Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1870-02-12

to discoveries, motives aud results, based
upon those voyages, which invests this re-
gion with dreamy doubt Of peculiar in.
terest to the student.
That Past aboupds with all the novelty
| of incident which gives to romance its zest
and thrill. The materials from which its
history may be deduced, are worthy the
pen of Prescott, Bancroft, or Motley.
Far back as the 10th century, it CON-
mences with the early voyages of the Span
ish navigators, the existence of this sea,
known and then almost forgotten, it's search
rc-instituted, and then it is blottcd from
the map ofthc world by England's most
illustrious navigator. Hardly had the i'm
mortal Cooks pen been dried with which
be effaced from the worlds memory the
Strait of Juan de Fuca, when Barclay and
Meares re-discovered it, and heralded it
and forever assured its entity. Its thor
Ough examination was cotemporaneous
with the entree of our nationality for the
race of empire. On these waters, the first
reputation of Americans as explorers was
acquired, fitting portept that here the
perfection of American civilization will be
consummated by thorough dedication
Of these waters to the strengthening Of
our nationality and the future grandeur of
American commerce.
When | say Puget Sound, let me be
understood use the phrase as we un-
derstand it in the Territory of Washington,
as it was understood by the Congress Of
the United States when the collection dis
trct of that name was established. 1t
comprises that series of seas blending and
forming Mediterranean for the Pacific
States aud Territories, its constituents, the
Straits Of Fuca, Admiralty Inlet, Hoods
Canal, Puget Sound proper, and the por-
ton of the Gulf Of Georgia which the
United States did not ccde to Great Brit
ain in the humilating temporizaton Of the
Oregon controversy, by the abortive treaty
of limits of June Is, 1916.
Beyond reasonable doubt, the Straits
Of Fuoa, the great channel Of outlet of
these mighty waters, was first visited by
white men as early as the 10th century.
You all know the idea on which voyages
of discovery in that age were based. 1t
was to secure passage from the Atlantic
seems to have embraced the unknown and
vast continuity of sea beyond the ascer-
tanned limits Of the Atlantic Ocean, of
which vast, unknown, unlimited sea, the
Pacific Ocean of our modern nomenclature
was an integral part. Indeed at that peri
cd it would seem that the South Sea and
Pacific Ocean were used as convertible
terms. The belief had been engendered
that in the year 1900, Casper Corteral,
Portuguese navigator, had sailed through
a channel westward from the Atlantic to
the Pacific Ocean, in latitude $50 North,
to which channel had been ascribed the
name of Strait of Anian.
After that renowned freebooter. Sir
Francis Drake, (l579) had pillaged the
wealthy, defenccess cities of the Spanish
American coast, to escape the risk Of in.
Perception by Spanish cruisers, he sought
to avoid tho usual return track around
Cape Horn, by heading northward, and
seeking the western outlet of the supposed
Strait of Anian. Through such chan
mel he hoped safely to reach England,
sanctuary then, as it was during our late
struggle for national life, for pirates and
their prey In that famous voyage"
blazoned also by English authorities as
I" the world encompassed," it is claimed
that Drake pushed his examinations Of
the Pacific Coast as high north as the 48th
degree. The fame attending discovery
aud daring is awarded to this successful
buccaneer, for the immense value of his
captures. The stigma which justly brands
the pirate is attempted to be effaced in
the title of circumnavigator, though the
voyage northward as well as that return.
ing around Cape Horn, were but retreat
to avoid vessels Of the nation whose de-
fenceless cities he had robbed, whose prop
erty he had despoiled. Audacity and
crime; because magni6cently successful in
accomplishment, are made to appear dag
zling and. respectable. But Englaud's
claim to any part of the northwest coast
of America, to any part of the original
Oregon, rested upon the same principal
which entitled Drake to the wealth Of
Guatulco, and it was cminently fitting that
the very improbable story, that Sir
Francis Drake had visited these attitudes
(4S0 north latitude) in that voyage and
named this region New Albion, was so long
and persistently urged in support Of
British claim to Oregon. Since, how
ever, the 49th degree has become the south.
ern line of British Pacific possessions,
that absurd story has been abandoned,
and the 4Sd degree Of north latitude is
the hisher-most nortAing claimed to have
been made by Drake in his escape from
the Spanish cruisers, during that eventful
cruise upon the Pacific ocean.
am not allowed to trace tho history of
that magnificent myth, the STRAIT Of
Anian. and how much was inaugurated
upon faith in the supposed voyage Of
Cortorcai. How steadily for centuries
shortening the voyage between Europe,
(thon the seat Of commerce Of the world
Eastern Asia and tho wealth-producing
Spanish countries bordering on the Pa
cific, continued the dcsideyatxm Of navi-