Polynesian., 1854-03-25
Wat has been done in California.

Wat has been done in California.
The following extracts are from the Grafton de-
livered beio-e the California Pioneers" on the Cd
Anniversary of the admission of California as
State into the Union, by Hon. WIN. Van Voor-
HES.
But liave not time to pursue this further. II
is sufficient that we have acquired the territory,
admitted the State, and are building splendid
commonwealth. What Californian, in contempla
tion of the past, reflection upon the present, and
anticipation of the future, does not ieel thrill of
proud exultation' can well remember, and am
not by many years. one of the oldest inhabitants"
when the bay of San Francisco afforded ample
room and verge enough 70; the easy and unob-
struc.ed passage of the largest cluss mail steamers
anywhere between Clark and Rincon points; when
one could make ones way from the summit of
Telegraph Hull to the old Parker House by wind
ing down its bare sides, (now Broadway and Paci-
tic streets,) and leaplng the slough now Jackson
street, wadlng through the Bay, (now Montgorn-
cry street, up a sand bank, (now Washlr, ton
street, to an open space, (now Kearny street and
the Plaza, thence so PAGES south, to the point of
destination. | can well remember also, when an
unObirusve casa, compared with the immense
structures which now rise heavenward, here and
there at magnificent distances, all that, in the
way of internal, or for that matter, external i'm
.
House, the old Portsmouth House, the United
States Hotel, Howard Store, the venerable adobe
on the Plaza, then a custonl-bouse, afterwards a
brokers' shop, and now more, with one or two
other shanties. looked to Immigrants of '49 like
palaces when seraped natives chased the wi d
bullock over the surrounding hills. satisfying
lean, lank traffic, not commerce, with the offer
ing OF hide or horn; when Chinese was
fusus nature, and woman the street
which was imaginary line drawn in red and
blue INK on pasteboird-an absolute and IN unmi-
tigated wonder But now, how changed The
busy hum of active industry. like the tones of ap
plautin. thunder rings frnin the mountain top to
the bosom of the valleys; cities and villages, as il
by mtgic. sprinI up; mountain Businesses are pene-
trated and subdued: hirbors whten with the s1ils
of q Worldwide commerce: the remote West
grasps the hand OF the remote East, and Brother
Jonathan the Independent Familiarity exch rnyes
with John the Chnaman clocks for silks teas and
chessboirds: while rail Columbia is sung under
the walls of Nankn, and Yanke ee Doodle whistle.
It The gates If Japan.
..In short, by the acquisition and admission of
California, we have broug ght the world INTO social
as well as commercial contact, and there remains
now no such thing as that complex mystery of our
>choo-boy days-the arfipodes. know that there
are thuse who consider this state of things to be
Iephemeral; an insubstantial pageant which i.
destined Ia fade and leave not rack behind'
Croakers and sceptics have indulged the same
doubts time and again, OF the Union itself; but the
Unlon his continued to advance, and / must be-
Iieve, therefore, that California IN spite of their
ucreduiiy, is also destined to perform part in
The worlds drama, at once imposing and pprina-
tnent. Steamboi ats and clipper ships-those wing
ed witches OF the sea-havo, and railroads must
follow its acquisition. The vast population gath
ering upon Its shores; the vast interests creating
and the immense resources developing. are not Il
submit, the eInbems of decay, nor the insignia of
cvanescence. l do not pretend to say that we are
perfect people, that there are not well foin-
d objections to social and political organiza-
iiun. Bu | do pretend TO say that we. mean
the United States. rossess the elements of perJna
nent prosperity. which, if nourshed viglanilv, and
warmly cherished. cannot FIJI to npen into matu-
rty and produce the fruits of worlds re.ener itiou
Perhaps am enthusiastic, and am assigning to our
people and Government position and influence
TO which they are not strictly entitled. But VIII. n
we think of the quIet haven where the Nav Flower
iurled its taitered sails, of fhe feeble colnny-c,l
them Purtins religious enihusiIsts. fanatics, what
you wil-planted upon the barren rick at Ply
mouth; of their subsequent slo~ and difficult but
sure progress. until family Of thirteen knelt aronnd
the altar of WI and religious freed Nd of their
revolt in 1175; of their immortal Declaration of
l716; OF the singuinary battles Of their protracted
Revolution; of the acknowledgement of their Inde-
pendence by treaty, in 1888; of the establishment
lowing them in their of territorial extension
and tural greatness, through the purchase Of
LOUISIANA IN lcU3 extending their possessions South
and North TO the Pacific Ocean the reduction of
the Indian tribes and the extinguishment of their
titles East and West of the Missis ippi the ac-
QUESTION of Florida in 1919; the annexation OF
Texas in 1915 and the acquisition of New Mexi
CO and California in IS4S, thus in a mere span of
time building for themselves fabric of Govern
ment, under the sunlight of which the deep night
of the old worlds systems passes away, and the
reflected dawn of struggling freedom in Europe.
heraIds the glorious mora and splendid noon n-dsy
OF universal emancipation When think of all
this. say, is it wonderful or discour,eous that We
deHounce the expression Of doubt touching our
prospects of future usefulness greatness. but
the unfounded predictions of unmitigated croakers
and inveterate fogys," If y..u will allow me the
use OF designation perhaps less elegant than sig
niicantly comprehensive. As with the General
Government, so with California. The raven OF in
lcredulity is tapping and has tapped Its sombre
wings upon its pathway since its acqusltion-since
its territorial organization and since its admission.
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