The record-union., 1898-01-24
CALIFORNIAN SEMI I-CENTENNIAL


The gathering of a half hundred
ripened years into the sheaf of time
since the discovery Of gold in the Pac-
tolean streams of El Dorado's hills.
makes the observance of to-day an
event of more than ordinary impor-
/ tance. The value of an anniversary
is three-fold. dwelling in the retrospec-
ton to which it invites the mind, the
examination of the conditions of the
present contrasted with the past, and
in contemplation Of the outlook for the
future
| 1t is not our purpose to sermonize
upon this occasion however. The sug-
gestion of its value carries With it all
| that any thoughtful man needs to
crowd his mind with lessons and SER
mons. Californians of any considera-
/ BILE period Of residence in the State, do
not need to have the story Of the past
recalled for them Those who have
selves what present conditions are and
readily understand what a mighty in
fluence was exerted upon the civilized
world by the discovery of fifty years
ago in the tail-race at Co1oma.
/ 1t is disputed by some that credit is
| due to Marshall as the original discov-
erer of gold in California; it is claimed
that gold was found here and there in
J c0a ST and southern, counties Homo ha-
! fore the find at Suffers MILL This is
probably true, but it is also true that
the discovery by Marshall was the first
important one; that it was his picking
| of the nugget from the tail-race that
suggested the possible hidden wealth
of the mountains, commanded the at
tention of all the world, and set in mo-
ton the tide Of immigration that re-
suited in erecting California as one Of
the sisterhood of States, without pass
ing through the probationary term Of a
| territory.
Columns might be devoted to consid-
GRAFTON of all that the Marshall dis
covery has led up to; what were It's
direct and it's incidental results and
| by just how much the whole nation
has been advanced because OF that
discovery. The opportunities and sug-
gestions in this regard open out limit
| lessly-bewideringly so. The very
fact advises that essay writing Of that
order upon a jubilee day is unnecessary
| in newspaper columns The inevita-
bic, the logic, the history of the gold
| discovery are all too well known to
demand demonstrating.
| There is coming, however, very soon
another serni-centennial anniversary
which while related to the present viii
all communities in the State than to-
days jubilation and ceremonial observ-
ances. The echoes of the Golden Jub-
lice will have scarcely died away be-
duty and the fitness Of the thing to
celebrate the fiftieth birthday Of Cali
fornia as a free and sovereign State of
the American Union. In that cele-
and city should have concern and part,
the story Of the present one will be
rehearsed, and as a prelude to the
greater event, attainment of Statehood.
Greater and yet not so. Politically
1t has for us far greater significance
| historically it is more charged with in
| terest, since it was made one OF the
| battle points between the aggressions
of the slave power, and resistance to
extension Of the bounds Of slave ter
ritory. However, the gold discovery
was the starting point; it was the touch
that opened the cavern of riches and
made Statehood possible and it was
chance that was transmitted into sober
and marvellous fact an event that by
| the very magnitude Of it's result
amazed the world. So that both an
niversaries are to Californians of first
value and pride and are perhaps to be
held in equal esteem.
| In the matter Of the present jubilation
the Record Union" recalls that it first
suggested the observance Of this day
Some three years ago we called atten-
ton TO its approach, and on several
| occasions since argued that the proper
place for the central celebration of the
completion Of the half century was at
! Suffers Fort in this city. from which
the hills where good fortune led him
to find the nugget in the tail-race It
was to John A. Sutter in this city that
he made report of his discovery, and
here the find was tested and all doubt
concerning its character was removed.
| The idea was then taken up gener-
ally by the interior press. Los Ange-
les with her usual readiness came for
ward as claimant for the main celebra-
ton to be held there, but conceded that
some ceremonial should mark the pas
sage of the day here. San jose next
swung into line with claims for the cell
ebration to be held in that city, and
finally San Francisco took up the mat
ter without debate, but with action.
and 50 it comes that the jubilee cere-
monial is to-day to be held in the me-
tropolis.
And we are by no means sorry that
this IS 50. Perhaps a discovery so in
timately related TO commerce and ma
terial wealth is best commemorated
with laborateness in the chief city of
the State. Certainly We have the graf
ification of knowing that a larger num-