Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-09-10
ADMISSION DAY.

We like the idea of making the date O
the admission of California to the Unior
of States a holiday. The event common
GRATED was SO full Of political interest, il
was 50 teaching, and stood for such a fri
umph of the principles of freedom, ovel
the retrogressive tendency of an institution
that at the time fastened as a deadly blight
upon the vigor and vitality of nearly hal,
the Union, that it is a right thing to do tc
recall the memories clustering about it
and invite the generation that has come
upon the stage of action since 1850, to a
study of the history related to it. 1t is
not the purpose, however, to enter upon il
here, and while it must properly form a
part OF the historical reading for Califor-
ma youths, it Is not necessary to make
1t the newspaper topic for the day.
The reader can turn to more congenial
thought in reviewing, as every we'll
informed Californian does to-day, the
marvellous progress that has been made in
the building of the State. There is no
other instance in history of a people
IN 50 brief a period accomplishing SO much
as stands to the credit of the men who
iald the foundations of this State, and
those who have builded upon them. 1t is
not necessary in this place to pass the
~thlrty-nine years in review, nor even to
refer to the more striking epochs that
nave distinguished the history of the
State and made it phenomenal among all
annals of peaceful conquest aad of civil
cation. The reader is too familiar with
the mile posts of our progress to be even
reminded of then at this time. 1t is so
brief a space between the first and the
present Admission Day that every Cali
iornian must be presumed to be init
mateiy acquainted with the events that
have served to fashion the civilization and
promote or retard the development of the
State.
In State, as in national life, there are
agencies that operate powerfully to de-
termine the character of its growth. and
forecast its destiny, and to make the deem
est impression upon its people and insti-
buttons. That the chief of these in the
case of California was the character of the
pioneers who hewed the way for a settled
state Of society is u~udeniable. The call
of the new discovery was not to the weak
and timid, to the vacillating and I'M
settled; but to the strong and
vigorous characters, the men of
determination and venturesome spirit. To
these we owe the laying of the substruct
urai stones upon which has arisen so fair
a temple of statehood. We honor these
pioneers of 1S49 and so for the daring
and heroism that made them such, and
look upon the merely selfish spirit of gain
that primarily inspired them to march west
ward as but an incidental means to a great
and lofty end, destined to be worked out
and attained through the trials and tri-
umphs of these hardy men, whose sons
have to-day made it their special commits
sion to do honor TO the anniversary of the
birth of the State. :
The contertions of pioneer life, the rude
rule OF night, the improvidence of the 1
early era that knew it, the re-stlessnessthat :
characterized the men of the primal DAYS
of the new conquest-these were but the ,
surface indications of forces working out
purposes from which lave been born-States :
and refined civilizations, commerce, indus
Try and heroic achievement upon the
Iae1he coast, TO which the world furnishes I
parallel Beneath these manifestation l
was the spirit of American conquest and :
development, the same spirit that carved I
a new empire out of the wilderness be- q
tween the Wabash and the Mississipni q
and fashioned a glorious cluster Of States I
from the territory between Superior ON the
north and The Red river on the south y
The men VINO have pioneered the way for '
American discovery and enterprise who !
have buiided cities and States as they a
who lave been STAYED by no |
obstacle, delayed by no difficulties. dis !
Outraged by 40 physical distractions who a
have, like awave irresistible in its mome,- u
'um, majestic IN its purpose, moved onward Il
across the continent, making
way for all the train of blessings that fol- ~
Iow the 1dventuring American pioneer N
lpon these shores came at last to a stand ~
The ocesn babe them attempt no further E
conquest. Here they paused aud saw IL
ONE sweeping in after and upon them the q.
reas tide Of business, commerce educa- c;
ion, refinement and all their conouerine in
rain. Here the westward march of en- .p
ire halts; here the westward impulse meets p,
e check and here accumulate and pile ";
galnst thew esternmost confine of the con- ic,
nent the spirit of American commercial ~
nd industrial conquest, the restlessness of as,
iscovery, Tie energy and vigor of A,neri- ca
az enterprise and development. As If ca
ature were n sympathy with the west wi
ard march Of or people, here were found ha
peculiarly adapted to make this DO
,ore Of the nation the fitting field for the all