Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1886-12-17
Dem
Common Sense in Common Sentences

ED. STANDARD:
When the CmdtiHa was here it as
tonlshcd me to see Il vessel of her ton
mage within gunshot of the prettiest
city of the United States, Olympia, hav-
ing natural advantages to make her Il
city of note in the commercial world.
Why is it that she is not? Because il
is Washington Territory? Shame
Shame! on the Congress of these
United States for treating Territory,
called after the immortal father of our
country, SO. Let the people OF Wash
ington Territory send on a delegation
to the one who sits in Washington's
seat with this admonition: Mr.. Presi-
dent, who was the father of these Unit
ed States ? Why, Washington of
course. Well, sir, We are the heirs of
Washington, and if the Congress of
these United States does not give us
our just rights, and admit us into the
Union as II sovereign State, we will
follow the example of our great name
sake, only reversing the order of
things. He left Johnnie Bull in 1776,
we will join him in 1887. Choose We.
But, seriously speaking, the pros
poets Of Olympia are good for the fu-
ture; not by any effort of her own but
by the natural order of things that is
coming to pass. Millions of dollars
are lying idle in the East awaiting in
vestments. When you become some
body Ga State) that will encourage cap
italists to invest in your young prolific
commonwealth. Then those mud flats
will disappear by the touch of that
wizard called Commerce., and Sister
Tumwater's tuDi-tum will be made
glad by the sound of hiyu mills utiliz-
ing her beautiful waterpower. Moth
ing visionary in this, you growl-head.
Look, think, if you have anything
under your hair to think with. There
are several railroads making for the
Sound. The Union Pacific has no
coal-beds on her line. That is one
cause of her coming here and making
trade. Another the world must ex-
change commodities. Look at your
neighbor, slow-going Johnnie Bull,
feeling his way down the Columbia
making for the Sound on its Southern
limits. Take care he does not outstrip
the fast Yankee in the race. There is
an opening and that opening will not
be long open at Olympia for termi-
nus for some of these railroads. You
all know water travel is easiest kept
up. So if they do want terminus
here don't act the hog, or the fool
either. Be just before you are gener-
Gus. Again there is tide in the af-
fairs Of men (and cities, too,) if taken
at its flood leads on to fortune. You
have commenced to let that tide
flow up to your beautiful city by the
deepening of your channel. That, of
itself, will show the outsider you are
opening your eyes to the Importance
of the position you hold at the head
waters of the Sound, position that is
not to he ignored in commercial
point of view. l need not remind you
that you have not only the best har-
Dor for ships to ride ut anchor on the
Sound, but the best on the coast.
Again, growl-head, while your city
officers were doing all they could in
the opening Of the channel, you knew
it would be this, you could do that,
etc. Now, honest Indian, could you
have done any bettcr-until after the
past experiment? In the future, if
you cannot do any good for your city,
shut your mouth. Never block the
wheels of progress, and quit petty jeal-
ousies. Pull! pull together in love
and harmony, and my humble article
will not be written in vain.
ROBERT BRUCE.