Great Falls tribune., 1889-09-14

The presence among us Of Hon. j. K.
Toole and Col. Pemberton recalls that
every memorable speech which Mr.. Toole
made last January in the house Of repre-
sentatives. The occasion was momentous
The omnibus bill which was to confer
statehood on us was before the house.
The republicans were opposed to it.
Some leading democrats we're hostile If
not apathetic. There were, as there Will
always be, democrats and republicans
who place locality above party-who are
Jealous of the growth of the great west,
especially of the northwest E
Mr., Toole rose in crowded house.
The galleries were full Of people. The
orator began by presenting the memorial
which Montana had submitted to congress
in 1884, asking for the boon Of statehood.
Then, in burning words, he told the story
of our wrongs, sparing neither party, for
each had its shortcomings to answer for.
He described the magnitude Of our re-
sources. He appealed to the ties of kin
| dred which unite us to the states and
never fail to elicit ready response from
the true American. Rising to high
pitch of eloquence, he used these en-
phatic, persuasive words:
\ l make this appeal to crafty no per
sonal ambition. | am commissioned to
do so in the name OF Montana, a territory
whose valleys Of gold and mountains o.
silver have never ceased to swell the vol
ume< of precious metals Of the world fol
quarter of century. Applause.1 2
territory which, If measured BY the
grandeur OF its mountains, the fertility o1
It's valleys, the majesty Of its rivers, the
splendor and utility Of its water falls, tht
richness Of its mines, the number ant
value Of its herds and flocks, the wealth
and density of its forests, the health AM
yigor of its climate, the intelligence, as
piration and patriotism of its citizens
. ought to admonish you that the time is q
hand when we should be accorded a pol
!. itical status upon this floor which will n
longer be an empty honor and delusioI
n but full realization Of the benefits dc
. signed by the constitution, and for tn
expectant coming Of which we shall any
iously wait and watch. [Applause.]
Mr.. Toole proceeded to make our It'll
9. clear by an admirable presentation OF ot
y wonderful resources. He spoke vii
patriotic pride Of our people. "The
are" he said, "as brave as they are stron
D and when in years to come the natlc
NAV need defenders it is certain that IL
n contingent from Montana can be COUNT
' upon for everything that men can do
" the way of toll or dare in the way OF da
" ger.' Mr. Toole closed this able spec
= with an eloquent peroration, in which
N said: 4T~.
- Upon this important question | beg
n YOU to make no mistake. Do not dam
u the river Of progress. Do not obstru
" the march of American manhood towar
N the destiny contemplated by the constit
,N ton. Popular development and popul
~ government have made us powerful a
sE great among the nations Of the earth, [
we have not yet reached the zenith OF Q
!, power and greatness. Let us rememb
H. that delays are dangerous; that now is
: time and here the place to provide t
\ way by which eight new stars may
- added to the flag, and two million OF 0
countrymen in the territories shall be
. franchised; and then rest assured that
T wisdom and patriotism of'our course "
Y be vindicated by the deliberate judgmt
of mankind, [Long continued applaus
= These words re-echoed through the ha
of congress. They were heard in T
senate. They were read in the homes
- grateful pioneers in Dakota, as well as
" our own territory. They struck do7
-. the barriers to our progress and W
'sV statehood for Montana. ----