194 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



exchange of ideas and mutual consultation, by representatives from 

 all the districts, and a spirit of harmony and emulation prevail. A 

 uniformity of purses and premiums will be agreed upon. In short, 

 a system will be inaugurated; every Fair will be conducted as a 

 member of the same family, and universal success and prosperity 

 will attend our annual gatherings. 



Notwithstanding the bill met with determined opposition in the 

 Assembly, I believe that time will develop the wisdom of the meas- 

 ure to that extent that even its enemies will become its devoted 

 friends and warm supporters. 



At the close of the first Fair the society found an indebtedness, of 

 which the management, individually and collectively, was responsible 

 for, to the amount of twelve thousand dollars. Notwithstanding the 

 hard times during the second exhibition, and the unfortunate occur- 

 rence of the excitement of a heated political contest, the gubernatorial 

 election during Fair time, which prevented thousands from attending 

 our exhibitions, the Board of Directors, through their zeal and inde- 

 fatigable industry and financial ability, had succeeded in reducing 

 the debt to six thousand dollars. And I think it safe to say that if 

 the friends of the society, the friends of a popular and spirited enter- 

 prise, will give the Board the encouragement that its merits demand, 

 the germ of the most popular enterprise has been in the rich and 

 fertile soil of one of the most enterprising districts of the State, and 

 its fruits will be gathered by the sons of toil for generations to come. 



With the people, more than with the management of these benefi- 

 ciary institutions, depends the perpetuity of their existence, and 

 with them, in a great measure, rests the changes of this society for 

 better or for worse. I will hail with delight the time when this 

 society can say that no debt obscures the light that should illumi- 

 nate the path of the Directors in this noble enterprise. Then you 

 will see a pavilion in this city that will vie with those of older, but 

 not more enterprising States; then you will see an edifice that will 

 be broad enough to invite the combined industries of the whole State; 

 then you will see a temple for art where the combined genius of the 

 world will enter her threshold for exhibition and competition. 



What California now wants more than anything else, to secure to us 

 universal prosperity, is that degree of governmental encouragement 

 as will induce judicious and careful investigation and experiment 

 with new and valuable products. And the legislator who seeks to do 

 this honestly and judiciously, will inscribe himself on the hearts of 

 the masses of the people, and will be recorded by the historian a 

 benefactor of his race. 



The old fossil will say : " Don't experiment with the people's money." 

 I say the progress of the age demands it, because the fertility and 

 usefulness of California's soil is not developed to that high standard 

 that the laws of art and science require. 



To Jefferson belongs exclusively and forever the high renown of 

 having framed the glorious charter of American liberty. That was 

 an experiment. To his memory the benediction of this and all suc- 

 ceeding times are due for reducing the theory of freedom to its sim- 

 plest elements, and in a few lucid and unanswerable propositions 

 establishing a groundwork on which men may securely raise a lasting- 

 superstructure of national greatness and prosperity. But our fathers, 

 in the august assemblage of '76, were prompt to acknowledge and 

 adopt the solemn and momentous principles he asserted. With 



