, 1889-02-07
FOB ADMISSION.
Great Speech of Hon. G. s.
Voorhees, in Congress.
Reasons Why Washington
Should Become a State.
Powerful Appeal IN Behalf OF the Dis
franchised Thousands for Con-
stitutiousl Rights.

The speech Of Hon. G. 8. Voor.
hees In the national house of rep.
seseutatives. January l6, 1889. upon the
admission Of Washington into the Union,
has attracted more attention, pehraps,
than anything that has heretofore been
said upon the subject. In view of its i'm.
portance and great value TO the people of
this territory, the REVIEW herewith pre-
cents 1t In full.
The house having under consideration
the bill Is. 1851 TO provide for the admis-
sion OF the state of South Dakota into the
Union, and for the organization of the ter
sitory Of North Dakota, Mr.. Voorhees,
said Mr.: SPEAKRR-Four years ago the
people of Washington commissioned me
to present to congress the urgent com.
Importance of the erection of that north
west angle of the republic into an Ameri.
can state. During all that period, fire..
.auently at the risk Of rendering myself
obnoxious to members. 80 little have they
seemed to realize the intense bitterness OF
a disfranchised condition, have labor
iously sought TO induce such results in this
which impelled my constituency In plac.
ing in my hands this important and
far-reaching trust. That the appeals Of
the people OF this remote region of the re-
public have thus far found dull ears has
been to me a source of the keenest regret,
not unmixed with feeling of profound
indignation. Whatever the causes may
have been which wrought out this policy
OF non-action, q more indefensible position
was nver assumed than that predicated up.
on q supreme Indifference to the repeated
petitions of disfranchised thousands for
constitutional franchisement.
On the 2Sth day of July last / made in
this house plea for American citizenship
for disfranchised constituency. in the
course of which | used the following lang.
uage:
American citizenship mere political con-
alterations grow IN a1 and small. l ad-
dress myself to this great question to-day,
not as democrat bnt as an American
citizen. care not what the future politi-
cal complexion Of the territory may be,
the citizenship of its inhabitants cannot
become less sacred, be the administration
democratic or republican. American citi-
zeuship presents too exalted u question to
be eircumscribed by political consider.
ations, and shall always protest against
the utilization Of such q question for the
perpetuation Of party supremacy or for the
achievement of mere party advantage. 1t
is . question of statesmanship and not OF
politics.
My senti ments as then expressed have
undergone ne change or dimination. The
rapid advancement and progress of the
great commonwealth which l represent
since that time have but served TO intensity
such feeling, and to-day feel that any
scheme of party advancement which 10 to
be based upon the continued disfrsnchi.e-
ment of the people who sent me here will
involve grave crime against constitu-
tional government and an indefensible
transgression of the fundamental princi-
Piles of civil liberty.
It is q subject for conRratulation that
this house has at last placed itself in po-
than a million of American citizens.
Il is not possible to discover any snfii-
cient reason for the apparent apathy which
has heretofore characterized this house In
its treatment of this vital question.
As so eloquently suggested by my
learned and distinguished friend from
New York, Mr.. Cox, an invocation of all
the powery of imagery and Of prophecy
fails to furnish forth any adequate notion
and development OF the communities at
fected by the pending measure.
Even the far-reaching instinct OF Thomas
Jefferson, which bequeathed this empire
to the American people, could not have
felt the extent of the blessings to posterity
which lay concealed in his wise, and un-
erring statesmanship. The sturdy and iD-
trepid spirits of Lewis and Clarke little
dreamed that the vast and mighty soli-
tude of that country
Where rolled the Oregon.
And heard no sound save its dashing.
would, in less than century's life. re.
spond to the ringing voices OF an imperial
and astounding progress. Even In pro-
phetic vision they could not hav" foreseen
the establishment upon the splendid wa
ters of Puget Sound of seat OF commerce
which, in less than three generations, out
stripping its older competitors, challenges
the admiration of the commercial world
as the ocean port fifth in importances in
the United States. No amount OF pres
.cience could have revealed to them that in
the year 1888 the total valuation of taxable
property of Washington would be $84,-
S4l .543 having advanced to that amount
from Sl8, ,922. 1922 In 1873.
Was there prediction of any OF the
voices of the wild and savage life by which
they we're surrounded that there would be
polled in the territory. in the year 1883,
46, 1853 votes, representing q population at
the least calculation Of 231 ,665, as against
a vote Of IL, ,637 in 1878, the basis of q
population of 63,235?
In the variety aud permaneucy OF her
natural resources aud advantages Wash.
ington has no equal amongst her sisters
In her superb maritime advantages she
surpasses every other territory, and very
many of the states. BY reason OF her in.
exhaustible coal supply and her abundance
OF iron she has been very aptly styled the
Pennsylvania of the Pacific Northwest
- = A. hA a