Sacramento daily record-union., 1890-09-21
s" PORTY-AiEERS.' =
THIRD ANNUAL REUNION OF THE NEW
ENGLAND PIONEERS.
"reminiscences of the Gold Hunting Days
Recalled-The society's Recent Trip
to California Described.
Boston Journal. Sent. loth.l

England was held yesterday afternoon at
the Odd Fellows Building, on fremont
street. The pleasure of these annual
gatherings of brave New Englanders, who
fulfilled their duty when they laid the
foundations of American government in
the to-be great State of California has
heretofore not been perfect, for this was the
| first rednion in which the ladies were pres
ent. But yesterday the presence of the
wives and daughters OF the members of the
Association left nothing to be desired, and
as Secretary Whittemore said, 1T is a per-
nanent change, this change for the better"
The dinner hour was o'clock and the long
tables in the upper hall were found groan-
ing beneath the weight of good things.
The miners of 40 would have laughed at
the thought that these were to be among
the products, indeed the chiefest products,
of q future day of the, at that time, COM
paratively sterile soil of California At
long table at the head of the hall sat the
officers of the society and its invited guests.
President Thomes occupied seat in the
center, Governor Brackett at his right, be-
| side whom was ex-senator Conness from
| California. At the Presidents left were
Secretary Whlttemore and the President
elect. On the ceiling at their backs was
the society emblem, clasped hands sur
rounded by circle of russell color, en-
circled by galaxyof stars on blue field,
and near this were the initials IN. Z. S. G.
2. The emblem was surrounded by flags.
drapei gracefully at the sides. while a glory
of flags surmounted the whole.
The tables were tastefully decorated with
potted plants. Just 365 sat down to the
dinner. The music was furnished by
Thomas Orchestra The bills of fare were
prettily gotten up being printed on heavy
cardboard in imitation wood color, the first
page ornamented with a picture of the old
San Francisco Postotice, corner of Pike
and Clay streets, representing the miners
moving in file through the office after the
arrival OF mail, and the last page of the
cover with a view of San Francisco itself
that year, the point of observation being at
the head of Clay street. At o'clock Pres
ident Thomes called the assemblage to
order. This, he said, is the third time
we have met TO compare notes of the past
and to talk over future prospects. Every
body says that you look younger than YOU
did three years ago" He then gave brief
outline of affairs, political and otherwise,
at the time OF the discovery of gold, forty
| years ago Since then what mighty
changes there have been; what most mo-
| mentous events in the history of States.
The annexation and adoption of the State
OF California forty years ago this month,
was one of the principal events preceding
the rebellion. The 9TH of September 1851,
Congress passed the law making that great
State. But California sprang into existence
as State long before Congress recognized
it. Congress spent time in wrangling over
the question whether California should be
admitted as free or slave State, but the
the people had already decided that it
should be free. Applause.l Great men
discussed the question. Webster, Calhoun
and Douglas were among them. The
President then proceeded to show how
these New England pioneers laid the foun-
dations of Californias future greatness, in
spiritual as well as material things. Great
has been the result. You helped pro-
claim that California should ever be
free. [Applause You saw the re-
suit when the rebellion broke out. But
the attempt to divide the Union failed.
Who would sell his experience after the
hardships that were passed through?
Providence put the gold in California, and
Providence sent such men as you to find it.
Such adventurers the world never saw.
Peler the Hermit could not find to- day in
Europe such company of recruits as are
here assembled. You went out from your
New England homes with the Bible in
one hand and the rifle in the other. Many
of you crossed the rough prairie, over the
weary desert. You found hard potatoes
were dollar pound, onions fifty cents
pound when you could get them, but not
a woman's smile for any price. Think of
what ycu endured, but think of the greater
result. Think of State that produces
from fifty to sixty millions of bushels of
/ " rhaat millions and r1il1iono of h,ohaIs of
rye. The world is supplied by that State"
! President Thomes then spoke of their visit
TO California as an organization. The
| cities of Los Angeles and San Diego ten.
dered receptions, and the society were en-
Enthusiastically received by the good people
of Sacramento, through their Mayor, and
by the Society of Pioneers. The Governor
gave them reception at the Capitol,
through the kind influence of Governor
Bracket. At oakland they were met by
an escort sent by the city of San Francisco.
But / must leave the thread of my dis.
| course to be taken up by man who can
tell the story better than l. But now
| have the pleasant duty of introducing the
first man in Massachusetts, by the gift of
the people. l have the pleasure of intro
| ducing 10 you the Governor of Masyachu-
setts." [Applause ]
The band played and somebody called for
three cheers for Governor Bracket, which
were given with a will. His Excellencv
said; Mr.. President, Ladies and Gentle
men: I wish had been forewarned of the
eloquent introduction your President was
to give me. | ought not to be here to- day,
on account of pressing duties. But was
! desirous Of meeting the Society of Califor-
MIA Pioneers and their friends. Your cir
| cular stated that it was expected that the
speakers would rehearse the stories of
| their adventures, but have none to relate
| doubt even if had been old enough TO
go that l should have had the courage
| NY uncle, William L. Bracket went out
in 49, at the age of twenty one, and re-
mained 40 years. He returned last year in
| August and found nearly all of the family
! gone He intended to return to California,
| but did not. and was taken i'll and died last
January. | have to day met number of
! gentlemen, some of whom went with him
in the same boat around the Cape. Your
President spoke of your kind reception by
the Governor of California and of my
official letter of introduction. Sometimes
Governors hesitate to grant these letters,
but | had no reason for hesitation. The
Governor then told a story of the careful
business man who always signed his love
letters as he did his business letters, with
out recourse, to provide against any posi-
must have been very interesting to you as |
you noticed the great changes of growth |
and progress. 1t is right for you and all |
here to bear in mind the part you took |
in laying the foundations of that great |
State. / do not suppose you went there |
for that purpose. You went there to bet |
ter your condition. This as a motive is |
very often unjustly criticised. Money
getting, when it excludes all human SYM |
pathies, when it makes the man like the |
English merchant, of whom it was said his |
Bible was his ledger, his altar was his desk,
bis church his counting house and his God
money is all wrong, but much can be said |
in defense Without this love of money
We should relapse into comparative barbar-
ism. While passion for wealth is not to
be cultivated, yet give the love for wealth
proper credit. 1t is the abuse that is wrong.
When there is no disposition to render an
equivalent money-getting is vice. You
did not pursue wealth in that way You
were willing to risk the perils of sea and
land You did not know that you would
be rewarded, that to day you would enjoy
the abundant fruitage of your rich heroism
and TOLL
At the close of Governor Brackets ad
dress the President said that the present