it may be truly said of him that while he represented the true characteristics of an apostle, he forcibly recalls the spirit, zeal, and devotion of that ancient body of religionists who first introduced Christianity into this country."
Although never formally raised to the prelateship, he exercised its functions after the death of Garcia Diego in 1846, to the appointment of Bishop Ale- many in 1850. He seems to have shunned rather
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than courted ecclesiastical honors, and made his entire life a sacrifice to his chosen church.
For years before his death it was evident that the duties, often self-imposed, which he performed were often beyond his strength, but the same godlike, beatific halo covered his face. His greatest desire was to see the old mission, where he had spent the active days of his life, repaired. Before the secular- ization of the missions the priests had ample means to make such repairs as were necessary, but since 1833 the way of the cross led through a desert land, at least with Father Gonzales; but the people of all denominations gave freely to the repair, and a short time before his death he had the satisfaction of seeing the work completed.
The death of Father Gonzales put an end to one of the tender and touching services at the old mission. Visitors will remember the delieacy and solicitude with which the feeble old padre was borne in on last Palm Sunday by his younger brethren, and the expressions of pious fervor with which the aged apostle participated in the services will remain long in their memories.
LOCAL OPTION.
The summer of 1874 witnessed a novel style of politieal canvass. The Legislature had passed a law authorizing each municipality to determine for itself whether saloons should be licensed in their towns. By an apparently concerted movement the ladies of the State undertook the matter of prohibiting license. The bill provided that when any township or muniei- pality should, by a petition of one-third of the legal voters, ask for an election of license or no license, the Supervisors should appoint a day for such elec- tion. The ladies got up entertainments, dinners, etc., and carried on a spirited eanvass, inducing thousands of even drinkers to vote for no license. When an attempt was made to enforce the law it was deelared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, and thus ended the brilliant prospeet.
LOCAL OPTION IN SANTA BARBARA IN 1874.
A brief review of the movement for the suppres- sion of saloons in Santa Barbara, which had its origin here in a suggestion made by some ladies, and termi- nated in a vote against license at the polls, will be interesting to most of our readers.
The first real action taken concerning the matter was the holding of a conference, at which was pres- ent the Rev. Dr. Hough, Mrs. Dr. Hough, and Mrs. S. E. A. Higgins, of the Congregational Church; Rev. Dr. Bentley, Mrs. Bentley, Mrs. Hail, and Mrs. Shoupe, of the Methodist Church; and Rev. Mr. .Graham, Mrs .. Winton, Mrs. Mayhew, and Mrs. Marshall, of the Presbyterian Church. At this con- ference a committee was formed, to which was assigned the duty of organizing a plan for future action. Prayer-meetings were held at appointed times for five weeks-two weeks at the Methodist Church,
two weeks at the Congregational Church, and one, the last week preceding the election, at the Presbyterian Church. A perfeet unanimity of feeling and har- mony of action prevailed throughout the several congregations named, and all the meetings were united in by their pastors and members. For a time these meetings were held every other afternoon dur- ing the week; but the domestic duties of the ladies forbade quite so frequent an attendance, and it was found that the meetings were fuller and productive of better results held less often.
As soon as it was believed that public sympathy was fully enlisted in the movement, a number of active, influential ladies were appointed to canvass the several wards of the city for signers to a petition to the County Supervisors to appoint a day in com- pliance with the provisions of the " Local Option law," when the question of licensing liquor saloons should be determined by vote. The requisite number of names was readily obtained, regular imbibers of alcohol, even, seeming to catch the better tendencies of the hour, and not only signing the petition but lending it their support. This petition was presented by Mrs. Dr. Hough, Mrs. Judge White, and Dr. Jane Spaulding. The day of the election was appointed, and a call was made for a mass meeting of the citi- zens, including both sexes, which was responded to by over 800 people. The meeting was held on Sun- day evening, April 26th, at Lobero's Theater. The audience was enthusiastic. Touching appeals were made by the various speakers, most prominent of whom were Rev. Robert Bentley, Rev. Dr. Hough, Rev. Mr. Turner, Rev. Mr. Graham, and O. S. Fowler.
