Men rush to California and Australia as if the true gold were to be found in that direction; but that is to go to the very opposit...e extreme to where it lies. They go prospecting farther and farther away from the true lead, and are most unfortunate when they think themselves most successful. Is not our native soil auriferous? Does not a stream from the golden mountains flow through our native valley? and has not this for more than geologic ages been bringing down the shining particles and forming the nuggets for us? Yet, strange to tell, if a digger steal away, prospecting for this true gold, into the unexplored solitudes around us, there is no danger that any will dog his steps, and endeavor to supplant him. He may claim and undermine the whole valley even, both the cultivated and the uncultivated portions, his whole life long in peace, for no one will ever dispute his claim. They will not mind his cradle or his toms. He is not confined to a claim twelve feet square,... but may mine anywhere, and wash the whole wide world in his tom.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
Know that, on the right hand of the Indies, there is an island called California, very near to the Terrestrial Paradise, which was... peopled with black women.... Their arms were all of gold.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
The California fever is not likely to take us off.... There is neither romance nor glory in digging for gold after the manner of t...he pictures in the geography of diamond washing in Brazil.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
The rush to California ... and the attitude, not merely of merchants, but of philosophers and prophets, so called, in relation to ...it, reflect the greatest disgrace on mankind. That so many are ready to live by luck, and so get the means of commanding the labor of others less lucky, without contributing any value to society! And that is called enterprise! I know of no more startling development of the immorality of trade, and all the common modes of getting a living. The philosophy and poetry and religion of such a mankind are not worth the dust of a puffball. The hog that gets his living by rooting, stirring up the soil so, would be ashamed of such company. If I could command the wealth of all the worlds by lifting my finger, I would not pay such a price for it.... What a comment, what a satire, on our institutions! The conclusion will be, that mankind will hang itself upon a tree.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
Having behind us the producing masses of this nation and the world, supported by the commercial interests, the labor interests, an...d the toilers everywhere, we will answer their demand for a gold standard by saying to them: You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns, you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
Such was life in the Golden Gate: Gold dusted all we drank and ate,... And I was one of the children told, "We all must eat our peck of gold."LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
We mustn't touch them yet, but see and see! And what was green would by and by be gold.... Their name was called the Gold Hesperidee.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »