Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1889-11-22
GOVERNOR MOORE NO MORE.
He Gracefully Retires to Private
Life.zHis Words Of Consratulation
and Farewell.

-s-s--. ;
Fellow CITIZENS es..s4 -. L. !, !
A custom has grown up here. at the
capital city and crystallized into un-
written law, which requires the retir-
ing Governor to deliver his own vale
dictory and also to salute the incom-
ing administration. In accordance
with the 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,
" rising like a giant in its strength"
farewell to old Territorial days. It is
an occasion for "reminiscences, for ret
rospection. To those of us who have
watched at the cradle of Washington's
political childhood, this transition to
Statehood has its pathetic side. It
stirs within us memories of the "brave
days of old."!
The past rises before. us. We see
again the long line of white canvas
covered wagons leaving the fringe of
settlements of the then western from
tier. Through tesr-dimmed eyes we
sec them disappear behind the west
ern horizon, entered upon the vast
terra in cognita, the great American
desert OF our schoOl-boy atlas. We
see them emerge after months of weary
travel upon the plains of Washington,
Or, later, hewing out paths in the
wilderness, striving to reach that
EDEN they call Puget Sound"
Hither, year by year, came the pio-
neers, and built their homes, and
planted the symbols of their faith up
on the banks of your rivers, in the sum
kissed valleys of your inland empire.
Under the shadows of your grand
mountains, and upon the shores Of this
vast inland sea.
Very gradually. we grow. The do
nation act passed by Congress in 1850,
giving to each man and his wife who
would settle thereon q square mile of
land In this fertile region, attracted
the first considerable immigration. 1t
also probably saved the United States
this northwest territory. The entire
population which at the date of or
ganization as a separate territory, in
1858, was $500, had grown to only
"a, 600 in 1870, and to 81 900 in 1880. )
Still, with an abiding faith in the
ultimate greatness of Washington,
when the attractions of her climate
and her wealth OF resources should be-
Fcome Knows the old settler. watched
through the long years tie gradual
unfolding Of these resources, the slow
increase of population. A change
came over the sleepy old Territory.
These active, pushing immigrants, the
best blood of the cider States, are lev
cling the forests, they are delving in
the mines, they are tunneling in the
mountains, they are toiling in the
grain fields, they are building cities,
towns and villages, filling the heavens
with the shining tower of religion
and civilization"
The old settler finds himself in the
midst of o strange new age and al
most uncomprehended scenes. The
old order of things has passed away,
but your sturdy, self-reliant pioneer
looks not mournfully into the past.
He is living with you in the present
living with you here to-day. rejoicing
in the marvellous prosperity visible
everywhere around him rejoicing to
see'1sepmpire which he rested from
savage Toes become the home of q
happy pespe, rejoiced to see that en-
pire, emerged from the condition of
territorial vassalage, put on the robes
OF sovereignty.
STATE GOVERNMENT.
We are assembled here to-day to
celebrate this event, the most import
ant in the history of Washington, and
to put in motion the wheels OF the new
State Government. Through many
rfPY. revolving years the people OF
Washington have waited patiently for
these exalted privileges. So quietly
have they come at last, 80 quietly have
We assedfroHt political infancy TO the
manly strength and independence of
Statehood, that we scarce can realize