Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1889-11-28
GOVERNOR MOoRE'S RETIRING
ADDRESS IN WASHINGTON.

'"S SAo"u NY Ne NuS S"P''"' wy |
,ud crystalizad into unwritten law which
requires the retiring governor to. deliver
his own valedictory and also to salute
The incoming administration. In accor
dance with that custom I am here as the
last Of the race of territorial governors to
say "Hail and Farewell" Hail to the
lusty young state Of Washington, "risins
like giant in its strength" farewell to
old territorial days. 1t is an occasion for
reminiscencc-ior retrospectiou. To
those OF US who have watched at the
cradle OF Washinston'sp litical clildhe o.
this transition to statehood has its pathetic
side. 1t stirs within memories Of the
.'brave days of Old The past rises be
fore us. We see again the long trains Of
white canvas covered wagons leaving the
fringe OF settlements OF the then Westrn
frontier; through tear dimmed eyes we
see them disappear down behind the
western horizon, launched upon that vast
terra incognita, the Great American
desert our Of schoolboy atlas. We see
the memergc after months of weary travel
NJ on the plains Of Eastern Washin .ton;
OF later hewing out paths in the wilder
ness, striving to reach that eden they
call Puget Sound" Hither year by
year came the pioneers and built their
homes, and planted the symbols Of their
faith upon the banks Of your rivers, in
the sun. kissed valleys OF your Iulond
Empire, under the shadows OF your grand
mountains and upon the shores Of this
vast inland sea.
Very gradually we grew. The dona'
tion act passed by congress September q
1850, giving to each man and his wife
who would settle thereon a square milo
Of land in this fertile region, attracted
the first considerable immigration. Il
also probably saved to the Uuited States
this Northwest territory. The entir'
population, which at The date Of organi
6ation as separate territory, in 1853
was $500, had grown to $4,000 in 1871
and to 81, 900 in 1880.
Still with an abiding faith in the ul,i
mate greatness Of Washington, when th
ATTRACTIONS Of her climate and her weatl
Of resources should become known, th
old settler watched through the lon
years the gradual unfolding Of these re
sources, the slow increase 10 population
At last the railroads came, linking u
with the populous centers Of civilization
They poured upon us restless stream q
immigration. A change came over I'll
sleepy old territory. These active, pusl
ing immigrants, the best blood OF th
old states, are leveling the forests, the
. are delviug in the mines, they are tut
nuliug the mountains, they are toiling
the grain fields, they are building citir
towns and villages, filing the HEAVIER
with the shining towers Of religion AZ
civilization.
I The old settler 6uds himself 10 Il
midst Of strange new age and almo
incomprehended scenes. The old ord
Of things has passed away, but 70,
sturdy, self-reliani pioneer looks .
mournfully 10 the past. He is with y
in the living present, with you here
, day, vjoicing in the marvellous prt
perity visible everywhere around BIZ
+. rejoicing TO zee the empire which
wrested from savage foes become /
homo Of q happy people, reioicvd TO !
that empire, emerged from thst ooditi
Of territorial vassalsse, put on the rol
Of sovereignty.
We are assembled here To day to ce
ID brate this event, the most important
a, the history oi Washington, and to !
= in motion the wheels Of the new IT
= government. Through many SLOW rev
=. wing yesrs tho people Of Washing
g g have waited for these exalted privil.e
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