The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1878-10-14
Monday, October IA. 1878.
MR.. cAToN's SPEECH.


ence assembled as Yesler's Hall on Sat-
urdsy night, to hear the speech Of Mr..
Cation, the Democratic candidate for
Delegate to Congress. The speaker
was presented in few well chosen re-
marks by Col. Nash. and preceded to
define his position without any
Aourishes. in On apparently sincere and
candid statement, mainly expounding
and defining the platform of the Con-
vsntion by which he was nominated.
LIST, The resolution against tho dis
memberment of the Territory. he en-
dorsed in the strongest terms. He said
that some years ago be was identified
with the movement IN his county for
annexation to Oregon. but he had only
taken part in the meetings held with
that view for the purpose Of defeating
the measure. That the argument then
for annexation to Oregon was, that the
people might enjoy the rights of self
government from which shey were de-
barred under Territorisl government.
They were isolated from the balance
Of the Territory; their business rels-
lions were ell with Oregon, snd they
saw no prospect Of Washington becom-
ing q State but ia the remote future
Since the tide OF emigration set in.
which had more than doubled the pop
ulation of that section within the past
two years; the prospect of an early I'D.
mission as O State, and Of railroad con-
nection with the Sound. that sentiment
had entirely changed that there was
not man in Walls or Columbis coun-
ties. within his knowledge. who favored
annexation to Oregon; the argument for
merly used in favor Of that project was
now effectuslly used against it.
I'd, The resolution declsiniDg "un-
qualifedty in favor Of the extension Of
time for the completion Of the main
line and branch Of the Northern Paci-
&c Railroad" Mr.. Cation qualified by
saying that he was not and never had
been IN favor Of unqualified extension
that tho resolution meant extension
upon conditions, nothing more that it
was literally the same in sense and
meaning as the resolution adopted
by the Republican Convention
which he fully endorsed. He pledged
himself thus publicly and upon bis
honor as o man, to oppose and resist
any extension which does not provide
that the lands within the grant in this
Territory, shall be open to actual set
tiers for presumption or entry in linn
tied quantities at q reasonable maxi
mum price. He said that he would
not dare face his constituents, settlers
upon lands within the grant, with .
proposition for the extension of time
with no provision for their protection.
or without provision for the imme-
date construction Of the road between
Puget Sound and that section. H.
said that the people east Of the noun
tains were unanimously in favor Of the
extension only upon these conditions;
that they were not stuck after the
Northern Pacific Railroad, and that
the paramount consideration with them
in favoring extension was TO secure an
outlet to tide water within their own
Territory; that they were now literally
bottled by = monopoly Of the Column
bia river which did not promise sufi-
cient transport for their products. He
Indignantly denied that he was . re-
tainer or dependent Of the o. s. N.
Co., and said that ~ . member OF the
Legislature and q private citizen he
had procured the passage Of memorials
and made written appeals to Senators
and Representatives in Congress for
appropriations TO open the Columbia
river to free navigation; that the char
ees Of the O. 8. N. Co. were $50 . tom
from Portland to Walla Walla, . little
over 200 miles, the charges from st.
Louis to Fort Benton, $40 miles, on
transportation Of merchsndize, were
$50, $32, and $50 . ton, on various
kinds. That for these reasons and
because they needed our lumber and
coal in exchange for their produce.
the people Of that section favored ex.
tension to the N. p. Railroad and
we're Grassy for the Seattle 4 Walla
Walla Railroad. tho csnstructioo Of
which he would do oil in his power to
promote. He said that he - fully en-
dorsed every plank Of The Republican
platform - did Mr.. Brsnts. and that
every position taken in that platform
was copied from his speeches.
Sd. In the matter Of the adoption Of
the State Constitution he said that
though there we're so@e objsction.
able features In il the main part Of
which was that il contained too much
legislation upon expesinestAl meas
ares; still Il had more merits. the
chief Of which Vas soonouy. % nsces.
sary TO now and feeble state. and the
simplicity with which il could b.