The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-01-12
THE COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION.

THE COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION
The Houston Post announces itt
intention to urge upon the Legislature
an appropriation tor the purpose Of
aiding Texas in making fair repre-
sentation OF its products and resources
at the Columbian Exposition, to be
held at Chicago this year. That paper
also quotes the section of the constitu'
ton that has been regarded as pro
hibition of the Legislature to make
any such appropriation. 1t reacs as
follows:
Hart. 16, Sec. Sc. The Legislature
shall have no power to appropriate
any of the public money for the es'
Establishment and maintenance OF
bureau of immigration, or for any pur-
pose of bringing immigrants 10 this
state.
This article is regarded by The Post
az intending to cure an evil then
existing of immigration associations
seeking aid from the state and which
privilege was very much abused
rather than an inhibition of making
the appropriation sought. 1t then
shows from the records of the legisla-
ture that precedent was established
without regard to the section quoted,
in making appropriations for the
Worlds Industrial and Cotton Cen
tennial Exhibition in New Orleans in
1885, which appropriations were APP
proved by such lawyer as John Ire
land, then governor of Texas. 1t con-
cludes by asking an appropriation OF
$50, 900 for the purposes mentioned.
The STATESMAN agrees with The
Post that Texas ought by all means
to give yidence to the world through
the Columbian Exposition of its vast
products and undeveloped resources,
and it ought even to do so for the very
purposes prohibited by the section OF
the constitution that The Post thinks
does not apply to the case aud that Is
for the purpose of inviting emigration
And while this may be the great
underlying end and result hoped for
by all the states making their magni-
ficent preparations for the worlds
Fair, there is yet higher and more
patriotic aim and purpose. This is to
do our part as one of the great compo-
nents of this glorious integral union
of states, in showing our appreciation
of the event which as q nation we are
cele bratiug. This is the view of the
case the legislature should take. Great
Texas should this year appear before
the eyes Of the world in all her proper
glory. If as a result of her proper
participation in the Worlds Fair the
ewes of homeseekers should be at
tracted to Texas by the magnificent
exhibit we make of our resources and
growth, that cannot be charged to us
AS a fault-it would be- merely an in
cident, q natural incident of our prop
or appearance at the Worlds Fair.
1t could not be taken as the great pur-
pose of our exhibition that is to
show our tue appreciation of our
in such union OF states.
Texas has a debt to pay to the men,
DRY of those glorious heroes who
carved out her independence and
then Joined us to The Union, she has
another debt to pay to the struggles
and triumphs of our own people who
have developed Texas and made
her what she is and laid
the foundation of such
future as will be hers, and finally she
owes debt to the Union of which she
is q proud member, to make ofthat
Unions Worlds fair as great success
as in her power lies. These three
things are the great inducements for
IeXaS' aCtiOu. III as lhClueh'" W
them results are to arise to our bene-
tit. with such we have nothing to do
ia determining our present attitude
towards the fair. These three should
determine our present most liberal
and generous action towards the fair,
and against such action The STATES.
MAN agrees with The Post in thinking
.he constitutional provision quoted is
no inhibition. 1t was intended and
framed to cover all altogether differ
emit question, and should not be
turned into prohibition of our states
caring for its honor and glory in such
an exceedingly important crisis.
THE legislature of New York has
appropriated more than million dol
airs in the last ten years to encourage
..-...I2..o Ia xyhi oh IN fOII rt N Of ito