Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1885-01-29
DAILY POsT-IHTtLLIGEHCER


The address i.sued By Chief k-Es at's'sf
NslyiiIe, late u the Jesnns'ts' afsiDs
anon The peopEs of the United states
the Instability Of nes Arctic eHpee'
.ion. Il worthy Of serious sonsisieFi'iifti.
Rneinesr Melville asss thai s0fne
wealthy person Of a scientific tafn O
mind provide fands for the hes AiiesHp'
70 reach tie pale, and Pronsisez TO bs'0
the expedition and to srIte TIE oArns
Of bis patron seross the Po4ar I'S'
nsut.- He urges that Il wocsd De 40
.c.nsI saving Of life 90 make me al
temps nov. before the kaoSledgs nofh
Of experience eIpires-
MS eertain that nen gill aiisinp' 10
rsaeh the North Pole until some ineAS
sxpIorer soanda bis uaHse ihFoush as
the future by finding the loag soaahi
sr,. az aroand. Osly tbs intervention
:, the crack Of doom c4H prevent tins
or.eoase 10 the passion for Horthern FL
ulorAtion. The scientific world u th0s-
saohly aroused on this snbiset, aud u
has never yes been thoroughly aroused
without attaining tie end II sooRh''
Rach expedition rarrovs the problem
down, and i. cannot be long Snt'i Tue
aolutIsu il found. We have st present
a number Of gallant officers skilled 10
Arctic sx exploration. and II America - 10
b. Tia saecessful one in the search, nov
IA the time for them to pat their dearly
bought knoxle,iRe TO the test S.Vsf
before did any nation possess at one
time soeh galaxy Of heroes OF the
Northern seAs. Besides Grsely. Mel
vile and schIey, there are host Of 9TH
ara of lesser nOte, any one OF whom
voaId be- willing aud eager TO tnrn h's
face once more toward the northern
liebt. Never again SHALL we BE- in 20
sision so favorable for last sneees-fai
effort.
I, In useless 10 urge the objection that
the object TO be attained IL not worth
the necessary risk of life. Even adj
nittine that IL in not, !! would be moth
ing more than humanity 10 send nov an
expedition OF men thoroughly equiPpsa
and hardened for the work. Expedi-
tiops will continue 10 90, whether fitted
out by the Government or by private
enthusiasts. Pass laws against It, and
the passion will increase tsnfold. It Is
better 90 make the effort no" than TO
have a succession Of badly fitted expe-
ditions starting from time TO time on
unsuccessful journeys. Better bold
strike with sae chances of success ut
maximum than an annusl sacrifice OF
human life in hopeless effort.
There is another consideration that
should urge the American people to an
other effort. perhaps q merely senti'
mental consideration. bat powerful
one nevertheless. A soldier would not
l'ke 10 march from tie field when VIC
tory was fairly within his grasp and
whsn hundreds Of his comrades bad
given up their iivss Ia the effort to oh
tain the opportunity which he refused
10 improve. What would have been
thouRht of the United States II, when
Grant was laundering through the Vii
.lsrness; when shermAn's army had
marched down TO the sea, piercing the
heart Of the Solth like an avenRinR
dagger; when the Confcderaey, crushed
and shattered. was in the last throes OF
death; what would have been thought If
then the Government had recalled its
armies, furied ils battle hags and sur
rendered the principle for which its ds-
Tenders had diedi So IL is now. We
have our heroes OF the Arciic-Hall, De
Long. Lockweod--a long list of soldiers
Of fame who have gasped oct their
lives 10 the frozen northern air, and who
sleep beneath eternal SHOWS. When
the object for which they died is all bat
attained. shall their conrades not be
allowed 30 press forward until the su-
rora shall be no longer the sign Of a
hidden secret
The next expedition need not be At
Government expense, Private enter
prise would in ali probability attend 10
the details Of the work. Bus Congress
ID in position 10 take one graceful stap
In the matter. The three vessels Of the
Greedy relief expedition. the Thetis.
Bear and Alert arr in the hands of the
war Department Nothing has yet
been dons with them. and the Govern
nsnt has no earthly use for them. Why
should one or all OF them not be tie
National contribution 10 the next expe.
disienf Let II be announced that they
are ready for the service, and the funds
70 equip lhsm will be Forthcoming. This
is not the time 70 draw back. Melville
70 right, and AaaerIca must yet secure
Tie coveted honor Of solving che mya-
tssy beyond the ice.
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