Nevada County picayune., 1889-10-23
COUNTY FAIRS.
Hon. T. c. McRae's Address in Opening the Southwestern
 Fair at Hope, Ark.

the Fair at Hope, on Tuesday, tn, 18th, inst.
 Mir. Chairman, and Ladies ant Gentleman thank you heartily fol this kindly greeting, and am deeply touched by the kind words of m, friend, Gen Shaver. want in the beginning, however, to correct tw, mistakes made by him. am not entitled to be called Colonel, nor an l the orator of this important occas. ion. Do look like Colonel! had no part in the late war. When it began l was only ten years old. Our distinguished and worthy Gov ernor, the Hon. J. P. Eagle, was selected to make the opening address to-day, but is prevented from at tending. We are all disappointed and while l feel my inability to prop erl ' represent him, l am always glad to meet the people who have been as kind to me as you have been, and to speak for the State. l congratu- late you upon the success of your be- ginning of last year. The promoters and managers deserve much praise. The exhibits here show that the peo- pie are interested in the enterprise. Last year they were good, this year they are better, and so it will con tinue if properly encouraged. am proud to know that in this matter of county and district fairs South Ar kansas is coming to the front. wish we could have fair in every county Tn the State It is shame to the State that we have no State Fair. l am not going to talk theorct- ical farming to you. This may be we'll enough on proper occasions, but in this practical and progressive age in agricultural improvements, seeing is believing. You come here to sec the practical results of theories al- ready eXtant-to compare notes with one another, rather than to hear of what may be accomplished. It is only within the last century that agriculture has made much progress, and nearly all of the advancement has been since the institution of fairs and exposition.
 This plan of education became so popular and beneficial that it over leaped State and National lines. The progress of the first century of this great country of ours was thorough ly and magmlicently shown by the Centennial Exposition. Since then by this same method we have com pared resources with all the other nations at several worlds fairs, and always excited the wonder of the peo- pie of the Old World. It is q source of just pride to me, and ought to be to every citizen of the great State of Arkansas, that for fruit and cotton we have.taken the premiums over the world. May God speed you and all institutions organized for the ad- vancement of agriculture and horti : culture. wish there was such q fair as this for every battlefield and camp in the State. This prairie, a camp for soldiers twenty five years ago is now the site for a splendid city, and the location of q district fair. It is fit place for your soldiers meeting tomorrow.
 Our institutions have been severely tested, but thank God they have been saved to us, and we are now q united, free and prosperous people. The United States stands at the head of the list of nations in point of agri- culture, mining, manufacturing, and in maintaining educational and char itable institutions. Being free to grow, we have grown because we are free.
 Our own beloved Southland is just now waking up to her possibilities. Having survived the war, recon struction and the trouble that fol- lowed the war, she stands abreast with the other parts of our common country. l have no fears about the South if there is not too much agita- tion of the supposed race question. The relation of the colored man is fixed by the Constitution of the United States, so that it is not likely to be changed. The South certainly cannot change it even if it desired to 1 do so. Our people, more than all others, are interested in this matter. Our future progress depends very largely upon the contentment of the labor of the country. beg the peo- pie to look at this matter as practical