Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1876-07-15

IaclHc COAST Is represented at tue OeA-
tennial exhibition by striking evidence
of her munifcence in the shape of an
elegant building, designed as rendez-
Gus for our residents while attending
the big show. This building was re-
Gently thrown open to the public, and
the occasion was made one of great
rejoicing by those who feel a pride in
the achievements of the far west. Ell
wood Evans, Esq, of this city, and
Centennial Commissioner from this
Territory, delivered the opening ad-
dress, which we find in the Philadel-
phia Press. and transfer in full to our
columns:
Il feel grateful for the privilege extended
to NE by your call, to express the thanks OF
the Territory which have the honor to re.
present on the United States Centennial Com
mission for the kind and most liberal Invita-
ton by the representatives of California and
Nevada, SO cordially extended to all the
Pacific States and Territories, TO make this
beautiful building, christened Pacific Coast
Centennial Fall, the headquarters of our pco-
pie during the grand Centennial jubilee
welcome characteristic of our Pacific civil
cation, earnestly and sincerely rendered, with
like cordially, freely and fully appreciated
by those accepting.
But your call signifies that | have another
duty to perform. | am briefly, very briefly,
to talk about our humes-tu portray our
feelings in regard to this grand commemora-
ton of our nations progress; to attest that
we upon the Pacific slope share with our
Atlantic brethren Il patriotic pride in the un>
cXampled growth of our nation in the first
century of her existence. The people of the
Pacific coast are here with the rest OF hu-
mainly to participate in this glorious COM
memoration of our nations hundredth BIRTH
day, but they are also here to give the evil
dencc of the growth and progress of the Pa
citc States and Territories in the first quar-
ter of Il century of their existence as Ameri-
can States and Territories, to illustrate the
wealth and grandeur of those regions, to as
sert claims to the worlds recognition, to be
thankful for the past, and from that bright
beginning to draw brilliant hope for the fu-
ture. But little more than twenty-five years
ago the first of that band carried the starry
banner of our nation to those remote and
then unknown and unapprcciated regions to
stamp thcIn Will tbc iIilVIcSS VI oui AtucIi~
can civilization. They left their Atlantic
homes with doubts and misgivings as to
the future. The feelings of most are APPLY
described in those much loved lines which
recall schOOlbOy days:
'As the hare when hounds and horns pursue.
Eiees f. the place from whence at first he flew,
We still had hopes, our long vcxations past,
Here TO return, and die at home AT last"
The great future was before us; uncer-
tainty stared on every hand. There were
enough of hardships and danger in our path
to make IL. hang together and depend on each
other, and We had ar abiding faith in the
future. Nor did we forget early home and
kindred. We still chung to the memory of
birthplace and It's hallowed surroundings.
and gloried always that we surrendered not
either birth.right or nationality. We were
still Americans, with a common destiny, a
common hope in the glory of our country.
That flag was our flag, and we were still citi-
Zens of one great nation. But we found us
good land as lies out of doors, with a salu-
brious climate and everything necessary to
contribute to mans material wants. Twenty.
five years of Pacific life has not blunted our
love for early home, and l stand here to-day
in my native city of Philadelphia, as fond OF
her rs ever, proud as any of her inhabitants
IN her growth and grandeur, and glory with
them in her historical associations-that she
was recognized as the proper patty to round
of the glory of our first one hundred years,
that she has ably and grandly fulfilled her
trust. yield to no man in true devotion to
her. love her as my birthplace, and while
life shall remain, shall glory in whatever
contributes to her happiness or prosperity;
but pardon me when l add, that however
much l treasure her in my deepest feelings,
yet the home of my adoption is most dear to
me; that there are associations and surround
ings which endear Washington Territory
aye, the whole Pacific slope. That love OF
home, for it is our home, is hardly secondary
to the love of the place which gave us birth,
and l must attest that proud as l am oil
my Philadelphia birthright, my heart thrills
with joy that the home of my adoption is in
Washington Territory.
Ladies and gentlemen, i: is no vain boast
that we have homes in a country of which VIC
may be justly proud. We can give the rea-
son " for the faith that is in u.s." Our slope is
dOwed with all the qualities and resources
which administer to human happiness. Rich
agricultural soil, salubrious climate, untold
mineral wealth, our rivers :ecming with sus>
tenance for man, and above all, a glorious
people. Deep in the bowels of the earth,
either in California, Nevada, Oregon, or
Idaho, mineral wealth lies embedded suffi-
Gent to pay our national debt, to enable our
nation to redeem its credit and honor in
honest money. Should old England or good
old Pennsylvania God bless herb fall short
in furnishing fuel for the world, my own
Washington Territory will come to the res
cue, and from her vast and inexhaustibe
coal fields the world may be supplied for
centuries to come. Whenever the wheat
crops fail in the Atlantic States, as fail they
do some seasons, California, Oregon, and
Eastern Washington, with their never-fail
ing crops, give the assurance that " Harvest
| shall come" starvation need not be dreaded
bread for humanity will he furnished from
| those fields.
Upon the forests of Oregon and Washing
ton you may rely for lumber for all mans
| necessary wants. Already Puget Sound is
furnishing timber and spars for the navics oil
| the world, and she can continue that supply
| for ages. Should the Grand Banks and fish
| ing-grounds of the Atlantic fail in aff0rding
| fish for commerce, the cOd-fisheries Of Puget
| Sound and Alaska, the salmon fisheries OF
| the Sacramento, Columbia and Puget Sound
| will prove the great reserve from which this
valuable necessary of life may very long con.
| tinue to be afforded.
We have. indeed, a glorious country,
| whose Importance, whose wealth, whose flu
turc grandeur cannot be portrayed in the
brief time am privileged to occupy. If any
of my Eastern friends doubt these state
ments with the utmost friendship chal
lenge them to visit u.s. You will realize all
have claimed; you will conclude that the
| truth has been but half told. Pay us a
visit; we will make you welcome, You will
be received with hospitality rs cordial as