Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-06-07
BRILLIANT AND PATRIOTIC SPEECH
THE COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION.


BRILLIANT AND PATRIOTIC SPEECH
THE COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION.
Hon. Chauncey NJ. Depew delivered the
annual address before the Chicago Press
Club, on Thursday. Like all of Mr. De-
pew's oratorical deliveries, it was fine
example of thoughtful utterance, graceful
oratory and liberal sentiment. But that
portion of the address that concerns the
general public most, is the reflection of
New York sentiment concerning Chicago
and the Worlds Fair. For Mr.. Depew is
essentially an exponent of the better ele-
ment of citizenship in the great metropo-
lis. The contest which New York made
for the location of the fair had left the
impression that her commercial and inan-
cial people were to dangerous degree dis
gruntled over the success OF the western
metropolis, and that New York in conse-
quence would show little or no spirit in
the promotion of the Columbian EXPOSE
ton.
Mr.. Depew seized upon the occasion OF
the annual reunion of the Chicago Press
Club, as its orator, to disabuse the public
mind of that erroneous impression. He
was enabled to do this with the more pro-
priety and better grace, because the SUBJ
iject upon which the club had requested
him to speak was "The Worlds Fair
Mr.. Depew said that he had done all that
he could do to carry the fair to New York,
but that he appeared before the club
pleased and accomplishing captive,
chained to the chariot wheels of victori-
Gus Chicago, and he wished it to be under
stood that New York city had no animosi-
ties to cherish, and would heartily and
earnestly do its utmost to promote the
fair at Chicago. He added:
No question more important and none affect
ing more nearly their prosperity and their pride
has been presented to the American people in a
quarter of a century. The occasion is at once
our opportunity and our necessity-our oppor-
tunity to show TO the nations of the world our
marvellous growth in population, in settlement,
in cities, in railroads, and our development in
agricultural mineral, and manufacturing re-
sources; our necessity, in presenting to CONNER
cial peoples of all races and chimes view of
our surplus in the products of mine and mill,
of fam and factory. which viii furnish the in
centives for barter and exchange in all the
marts of the world, which, by absorbing that
which we can prodrce bevond our needs in al
most infinite volume. shall burden the ocean
with our freights, shall re-create for us mer-
chant marine, shall carry our flag once more
upon every sea and into every karbor, and en-
ploy and enrich our own people.
He dwelt at length upon the necessity
of employing every legitimate agency to
interest the old world in the Exposition
To the press this necessity appealed with
especial force. In Europe American affairs
are dismissed in the press with single
paragraph referring to the markets, or to a
crime or a disaster. 1t is mainly through
the travelling European that our country
and its resour es become known in Europe,
Asia, Africa and Australasia. At the Paris
Exposition was gathered the grandest,
most suggestive and the most useful exhi-
bition of the products, examples of inven-
1.-Two SclluS anu anu
skill the world has ever seen. But when
the visitor came to the United States Sec
ton he was amazed at the inadequacy OF
the exhibit as a representation, or even a
suggestion of our advancement or achieve
ments in the mechanics, the arts, indus.
tries, inventions and general production.
Americans walked through the section
with the blood of shame mantling their
cheeks. The conviction then was, and
remains, said Mr.. Depew, that our credit
and reputation "can only be established
among trading and commercial peoples by
an exhibition in America, the most ma
jestic and comprehensive, and an invita-
ton to the nations and tribes of the earth
so hospitable and importunate as to bring
them all within the boundaries of our fair
On that occasion the Republic must wear
all her decorations upon her breast,
and receive her guests with unstinted
liberality. Such fair can only be created
by the cordial cooperation with you, not
only of all the States, but of the Federal
Government"
The fair in New York of 1858 was the
work of private corporation, was opened
by the President of the United States and
closed by the Sheriff of the county. That
of 1876 was great, but it lacked the cordial
cooperation of the United States Govern.
ment to make it all it might have been
Now we are to have the Columbian Expo.
sition. 1t is to be not the fair of Chicago
but of the nation. The East has been led
to regard the West as wholly given up tc
the pursuit of money, and the West has
been encouraged to regard the East as
effete and weak "But the fierce light Of
universal publicity which will beat upon
this exhibition, and the commingling here
of citizens from every part of the Union
will do much to demonstrate that we are
one people, with common interests and g
common destiny"
Mr.. Depew then dwelt with consummate
skill and force upon the broad and cath
Ollie spirit of the nation, upon the capacity
of the West, its refinement and culture
and the marvellous opportunities it has te
stand in the coming exposition before the
world in the proudest of attitudes. Pass.
ing brilliant review of the conquest Of
the territory and building of the national
structure, of the underlying motives o.
the Republic of the unity of interest Of
the two great cities, New York and Chi.
cago, and of the broad commercial basis Of
each, we quote his two concluding para
graphs:
With the broad generous and catholic spiri,