Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-09-23
SEATTLE, ". IT, MORNING. ss rssa

A SENSATION FOE VICTORIA.
The Written Resert ~ Q Chieage
Jssrsallst 10 the IIl-Naiared speech
Of Psliaieian.
CHICAGO, Sept 19.-The Tri5ase's
Victoria B. G. special, Sept. 18th, says:
1t was at she most western part of their
journey that the newspaper section Of
the ViIoked party had one of their most
pecsiiar experiences. Upon arriving at
Victoria, the principal resident MEM
bers Of the provincial Government Of
British Columbia we're invited to meet
them at lunch on board the steamer
North Pacific, which Mr.. Willard had
furnished for the journey. Among
those pre- cent were the Prime Minister,
Hon. William Smythe, Hon. John Rob-
son. Provincial Secretary and Minister
of Finance, Mr.. Rodferp, the Mayor Of
Victoria, the American Consul, and
Mr.. Higgins, editor of the Colonist Of
Victoria. In replying TO the toast fhe
Queen," the Prime Minister made q
speech which was evidently an expres-
sisn Of the views on which he had long
pcndered, and which no doubt repre-
sented the opinions Of A4larRe part Of
his coahsituents- The annezati0n es
British Columbia or any part Of il to the
United States, he declared 10 be inpoe-
sible, but said the future would certain
ly bring TO pa . the annexation Of that
part of the Pacific coast section Of the
United States TO British Columbia II
was in that province, With its vast de-
posits of coal, with its exhAustlsss tim
Der, with its unparalleled harbOrs, with
its illimitable wheat fields behind il,
and with the new type il was breeding
OF men and women Of unspproachabls
physique, that the star of empire was TO
reach its final zenith.
Through the British Columbia path
way, Asiatio trade was 100 miles shorter
than by San Francisco. The fact of the
absence of coal in California and speedy
absorption of all available land tribu-
tary to it, showed that San Fran
cisco had about reached its highest de-
velopment. Portland could not carry
across the bars of the Columbia the
magnificent commerce that Asia Ia offer
ing. 1t was in British Columbia that
the northvestward march Of civilization
was to reach its cLlHinatisn. Passing
beyond the delineation of the future
RlOries of this province, the Premier,
with less tact than might have been ex-
pected, proceeded to prophesy the GER
tain dissolution of the American Union.
1t is, he said, "a matter of deep con-
viction with me, and with many others
who have attntively considered the
drift Of affsirs in the United States,
that that country cannot lsng continue
undivided. Its elements Of population
are too varied and the interests Of it's
different sections are too diverse. The
day will come when it must 90 to pieces.
When that day comes, British Columbia
will be glad to take in her open arms
that portion of it which Is her nearest
neiRhbor."
The indignation Of the Americans at
the utteranoe of such sentiments was
great, though as hosts they forbore to
express il. 1t was in British Columbia.
AZ United States Consul, that Francis,
who has been stationed here since 1861,
explained to "a that the British rancor
against the Union during the late war
reached its most venomous develop
ment. Victoria was perfect hotbed of
secession. IL was hardly safer for
Union man 10 express his sentiments
there than ia Charleston. Gen. Hazard
Stevens recalls case Of an Ameri-
can friend Of his, while defending
the Union cause during the war in the
Driard House in Victoria, was set upon
by q crowd, and after breaking hotel
castor over their heads, he had to fight
his way out with his revolver. At the
waters edge he found an Indian with
canoe, whom he induced to take him to
Puget Sound. Il was such men as Pre-
msr Smythe who fostered this hatred
Of the American Union and Union men.
part Of the subject to which Pre-
mier Smythe did not venture to allude
WAS the strong feeling which has al
ways existed in British Columbia in
favor of separation from the British
empire. This reached fever heat when
1t seemed two years ago that the Cana
dian Government would not carry out
the projected. Canadian Pacific Railway
to connect 1t with Canada and the At
lantic. Minister Of Finance Robson,
who spoke after the Premier. was one
of q number of prominent Victorians
who signed petition to President
Hayes to take British Columbia into
the United States. Documents with
his signature and that of others of his
fellow citizens are now on file at Wash
ington. Editor Higgins, Of the Cs,onisf,
who sat at the same table. was at the
head of a movement which had it's
plans all laid at that time for seizinQ
the Government and Government build
ines Of British Columbia and seeding
from Great Britain as preliminary
TO applying for admission into the
American Union, and had they carried
out their plans the United States would
now be in possession Of that indispen-
sable overland approach t0 Alaska,
which We will now have to got hold Of
in some other way.