, 1889-02-07

that a ships side would strike the shore
before her keel would touch the ground.
The country by which these waters are
su urrounded is remar kably salubrious and
affords every advantage for the accom- mo-
dation OF vast commercial and military
marine, with convenience for docks, and
great many sites for towns and cities, at
all times we'll supplied with water, and
capable of being we'll provided with every
thing by the surrounding country, which
is we'll adapted for agriculture.
The straits OF Juan de Fuca are 80 miles
in length, and have an average width OF
III miles. At the entrance miles In
width), no danger exists, and 1t may be
safely navigated throughout.
No part Of the world affords finer In
lands, sounds or greater number OF har-
bors than are found within the straits OF
Juan de Fuca, capable OF receiving the
largest class Of vessels and without dam
ger in them that Is not visible. From the
rise and fall of the tide (l8 feet) every
facility Is afforded for the erection Of
works for great maritime nation.
The country also affords as many sights
for water power as any other.
Washington has 1884 miles OF coast line,
all but about ITO miles of which Is washed
by the waters of Puget Sound
In my speech OF July 2Sth last thus al.
luded, In u statistical way. to our vast
maritime interests:
The gigantic lumber, coal, agricultural,
and other interests of such proportions
steam vessels engaged In the foreign trade
which was GA entering and clearing In the
Puget Sound customs district, exceeded
that of any other district in the United
States, New York standing Sec
ond with 4SS yessels and the tonnage
of such vessels representing 592, TAB tons,
was only exceeded by New York. where
the tonnage was 764,55l. During that
year in the aggregate number OF Ameri-
can and foreign steam vessels engaged in
the foreign trade. at 1872, this district
aggregate tonnage Of such vessels the dis
trict was seventh In importance. In the
aggregate number Of entrances and clear
ances of American and foreign vessels,
steam and sail, the district was fifth in
the United States, with 88l vessels. and
In the aggregate tonnage Of such vessels it
was seventh. In the fiscal year of 1886
the collections of this district we're $79,.
600, while such collections for the fiscal
year 1887 will not fall short Of 1900. 900.
IL Is estimated that the export trade of
Puget Sound in coal, lumber, wheat and
other products, amounts to $1,000, 900
annually.
The fact that Washington alone, of all
the territories, occupies q maritime posi-.
tion should long since have induced the
conviction that delay in clothing her with
q settled and certain form of Rovernmen
is fraught with the gravest peril and con.
cern to the nation. Her exposed and to.
tally defenseless position Ia perpetual in
vitation to the aggression OF every hostile
foreign power. Great Britain, in the ex-
..Sc,~ vtAsn Ae
In providing for the public defense in her
provinces Immediately to the northwaId,
has set an example worthy of the emula.
tion of the American republic.
So forcibly did this consideration pre-
sent itself that Senator Morgan, in his
most admirable speech upon the admission
of Washington, in the first session of the
Forty. ninth congress, put forth the follow
ing observations:
Considered in a political view, there
could be nothing more important to the
state established at that angle OF our
Northwestern possessions, one side of
which is washed by the Pacific ocean and
the other by the straits of Fuca. may
describe IL as political buttress standing
out there partly in the sea, opposed di.
rectly to the power and enterprise Of the
greatest rival we have in the world-peo.
pie of our own kith and kindred, whose
power and enterprise we certainly ought
to learn to estimate If we have not done 1t
yet-the British people.
Considerations of this character, Mr..
Speaker, are worthy Of the thoughtful and
earnest attention Of the wisest statesman
ship, and commend such course to the
statesmen Of this house.
So widespread and overwhelming is the
desire for constitutional government
among the people whom repres mt that
during the recent election it constituted
the living burning issue betwe the two
parties. So keenly did these people in
that election resent the delay in this house
in responding to their continued appeals
for statehood that II pronounced rspubli.
can majority was the result. In the in
tensity of their desire to rebuke the demo-
cratic party for what they conceived to
have been an uuwarranted Indifference to
their appeals, they lost sight OF the per.
sistency with which have during my four
years of service here urged my friends in
this house TO Immediate action.
have no personal regret over my de-
feat, but it is source of very considera.
BILE regret to me that my efforts have
proved unavailing to impress upon my
party friends in this house the wisdom OF
moving in such way toward the accom-
plishment of this mighty result, which,
during every hour of my servce here, has
been demanded by every dictate Of Amer.
lean citizenship, as to inspire In the hearts
of the people of Washington q feeling of
friendliuess for tine splendid party of
which | am a humble member. That
failed was not through failure of dill
gent, determined effort on my own part,
and stand here to-day, in the shadow of
overwhelming political defeat, to insist,
"a .nA kk~ak -
mated me in the sunshine Of political sue
cess that any further delay in the consum.