The record-union., 1893-06-20

CHICAGO, June BIN spite of the heat
to-day there was a refreshing breeze
around the fair buildings that made life
pleasant to visitors at the White City.
The attendance was ia, $50.
Native Sons of the Golden West were
there in large numbers. They wore gold
badges, shaped like grizzly bear, and
talked of Goods country and para
disc" and had a jolly good time. They
made their guests have a jolly good time,
too. The occasion of their gathering was
the formal dedication of the California
State building, and they celebrated the
event with that free and easy grace for
which Californians are famous.
Tie big building was lavishly decorated
outside and in with flags, flowers and
plants rare and beautiful from the Golden
State, and from end to end, from top TO
bottom, the huge structure presented a
picture pleasing to the eye. No less than
10000 people had assembled when the
hour for the formal ceremonies to begin
arrived. They were not all Californians,
to be sure, but they all admired the build
ing and the gorgeous display of fruit,
flowers, gold and other products of the
State.
The ceremonies opened with concert
by the Second Regiment Band of the
Illinois National Guard. Then James D..
Phelan, Vice President of the California
Worlds Fair Commission, spoke of the
work done by California toward making
the great exposition a success. He praised
the liberality of the State in apprOpriating
an amount sufficient to enable the State,
so famous for it's wealth, it's gold and
fruit, to be creditably represented. AS he
concluded he turned to Governor II. H.
Markham and formally delivered to him
the keys of the building.
The Governor then, in the name of the
people of California, declared the build
ing open to the public. He spoke as fol-
lows:
Mr.. President, Ladies and Gentlemen /:
I first desire to express thanks to AL
mighty God, and to the people of these
United States, that California was per-
mitted to become member of the great
family of States of which every American
is so justly proud.
Sir, when | behold the magnitude and
grandeur OF this, the greatest exposition
The world has ever known-when l con-
slider the vastness of the undertaking,
and the energy and determination mani
tested by all to make it worthy in every
respect of the great event which 1t COM
memorates, and thus to crown the cen-
fury with an exhibition that shall go
down to posterity as the exponent of our
industrial and intellectual progresS-I
am more than delighted to extend to the
managers California's hearty greeting
and emphatic commendation of their eff
forts, and to congratulate them upon the
II, haf
which is sure to mark the completion OF
their labors.
Mr.. President, while thus acknowl-
edging our appreciation of the many
blessings that we, as a people, have re-
ceived in thus being permitted to join
the great sisterhOOd of States, desire to
briefly mention what California has done
and what she bids fair to do in return for
this exalted privilege of Statehood.
Forty-three years ago she was admitted
into the Union, aud to-day she has no
less than million and half of inhabit-
ants. Yet when 1 tell you what her
handful of people have accomplished, not
only for California, but for the whole
country, am sure you will concede that
she has justly earned her high position
among the newer States OF the Union,
and Will command the respect and conf
dence of the whole country. Those who
know her best love her most, and appre-
clal6 llOSl highly LUe energy, en-
terprise and intelligence of her people. |
can say, without otfense, that they are in
truth the most enterpriSing people of any
State in the Union, for California num-
bers among her inhabitants persons from
nearly every precinct in the United
States, and from almost every country
under the sun, and / think a little retlec-
ton upon the part of each will convince
YOU that that those who have emigrated
from your immediate neigh borhoods to
California are somewhat above the aver
age of citizens. AS so many of our peo-
pie have emigrated from other States it is
only fair to say that what faults they
have should be charged rather to their
early education than to California, for we
know our native sons and daughters are
perfection.
While we are all proud of the financial
standing of this Nation, California must
be credited with furnishing the gold that
saved this country in her direst need.
And, sir, let me say right here that three
fourths of that gold was taken away
without leaving California farthing to
show for it, so far as her internal welfare
was concerned; in fact but a small por-
tior of it was left to California tor the ex-
elusive use of Californians. Yet it saved
the financial credit of the Nation and
placed her in the prosperous condition
she occupies to-day. The Nation is well
come to it, for California can still keep
house, without it, and she is able to con-
tinue doing these charitable acts with her
usual becoming modesty.
Let me now briefly state what she has
done toward making herself worthy
sister, an important factor in the great
com Animation of States, component part
of this great republic. Cut OFT all COM
muuicalions with the outside world and
owing to our geographical and topograph-
ical position, we could still hive upon our
own resources and enjoy all the necessi-
tics as well as the Injuries of life.
TO say nothing OF the scientific inven-
tions with which she has enriched man
kind. she has taught the world advanced
lessons in mining and the laws govern
inc il. She has invented and put into
practical use the most successful mining
machinery ever constructed, thus saving
the mining industries of this country
millions upon millions of dollars an
nually. She has taught the people that
dangers. hardships, privations, sutferings
and toll can be endured if only the indi-
vidual wills it. She has furnished the
men and the brains that conceived
planned and carried to successful term
ination the scheme of binding this coun-
try together with tie and rail, making 1t
possible for me in less than four days to
sweep across the great eXpanse OF coun-
try separating san Francisco from Chi
cago. 1t may seem easy now, but now
was it when the idea originated with these
men3