Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-09-09

ness where we found nsfhing 10 help rs
no labor, no food, no habifations. no
material. no means of transportation
You see the evidences of triumph over
every hindrance. Bat you perceive only
| finished results; the dramatic incidents
Of their achievement are not disclosed
70 you. Rolling along smoothly, rnsr-
riiy and Iuxuriously over the line, how
| can YOU knovtkat the bridges over which
We pass we're built while the subdued
| rivers were hidden IN ice or swollen 70
perilous derth and turbulence? that de-
1 fiance WAS hidden to the seasons. and
| the pick and shovel kept flying. though
the way had 20 be cleared through thick
crusts of SNOW, and On frozen ground
thaved by fresi
| / have not said all this in boastful
spirit, but solely in order to give proper
| credit where il belongs for the great
deed now well nigh done. and thus
| discharge, by this public acknoviedg-
| ment, "a much a. possible, the heavy
debt of gratitude that weighs upon me.
| Let me then own. ON this solemn occa-
| sion, that our edifice never could have
been reared bat for the liberality of the
people Of the United States. acting
| through the Federal Government, in
providing solid foundation in our land
grant; for the devotion and sagacity Of
| the men who steered our craft in the
DAYS of distress and danger; for the
generous forbearance OF our stOckhold-
era, tue confidence of the public. the
powerful help of financial allies: and
last. but far from least, for the ability
and faithfuiness of the officers and en-
ployees of the Company, and for the
myriads Of honest toilers who earned
their bread in the sweat Of their brovs
| for our benefit.
And thus We are permitted today TO
behold this mighty task as all but fin
| ished. II was my proud privilege TO eK-
ercise the chief direction over its later
stages. No light duty il was, but wea-
risome, and brain and nerve exhausting.
Still, its very grandeur inspired the will
and the power to perform 1t, and there
was comfort and elevation in the thought
that We have built what cannot perish.
but will last to the end of all earthly
things. Let Us hope and pray that as
this great work of man will stand for
ever, is may also forever be an immortal
honor 10 its founders, noble monument
profit to its owners, and, most OF all, an
everlasting blessing TO man.
ADDRESS OF Hon. WIN. ~. EvARTs.
Nh. President WILLARD AND GENTLE
MIN, DUB FELLOW CITIZENS AND FoR-
EIes GUESTS:
shall find it easy to conform, for my
share of it, to the distribution of the
entire time which has been accorded for
this striking ceremony, TO mark the date
and place of the completion OF this
great public work. Your own address
OF welcome, Mr.. President, has recalled
10 attention the principal steps and
| methods by which this noble consum-
nation has been reached, and the emf
nent gentlemen who are to follow me
will illustrate, from every point OF view,
the magnitude OF the achievement, and
give eloquent utterance to the senti-
ments of admiration for the great quail
ties and congratulation upon the fortu-
nate influences which have secured the
result-sentiments which see, as l look
around me, swell every breast and
brighten every eye. Indeed, am very
glad to feel that thus placed between
to come after, my short speech may
be fairly treated as mere parenthesis.
which. the grammarians tell US, may al
ways be omitted without injury to the
sense.
1t is true, il were to make the brief
est illusion to the manifold interesting
incidents. il | were TO touch upon even
the many great things which have
marked the progress of this great enter
prise through all its vicissitudes to
its final success, il | we're TO exhibit
only its most notable contests with and
triumphs over the difficulties and obsta-
cles which nature-human, alas as well
as material-had put in its way, should
transcend all limits Of time and patience
before had got as far as Helena, start
ing at either end. Bat of such enlarge
| ment, even, the subject has no need. In
all the long route from st. Paul to Port
land and Puget Sound, the work has
| spoken and will speak the praises of its
conception, its projection, its compile
ton, In more impressive tones. and with
| juster emphasis, than words could ex-
press. IL were only to run a single
furrow through the wide field of obser-
| vation and illustration open before us,
II ! can barely mark the bright track of
prophecy, faith and works have wrought
out the grand consummation, the de-
mands OF the occasion, | cannot bat
feel. will be quite satisfied.
have spoken of prophecy, faith and
works as all contributory to the success
OF this enterprise. and so, indeed, they
have been. Neither of them could have
heen spared from this, or from any
weighty and imposing task OF human
eudeavor. Forecast. confidence and Ia.
Dor will accomplish whatever il within
compass OF mans power. Let us con-
slider little the part they have each
played in the work complete, which
now, in our presence, its builder, the
Northern Pacific Railroad Company.
has crowned with its last hand"
Fortunately for US, neither English
nor Spanish explorers Of the West
Coast had discovered the mouth of the
Columbia river before our independ-
ence was established. Fortunately also.
after that event, though both the Eng
lish and the Spaniards continued their
explorations on that coast, IL was New
England trading captain, Robert Gray,
Of the ship Columbia, that first pene-
trated the mouth of this river, to which
he gave its name, aud verified and re-
corded it AZ discovery which. under
the rules then prevailing, carried to his
country the sovereignty of the region
drained by the river and its tributaries.
The accurate and circumspect entry
ma e In his log book by this intelligent
New England shipmaster, vas the title
deed Of the United States to the region
embraced in the State of Oregon and
the Territory Of Washington against
subsequent claims Of discovery made
by Great Britain, and in some sort, by
Spain. IL was upon this title that we
maintained footing Of joint occupa-
ton with Great Britain, and finally, by
the treaty of 1916, Of exclusive title up
10 the division line of the 18th parallel.
BY the Treaty Of Washington Of 1871,
under the arbitration of the Emperor of
Germany, orr construction Of the divis-
ION line IN Puget Sound and the COM
municasing channels was established.
Until the acquisition of California, as
the result Of the Mexican var, this re-
gion was oar sole footing upon the Pa
ci6c ocean. and this excited the interest
and ambition Of the nation for an over
land communication with this remote
and unpeopled possession. Immediate
ly upon the Louisiana purchase in 1903.
i the forecast and energy of Jeffera,n vras