Hymns full of inspiration were sung, and thrilling choruses by the entire audience. From that time, from the hour when men not religious had sung with the church its songs of moral freedom, the movement had become, in a measure, the property of the outside world. Other hearts had beaten in a momentary enthusiastic unison with the leaders of the movement, and had, as it were, given something to the cause, and in return had received something, and were bonded to it thereafter. This meeting was followed by the usual prayer-meetings, and on the Sunday evening preceding the election, the pub- lic was invited to another final meeting, en masse. Several days previous to the meeting, hand-bills were issued of which the following is a copy :-
"GRAND MASS MEETING at Lobero's Theater on Sunday evening, May 21st. Prominent ladies and gentlemen will be present and address the meeting. The best musical talent is engaged. Last chance to help the temperanee cause along before election day. There will be refreshments on the ground for the workers on election day, and ladies are requested to send in sandwiches, doughnuts, etc., to the Carrillo House, first door west of the polls, early on Monday morning. Come and give us a helping hand."
[" Press," June 21. 1874. ]
" Eleven hundred and sixty-four persons, by count, attended the Local Option Mass Meeting at Lobero's
.
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HISTORY OF SANTA BARBARA COUNTY.
Theater on Sunday evening. This fact alone would be sufficient to warrant the unanimous verdict that the meeting was a grand success. Bnt add to this the excellent speeches made by ladies and gentle- men, the fine music, and the general enthusiasm of the audience, and the occasion might justly be called the eve of a new era for Santa Barbara.
" The settled purpose to eradicate by lawful means what is, to use the words of one of the speakers, 'an acknowledged evil,' was manifested in every speech and marked every proceeding of that vast assem- blage, and if that gathering does not bring good finits to-day, it will not be because the faithful women of this city did not struggle heroically for sneh results. For our part, though there were men who worked like men for the cause, we think, if it should be crowned with success, the ladies who worked with a courage little, if any, short of the sublime, are entitled to the larger share of the lau- rels. It was tacitly, if not expressly, conceded that it was a woman's movement, and candid people admit that it was conducted in a masterly and womanly way. A lady, Mrs. Hanford by name, presided over the meeting in a self-possessed and dignified manner; three other ladies, Mrs. Josephine Wolcott, Mrs. Virginia F. Russell, and Mrs. Foster. each made an excellent speech, and, taking these three speeches together, we think, for thoughtful consideration and elegance of dietion, they were equally as good as any three speeches made by gen- tlemen, if not better.
" We do not propose to give a detailed report of the meeting, but we cannot forbear repeating the favor- able impression made upon our Spanish-speaking people by the speech in the Castilian tongue of Judge J. F. Maguire. It is said it was a fine effort, and so we infer from the appreciative applause of those present who understood the language. We append the programme as it was carried out, so that those of our citizens who were not present may form some judgment of the pleasure they lost, and also to show the world the way the good people, especially the ladies, of Santa Barbara carry on a crusade :-
" Hymn, 'Stand up for Jesus;' prayer, Rev. Robert Bentley; solo and chorus, 'Watch and Pray,' by Mrs. Hendrick, Mrs. Huse, Messrs. Huse and Froom; poem, Mrs. Mayhew; speech, Judge Hupp; solo, 'Your Mission,' Mrs. Bentley; speech, Dr. J. W. Hough; solo and chorus, 'Temperance Rules,' by Misses Bradbury, Bishop, and Messrs. Cook brothers; speech, Mrs. Foster; speech, Judge Hall; solo (words by Mrs. J. Woleott), Mrs. Hanford; speech, Mrs. Virginia F. Russell; speech, Mr. John P. Stearns; speech, Mrs. Josephine Wolcott; Battle Hymn, con- gregation; benediction, Rev. J. W. Hough. Organist, Mrs. Newell.
"It was thought, however, that mass meetings were, with many, of but transient effeet, and it was known that a strong influence would be exerted for license on the day of the election. The question was one too intimately concerning the happiness of men to go by default. A connter influence was determined on, and the strongest influence also, for it was to be the influence of the ladies themselves.
