The record-union., 1899-03-17
EXCELLENT REASONS WHY.


aid, encourage and generally promote
the proposed Pacific Coast Exposition
are quite too numerous to catalogue In
detail But one chief and undeniable
reason is that this is California's oppor-
tunity to assert herself against IL
valry which. if not met, will result in
Infinite harm 70 all interests in. this
State.
1t is unconcea1ed that the great East
ern centers of trade and capital are
not only disposed to make, but ;are act
lively engaged in an effort to establish
the Northwest coast points as the per-
manent commercial pivots for the en-
tire trade Of the trans-Pacific region,
as well as Of this entire coast. The
concentration of railway interests at
northern terminals; the combined Ell
fort to divert traffic to these points;
the understanding between great rival
shipping lines to second the aims of the
land lines; the diligence and enterprise
of the people of the northern ports and
centers of trade in rivalry with Califor-
nia-au these, backed by enormous
Eastern capitalistic interests, aiming
to put California In the rear of all Pa
cific commerce and convert it to the
benefit of the Atlantic coast, mean but
one thing, namely, that we must assert
Importance to us, and that may never
be regained.
It is not a question affecting San
Francisco alone. She is but the nat
ton and distribution for the commerce
of the State. Her localism will not
alone protect her, now that rivals seek
to- snatch from her the gems of trade
She is the chief representative of the
State and the California coast, and
every industrial interest, every pro-
ductive activity, every business and
manufacturing concern, is involved in
her maintenance as a central point Of
concentration and radiation for the
trade of the Pacific. That means the
distribution of the products of this IA
vored cline. the handling and distribu-
lion Of products of the Orient and
the islands of the sea, and the ex-
change in our marts of all that consti-
tutes commerce and involves prosper
ity and the development Of our re-
sources.
Let us get away from the idea that
n- to ~ H.,
merely a San Francisco benefit. On
the contrary, it is to be a communion
between California as a State and all
the nations and peoples with whom we
inantly, who lie to the west and south
of us. San Francisco is but one nat
ura1 agency through which the State
must operate; she is our servant, not
our master, in commerce. The expend-
iture of a few hundred thousand dol
lars in the setting up Of an exchange
exposition in which the Western peo-
pies from the Rocky Mountains to the
uplands of China and the jungles of
the French possessions on her SOUTH
and the wilds of Manchuria and the
steppes Of Siberia on the north; from
the capes of Alaska to the extremity
of the South American continent, may
meet freely and present to US their
claims, while we make exposition of
ours-such expenditure will be but a
bagatelle compared with the enormous
benefit that must flow to US as a con-
sequence.
History, along centuries of CONNER
.cial development proves incontestably
the value of such efforts. Not one can
be said to have been profitless. Every
movement of the kind to draw peoples
and for mutual benefit, has been a long
step in the advance of common interest
and of civilization. The cost of such
movements has never been considered
in fact, so great and important have
been the results of these vast bazars
and convocations of nations. How
much more, then, will the proposed ex-
position be of value to US in our pecu-
liar situation, and under the new and
exceptional circumstances which have
opened up to US new opportunities for
the establishment of a great CONNER
cial empire, with it's seats in the State
of California
Our Consuls throughout the Pacific
region, in their reports to the State
Department, have been persistent and
insistent upon the absolute necessity
of making our advantages known to
foreign peoples, and of studying their
needs and desires, that we may adapt
ourselves to them in bidding for their
custom. This persistence of representa-
tion has gone so far that many of the
chief Cpnsuls have advised that for
manufactures should be maintained at
the Consulates, as is done already by
several nations, and in every instance
with notable benefit to them, and dis
advantage to the United States.
The proposed exposition will be elab-
Oration Of the idea of the Consuis, upon
vastly larger and more effective scale
than they have contemplated. These
representatives Of our nation abroad
have gone SO far in their appeals to
their countrymen as to say for years.
as they are now saying in recent re-
ports open before us, that Americans
are all but criminally negligent of their
duty In this respect, and instances of
trade seduced from US through our