Great Falls tribune., 1885-12-26

chase-the forests, the fisheries. the
mines and the seal rockeries impress
ed him greatly, besides he considered
Alaska the public highway; the half
way house and recruiting rendezvou:
between the United States and Asia
In national and political point O
view, the cession Of Alaska has grea
significance, and particularly so at the
time the treaty was effected. It was
in the mind Of Secretary Seward that
what foreign power and intrigue
sought to accomplish, was the destruc
ton of the Union and the wreck Of
liberty. The coalition between Eng
land, France and Spain: England by
the way of Canada; France by the way
of Mexico; and Spain from Cuba. The
plan Of intervention was well laid, but
the success Of the Union armies South
and West destroyed forever the .alli-
ance" intermeadling in American af-
faiis- Wm. H Seward lived to see
Napoleon expelled from Mexico by the
moral aid of the United States. He
warned the imperial despot Of France
| that the government of the United
States would look upon the establish
meet Of a monarchy in Mexico, an ad-
joining sister republic as {; menance
to republican government, and re
quested the withdrawal Of the French
troops from that country within the
period of three months.
From thence may be dated the
downfall of Napoleon III He found
himself face to face with the power of
the American people. He withdrew
and left Maximillian to his fate. The
Mexican people cowed and dispersed,
because convinced that the T. S. army
was coming to assist them. Believing
this, there was general uprising and
the imperial monarchy and monarchs
buried in the gloom Of the grave.
Mr. Seward also lived to see the
Alabama Claims paid, and the super
cilious superiority Of Great Britain
brought down peg or two.
Previous to leaving Alaska, Nh.
Seward selected some timber-red
and yellow cedar, which he had saw
ed into blocks and sent to his homein
New York Visitors to his residence
at Auburn will see this Alaska cedar
lining his sitting room and library
At Sitka, Nj. Seward delivered pub
lie address at the Greco Russian
church. The large building was
crowded; not q word, not a sentence
was lost to the vast audience. In re-
referring to Alaska at was the Alaska
Of the future he dWelt upon The Rus
sian Archbishop and clergy were as
tonished at the amount of informa-
ton possessed by the great statesman.
Said the venerable Archbishop, s'This
good and great American statesman.
who is distinguished in every path Of
life, knows much moro about the coun-
try, its people, its resources, its eli
mate and situation than any Russian
living here all his life.
Leaving Alaska, Mr. Seward went
on to Mexico. No man ever received
such a reception on Mexican soil.
Until his arrival at the capital it was
one continuous ovation. Senior Ma
tias Romeo, the Mexican minister to
the United States, informed his peo-
pie how it was with him in Washing
ton while the French were in posses
sion of fsbis..conntry Nota a foreign rep
resentatiye," he said, would recog-
nize me. ! did not represent any
crowned head, therefore they would
not know me, and my country was in
the power of the enemy. But this
great man, this lofty, digniied and
distinguished American statesman, at
all times, and noticeably on great
public occasions, showed me most
friendly and marked recognition I
was a welcome visitor to him always.
and now all Mexico should turn out
to salute him and do him honor"
And so they did, from the President
down. All Mexicans We'd with each
other in showing respect and esteem
to the man above all others who de-
served it. As Secretary of State, he
was the persistent and powerful ally
OF Mexico when that country was
hard beset; assailed by traitors with
in and enemies on all sides. Surely it
must have been most gratifying to
Mr.. Seward and the party that ac-
companied him, to be greeted with
such enthusiasm and rejoicing.
The last ten years Of his public life
passed hastily. The cares ..and sor-
rows and the assassin's daggar mark
ed his features. He died in October,
1872, having attained three score years
and ten. Quietly and silently he pass
ed away, full of years and full Of hon
or He will always be remembered