" The ladies determined to station themselves near the polls on election day, to interrogate the voters, on their way to deposit their ballots, as to their views on the questions at issue, and to use their powers of persuasion for the success of their endeav- ors. Forty ladies were chosen for this duty, and with excellent wisdom, they were selected from the most cultivated and esteemed ladies of Santa Bar-
bara. We believe all these ladies were also associ- ated with some of the church congregations. True to their resolves, these ladies, and many others who were voluntary workers, entered upon their work at the opening of the polls, and labored assiduously until the sun went down and voting ceased. The gayety, the novelty, the beauty of the scene on the grounds was very interesting, and the earnestness of the ladies, who, with a heartfelt consciousness of the importance of the principles they were defend- ing, were such as should have shamed the manhood or touched the pity of those who were working in their opposition. Women, with faces pale and worn, stood in the dust and sun all the day long, accosting rough, strange men, and pleading for the abolition of the saloon traffic. Altogether it seems to be con- ceded that it was a 'woman's movement.' Yet, in speaking of the ladies' work of Monday, it would be unjust to omit the mention of the indefatigable and indispensable assistance rendered them by earnest men. These gentlemen were old residents, and knew the voters coming to the polls. Those among them in favor of license, yet whose better feelings might be touched by some womanly appeal, were pointed out to the ladies, and occasionally, if it seemed best, were introduced. These gentlemen exercised a wholesome protective influence, and were ready to meet with summary ejeetment from the grounds any one who should be guilty of indecorum or breach of the peace. We heard, however, of but two men who were so inclined, and these were speedily rebuked- and that, too, by their own political associates. It is worthy of remark that, with one notable excep- tion, the saloon-keepers exhibited more kindliness of spirit than their patrons and bummers. One dealer said he would never go into the business again under any circumstances, but he must now look to the money he had invested. It was the lower rank and the hangers-on of the grog-shops that exhibited the most resentment. These were sullen, chary of words, and imperturbable; they slunk through the crowd and from the women's entreaties, wearing a brutal, en- raged look, as if they were the ones whose interests were at stake in this election. At first the voters were addressed by the ladies without discrimination; a little experience soon revealed to them the fact that the men we have described were not worth speaking to. A glance at the face told them unmis- takably of the type of the man. If he wore a brutal, ashamed, yet angry look, they knew he was either wedded to his tippling, or had sold his manhood right of suffrage, and he was left alone.
" There were occasional exceptions to this rule, however, and rather an amusing episode came up in this connection. An aged, inveterate frequenter of the saloons, considerably under the influence of alco- hol, but known to be good-natured, approached the polls, and some ladies, trusting to his amiability, endeavored to dissuade him from voting the license tieket. Influenced by their entreaties, he was several times on the point of yielding; but just as his fair persuaders were about to lead him to the polls, some saloon advocate, on the watch, would come up to him, lift his hat, and bid him good-bye. This was more than he had the fortitude to endure, and he would at once beat a retreat and reinstate himself in the good opinion of his old friends, saying he would not be led by a woman. This occurred several times, until he finally reached the rope defining the limits within which polities could not be discussed, when the ladies retired, and his friends escorted him to the polls, a brave and triumphant man who would
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rather be drunk than be saved by a woman. An excellent lunch of cold meats, sandwiches, cake, pie. coffee, and tea, was served up by the ladies on a long, canvas-covered porch, shaded by a row of pepper trees. Many ladies spent the day in their carriages, seeking voters and bringing them to the polls. Whenever one was heard of whom it was thought would vote for no license, if persuaded, an embassy was dispatched to search for him and bring him in. Most of the merchants were visited in their stores and offered conveyance and escort to their place of voting. A great many voters were obtained in this way who otherwise would not nave taken the time to go to the polls. The opposition worked desper- ately; and while as in the morning the no-license voters had more generally deposited, the ladies felt hopeful, towards evening wagon-loads of such rough men came pouring in that they began to doubt of their success. They served at their posts, however, until the polls closed, when they retired, weary but with brave hearts, to their homes. About 9 o'clock a majority of one hundred and nineteen was announced for no license; the ladies and their co-workers bad won a glorious vietory. Cheers rang out on the night air, church bells announced the glad tidings to the people afar off, swift feet carried the news to waiting wives and mothers, and the homes of Santa Barbara were filled with great joy."
A writer in the Signal significantly asked :-
"To whom does the honor belong in the happy victory just gained over the devastating evils of twenty-six rnm saloons ? Does it not largely belong to the women ? and if so, is it not evident that our laws will be better, our politics purer, society ad- vanced, and humanity ennobled when women are allowed to vote ? Is there a man or woman in this city to-day who is not confirmed in the belief that, in withholding the ballot from woman, our whole country is robbed of the influence of a moral element which she cannot afford to spare, and that woman herself is wronged immeasurably every year that this injustice continues, adding to the corrupt legis- lation all over the land and to the deep-seated feeling of injustice which thousands of women bear along in their daily round of duties ?"
An election was also held at Montecito July 9, 1874, to determine the question of licensing saloons. A great many went out from Santa Barbara to help one side or the other. The liquor dealers sent a great quantity of liquors, which was openly and freely given away, notwithstanding the law prohib- iting the sale or disposal of it in any way on election days. The following, from the pen of Mrs. Virginia F. Russell, one of the editors of the Index, will be read with interest :-
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