The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-11-23

OF our great natural resources, mining, me-
chan cal and agricultural, and to Infuse
spirit OF industry, enterprise and compe-
titiOn, no. only smoBg cur farmers
and artisans, but amid all industrial
classes of the community, so that we
may reap the benefit resulting there
from 10 the whole STATE; yet l am
almost ashamed 10 ssy-as truth compels
me to--here, publicly, ia your presence to-
day, that notwithstanding these praise
worthy objects, and notwithstanding the
very manifest and immediate advantages
resulting. not only To the S ate at large,
but e-eminently and especially to this
county the people Of this vicinity and nota-
" to the people Of the country, though
with good many honorable exceptions,
have not exhibited thst deep interest, nor
displayed that zeal and energy in aiding
tins enter prize tina. should have character
lied them.
A great many refuse to aid, pleading
poverty and talking abou, the good OLD
times that are gone, and complaining Of
the hard times that are here. The truth is
that neither the past nor the future are of
the very first consequence to US in our bus
mess affairs, be they ever so varied. The
good time-the true golden sge-for us all
is neither in the past nor in the future it is
in the present time. The past has already
gone to join the years beyond the flood the
future we may never see. But the truth OF
the matter IS that Texas, and especially
Travis county, has not suffered materially
from hard times. In 1860 the total taxa
bic value OF all the property, personal, real
J and mixed, in this county, was largely less
than four millions of dollars, including in
that estimate all our recently erfranchised
American citizens of African descent. Now,
in 1876, when two decades have not
| yet passed over our heads, our
taxable property is not less than
ten TO fifteen millions Of collars, with our
colored fTiends not counted. Observation
shows that every year the amount of in
closed and cultivated lands in this county
| is Rapidly increasing, while our useful pro-
ducts of all kinds are annually multiplied.
| The dCckets Of our cOu It's show but le suits
against our farmers aud mechanics. Take
1t all in all, our county is about as prosper
Gus and our people dong about as we'll Us
they are doing anywhere else. The great
| primal eldest curse, OF course, rests heavily
ON us here, but there is no place on this
earth-and it is wisely ordained that it is
so-whcre man caa honestly cam his daily
bread except by the sweat of his brow.
There is no royal road to wealth any mole
than there is to learning. We are doing
| we'll enough here, ana there is really no
| good excuse for the apathy of our people
| ON this important matter. We, however,
hope and trust that by the time another
! year rolls around we will have so conducted
the affairs Of this association, and will have
produced such beneficial results, that 1T
will he then generally understood through
out the whole community that the interests
of its stockholders will be carefully pro-
tected that visitors will be cordially re-
ceiVcd and cOuiteOusiy treated while they
remain our guests, and that in our treat
ment of exhibitors and competitors in all
the different departments and classes we
shall he governed by the good old Sax
on rule of - fair play to all;" and
our first wish will always be, "May the
best man win." When these matters are
fully understood, believe our farmers and
mechanics and merchants will display a
deeper interest in our enterprise than they
have heretofore done, and that they will
all make il n point to own at least one share
of its stock, so that the association may lie
what it is intended to be--a peoples enter
prise, and one conducted for the good of
our whole people. benetiting them all alike
by developing and displaying to the world
the varied and rich resources of our lovely
country.
In conclusion, rs | am, like President
Grant, serving out my second and last term,
it seems proper that should, on this oc-
casion, on behalf of myself and my breth-
rem Of the board of directors, return our
sincere thanks to that kind aud indulgent
public who have so generously aided US by
their presence in making our exposition a
success. Our thanks are also cue to the
local press of cur city and also to the press
of the State at large for their kindly words
of encouragement and good cheer.
Personally, l feel under many obligations
to my brethren of the board of directors
without whose aid and assistance 1 would
have accomplished nothing. And last
but not least, l feel it due to oul
able aud experienced general superin
tendent, Colonel Norton, to say thai
he has faithfully and ably discharged
the difficult task assigned to him, and thai
his skill, experience and unwearied atten
ton has contributed very greatly to our sue
cess.
Earnestly hoping that tins exposition, SC
auspiciously begun, may be conducted il
such manner as to give universal satiSfac-
ton, and be SO managed that this, the last
of the great autumnal fairs that have been
in Texas so marked and pleasant feature
of this season, may long remain pleasant
memory with you all, | now declare the
second annual exposition OF the Capital
State Fair Association formally opened