Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-11-27
CALIFORNIA IN THE COLUMBIAN FAIR

cage having been fairly well settled, it is
now timely to review the discussion of the
part California should have in that Expo
sition As the Legislature is about to as
semble, and the subject will be presented
to it, the debate from this date until the
meeting of the Houses should be general
and thorough, that less valuable time may
be consumed in the session in its consider
alton, and the wiser course of action be
resolved upon in the public mind as
guide to the Legislature.
When the fair was resolved upon, the
RECORD UNION expressed itself emphati-
cally in favor of California having sepa-
rate exhibition in it. Nothing has trans
pired since then, nor have any reasons
been advanced to work any change in the
convictions of this journal concerning that
matter California must exhibit and must
do her full share in adding to the volume
and worth of the nations Exposition, but
while national pride should stimulate her,
State pride and interest will be the chief
underlying motives of our activity. If
we conserve in the his hest degree our own
interest, we will give the nation most rea-
son to be proud of the showing we make.
Already the department policy has been
resolved upon by the Managing Commits
sion of the fair-that is, the general exhi-
bition is to be one not of States and Ter
ritories so much as it is of classes of pro-
ducts and manufactures But this by no
means precludes the idea of distinct
cumulative State exhibition within the
grounds, or within the buildings of the
Exposition. Now it must be obvious to
even the commonest understanding that
CALIFORNIA; part in the departmental exhi-
bition would be comparatively insignif-
cant. By reason of the youth of the State,
and its industries and arts, it will be
simply impossible for US to exhibit in the
departments alone, and receive the recog-
milton that will compensate for the output
of our energy and money.
In the first place, there will be great
many departments in which we cannot
make displays. These will represent in
dustries and products that do not yet
engage our attention. In the second place,
such exhibits as we would make in the
departments would be lost in the mass and
in the overwhelming numerical superiority
of the exhibits of our sister States.
Let US suppose that in textile fabrics We
enter the department lists. In the depart
ment of woolens we could make but a
meager showing, but our display of textile
fabrics in collective exhibition would be
exceedingle creditable to us. In art and
the works of the artisan where would
California's exhibits be in the depart
mental scheme? But in distinct exhi-
bition, and as units of collective showing
by California, such exhibits would do us
Infinite credit. We cannot, in other words,
compete with the world in these lines, but
single piece of creditable statuary,
single piece of fine machinery or other
handiwork, would give character and
variety to our distinct or collective ex-
hibit, and present us fairly before the
world, showing the beginning we have
made in art, the mechanical skill we are
developing, and the genius this young
State is stimulating.
OF course, this presentation Of the sub
iect but suggests an outline and indicates
only the direction Of the thought that
should engage Californians at this time
relative to the part Of this State in the
Columbian Exposition. What We want is
collective exhibit, and it should be held
in building specially prepared for it,
characteristic of the State, and in itself
strikingly illustrative Of it. California,
therefore, should oppose, so far as she is
concerned, distributive exhibition.
There are but three departments coneeiy-
able in which we could hold our own in
the distributive scheme and make our ex-
hibits distinctive features commanding
attention, and they are the departments of
mineralogy, cereal production, semi-tropic
fruits and the vine IN those divisions we
could be represented creditably, however,
without harm to the collective exhibit;
still it would be far better to make distinct
showing in a collective exhibit
These considerations should be debated
primarily apart from the question of State
expenditure to promote any California
exhibit at the fair. Let Us first settle
clearly what the character of our exhibit
ton shall be, and secondly take up the
question of WAYS and means. Let US re-
solve first that California must have dis
tinet ard cumulative exhibition in
buildinq Of her own, then consider the ex-
tent of cost, the duty Of the State in its
relation to that cost, the duty of COM
merce. industry, and production in rela-
ton to it, and finally the executive instru-
mentalities for economically and credita-
blv carving out the scheme. What we.
resolve upon it Is probable the managing
commission of the fair viii accede to.
Certainly the fear need not be entertained
that we will be forbidden to add to the
merit, worth and attractiveness of the fair
bv California exhibition in a representa-
tive California exhibition building.
THANKSGIVING.