Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-10-11
THE WORLDS FAIR.
Nothing Made at Home Good Enough for
Us Something Radically Wrong
in Our Manner of Living.
TEMPLE, TEX, Oct. s, 1891.
To the Gazette,

Every true American should take an in
terest in the coming Worlds Columbian ex-
position. 1t was unwise that our legisla-
ture made no appropriation for an exhibit
from this great,state of ours, but that cannot
now be reYnedied. and as Texans, we must
do our sha.e towards properly representing
our state. Texas IS being looked at now
by investors more than any other Southern
state, and can we continue boasting OF our
empire boundaries, our SnOw-white cotton
fields and all the other riches which tho
Creator has showered on this section, and
then make no effort to substantiate these
wonders of speech by our more real Won
ders of sight'
The Columbian exposition will far sur
pass the famouss centennial. In fact it will
be second TO none the world has ever seen.
Those of us who remain at home, who
travel little, and especially who have not
been abroad, cannot realize the benefit. aye,
necessity to the United States, that this ex-
hibition will be. Millions of dollars are
spent every year in Europe by Americans.
Probably not one-tenth of this sum is
brought back to the United States by
foreigners travelling here. Why do we
have hard times, and complain of the out
flow of gold to Europe' Shall we also put
a tariff on foreign travel? Foreigners are
very slow to acquire new fancies aud new
extravagancies. Few are the American
goods have seen for sale abroad. l have
seen our Indian corn thrown to the hogs in
Germany, its value on our tables not being
known. We have acquired taste for
their every article of food, clothing
and ornament. Our ladies must wear
their costumes and use their perfumeries
and soaps. Our tables must have their
dishes, our children their toys, our sick
their medicines, our men their clothing and
wines, and even hens eggs are imported.
1t is money, money, money going out all
the time. Nothing made at home seems
good enough for us. Every little town in
Texas scorns to buy Texas manufactured
goods. Put st. Louis brand on them and
they Will sell. Put your cotton-seed oil in
foreign stamped bottles and it will sell as
olive oil. Every American who has eaten
his six foreign olives must crave thereafter
ali foreign delicacies. You know it
shows breeding and culture and travel
h hems things be Most sa AnsIcans w Who
return from Europe, must have thereafter
foreign goods. And how do we pay for it?
By the toll of our farmers, by our cotton,
wheat and pork The farmers are continu-
ally upbuilding what our foreign palated
Americans are tearing down. Can Calves
ton be made great city If her citizens buy
all their goods in Houston! Can Texas
grow rich if ST. Louis remains forever her
smokehouse, and everything we eat, drink,
Wear, and manufactured implements be I'M
ported, Can the United States afford TO
import Injuries at this rate9 Ours would
be the richest country. in the world if our
industries were recognized and patronized.
We try to stimulate by protective tariff,
what we as Americans should foster and
encourage to success on free trade basis.
We now have an opportunity to educate
our people to greater patriotism, and TO
advertise the riches Of our country as they
never have been. A large majority Of the
travelling American public are better ac-
quainted with Europe than with the natural
wonders of our own country. II We have
not free trade, we have at least free travel.
Let US make grand and glorious exhibit
of our nation at Chicago. Let rs not dis |
appoint the hundreds OF thousands of |
foreign travellers whom we expect. Let us
bid them welcome to every state. Many
will remember our luxUries, and call for !
them at home, many will hear again the |
echoes of our great waterfalls, and !!
return some day to visit our picturesque |
shores. Many will see in tasseled corn |
and golden grain and snow-white cotton |
fields an attractive feature, and something !
TO draw them permanently to us. Our cities |
will surprise them, our railroads please !
them. and our future impress them; and |
when We 60 abroad to sell our securities |
we will not be treated as mere adventurers. |
They will have seen ua and know that our
is good. Travel in America up |
our mountains and down our valleys, in our
cities and on our lakes, is what We want
For once let the balance of travel be this !
way. For one summer let the $50, 000, 900 be
blotted out Let US all united bid them
welcome and give them something worth
seeing, and many will be the happy returns
on our small investment.
W. GooDRIcH JONES,
Chief of the Forestry Exhibit for Texas at
the Worlds Columbian Exposition.