Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-05-23

sentiment the band struck I'D AfelS
air and the fun grew and spread to every
one. There were other speakers, both
from home people and from visitors,
but the hour grew so late
that THE GAZETTE was speeding on its
way North before they were all through.
That Of President Paddock IN response
10 "Why we have Spring Palace, -
was sparkling gem, and was as fol-
lows: q,
Mr.. CHAIRMAN AND GENTLEMEN-Since the
pleasant duty was assigned me of responding to
the sentiment proposed by your chairman, my
time and attention has been SO completely oc-
cupied in looking after the interests of the
Texas Spring Palace, that 1 have had but little
opportunity to formulate in consecutive order,
or to elaborate any of the reasons that actuated
the people of Fort Worth IN erecting the mag
nificent structure that it has been your priv
nege to visit to-day.
The question might be answered briefly. THAI
the Palace was erected as an educator; for the
purpose OF instructing the people OF this country
as to the social, business and industrial condi-
ton of the state of Texas, There is, probably,
no section of this country Of equal area. about
which there is SO little known as Of Texas. In
conversation with one OF the most prominent
journalists of this country a few months
since, after had told him briefly some Of the
advantages and resources of Texas, he asked
me iocularly how much Of what had said was
fact and how mnch fiction. replied that it was
impossible for person with the ordinary gift
OF language to indulge in any fiction or extrav-
agance about Texas. He admitted that one in
his position, who assumed to mould public opin-
ion and to educate the masses, ought to know
something shout the country in which he lived
and confessed his entire ignorance about the
greatest state in the Union. II he was so poorly
advised 1t is not surprising that the masses, not
having the same advantages or opportunity for
advising themselves. should be equally, or in
deed more ignorant about this grand common
wealth.
A few years ago. and indeed as late as the be-
ginning Of the decade that has Just come to
close, the state of Texas was looked upon only
as an asylum Tor the reckless and lawless ele-
ment OF society everywhere. 1t was considered
the retreat of defaultinR cashiers from all over
the country, and haven of rest for the Doodle
Texas were not as rigid in their provisions, and
executed with as much fidelity as those Of other
IN extent, sparsely. settled, remote from
railroads, and unvisited by officials made
1t safe harbor for those who had
been compelled to become fugitives from JUS
tice. 1t was said in this city year ago, by a
distinguished divine from Chicago, in describ-
ing the vsstness of the area Of Texas, that if
the state Of New York were dropped down in
Texas, man starting out to look for it on
horseback, without chart compass, might
spend an entire year in riding. up and down
over the state, without stumbling upon the
state OF New York. How easy then would it be
for one of the citizens of the so-called Empire
domain
But ten years have wrought = vast change in
the conditions. Then the entire country west
OI worth was PRACTICALLY unlnlab1teQ, save
by large ranches at long distances apart, and the
prairIes were marked only by an occasional
tran made by the outfits OF the cowboy and
hunter.
To-day this vast domain is SPAWNED by steel
rails in every direction. The cowboys trail is
ssrpplanted BY postroads; well cultivated farms
have taken the place of the tent and dugeut of
the camper and hunter, and thriving, prosper
GUS towns and villages have succeeded the cat
tie ranch. This change has been SO rapid that
the public has not kept pace with the march Of
improvement, and the most strenuous efforts of
the new counties and towns to acquaint the
world with the progress and development of the
circulars and newspapers, descriptive of this
marvellous and unprecedented growth
in ' this country A'sS and " in ana Eu rope
but the story, truthfully told. has sounded so
much like romance or the creation Of the i'm
egination that it has failed to carry conviction
to the minds Of the public. Despairing of dis
pelling the false impression that pervaded the
minds of the people, as to the true condition of :
city, who have always been fore
most in good works for the general good
cast about them for some practical means of
making an ocular Demonstration of the products
and resources of the grandest state in the grand
est country on earth. Then it was that Gen. R.
A. Cameron, former citizen of Iowa, and an
enthusiastic Texan by adoption, conceived and
presented the idea of building the Spring
Palace. Accepting as truth the
suggested the erection OF the Palace as an origi-
nal and unique presentation of the products of
Texas. and inviting the world to ''come and
see. He knew, as we do, that Texas was
blessed with every product necessary for the
welfare and happiness of man. That were the
state enclosed with an impenetrable and insur-
mountable wall, that its people could enjoy all
the comforts and Injuries possessed by those OF
broadcloth, the material of which was grown in
our own borders. That we could have al
the fruits of the semi-tropics, and all the luxu-
ries Of the most civilized communities We
knew that we could show pine timber to Maine
granite to New Hampshire, marble to Vermont,
TOBACCO to Copnecticut, Virginia and North
Florida, cotton to Georgia, ores to Alabama,
sugar to Louisiana, wool to Ohio, corn to In
diana, wheat to Iowa and Minnesota, silver to
Nevada, gold to California and copper to Miohi- |
gan; that we possessed iron, and in greater |
quantities and as fine quality as Penn
sylEaniai and each and all as good
in your school boy days as the "Great Amer
lean Desert was to-day growing finer wheat,
saw in your homes. There are in the Palace to- |
day samples of these cereals, of this years pro-
duction. from the Llano Estacado of the geogra- |
pher S Imagination of . quarter q century ago |
finer than any OF that you ever saw before.
This broad asser ton, but gentlemen, I con- |
ndentig challenge you to its success sful contra
dietion.
It was to place on exhibition, and to invite |
your inspection Of these things that the Spring |
Palace was erected, and your presence was in |
vited; It was that you night meet our people |
lace to face and see for yourselves that We were
neither semi-barbarous or a community of out 1
laws and reckless bandits. We point to our |
grand state, embracing in area the combined |
states from which you all hail, blessed with 3 |
generous soil, genial climate, q variety OF pro-
aucts, and peopled with brave, intelligent,
law-abiding men and refined |
and beautiful women. A state that Is the /
home of culture, the friend Of churches and |
schools; where the laws and customs respect the /
tights and'opinions Of all; which is no longer
.he home and refuge OF defaulting cashiers or |
az 10 hat
y the present decade will lead any state in the
Union in wealth and population, as it now leads
hem IN area, soil, climate, the variety of its |
products, and the libersiity ,ofssits people It |
vas to show you these~things; gentlemen, that
we have the Spring Pslace.''
THE JUDICIARY. -,
'The Judiciary" was looked after by
Col. A. NJ. Carter, who was in one of his
,appiest moods, and deliveFed himself as
ollows:
Mr.. CHAIRMAN AND GeNTIEMEN-I am over
Vhelmed with the task this subject imposes on
Judiciary the body or officers
harged with the administration of iusticeGzthe |
he judges taken collectively. What field for
hought this subject presents to my mind. No
n after dinner speech. 1t takes me back to the
lme when this state was ''Lone Star repub-
ic.N A nstion owing allegiance to no king
u fidelity to any union OF states. As 1 look
yer our history, grand and glorious, and still
rowing grander and grander, glorious and
more glorious with each coming year, feel
hat might be pnrdoned for saving