Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1890-03-21
STATE OF WASHINGTON.
Her Resources as Narrated by Hon.
Henry B. Clifford
In Music Hall, Boston, January
18th, 1890.
Continuation from last STANDARD.

x3tns 400O.
Continuation from las, STANDARD.
COMMERCE.
The geographical position of Puget
Sound in Washington gives us a
marked advantage over competitive
States that have ports on the Pacific.
The land-lOcked harbors shelter the
ships from even the ocean swells, yet
the currents of air make access and
egress easy. There are many natural
advantages not apparent to the resi-
dent of Eastern States that are plain
when studied from personal observa-
ton, and it is these wonderful advan-
tages that cause us to claim that
Washington will, in the future, be the
great seaport state through which
much of the surplus products OF Amer
ica will find it way to the less fortu-
nately located countries Of the East.
The passage of freight through our
domain will be felt by every avenue OF
trade. The people Of the State Of
Washington are endeavoring to create
a feeling of friendship among the ma
tions of the East by acting equitably
with them. But few realize the great
field that is open to the industry,
intelligence, and wealth OF our Union.
Even our statesmen do not look prop
erly upon this vital question, or they
would not allow their time to be ex-
pended in petty quarrels, when the
commercial future of the nation
is in jeopardy. We need trade
with foreign lands, and it is at
hand; let us blot out the stains of the
past; let us make it impossible for
recurrence of such outrages as have
been perpetrated at Green River in
Wyoming; let us show the world that
there is no antagonism between Amer
leans and any race that are willing to
assert their manhood, claim a mans
wages, and appeal for redress to arbi-
tration; let us begin to claim our
natural heritage! [Great Applause.]
In the years past, we controlled the
great trade of South America, and
some OF our statesmen foolishly kicked
the same into the lap of England.
Why? Because there was q feeling
existing among the statesmen of our
land that their reputation would be
sullied if they sat at diplomatic din
ner with an ambassador from South
America, who might, through his
birth, be one-sixteenth part negro.
We began to build around our country
a Chinese wall, and proposed to be as
seclusive as the Japanese. This was
all we'll enough for while. Then we
were not producing much over our
own consumption. Years rolled on;
our country blossomed into greater
strength and power until all nations
Of the world looked upon us with awe
and reverence. Suddenly, our manu-
facturers began to see that, unless
they had other countries to supply
their products would be limited to our
own demands; then came the battle
between the desire to extend the in
fluence of our nation, and the desire
to keep ourselves aloof from other
powers. Some said: +" This wall must
come down." few of our brave states
men began to throw over stone by
stone, crying; "No pent-up Utica
shall contract our powers" We wish
intercourse with foreign lands, and,
once every four years, the question of
the abolishment in part OF this wall is
agitated; but, after the elections,
when the party gaining supremacy is
comfortably seated in power, the prom
ises made to the people rest as lightly
as the wind-blown down of the thistle.
Laughter.]
Our naval hero, Perry, brought Japan
out of her seclusiyeness in 1854, and
that great power is trading with us;
but still we are blind TO the necessity
of reciprocity. Trade with a foreign
land is like love-it is not successful
unless in measure returned.
China was treated with by Burlin-
game; see the results. do not be-
lieve in the importation OF cheap labor
to compete with native workmen, but,
if we issue an invitation to the people
of foreign power, an invitation such
as you have honored me by accepting,
l believe the results of that invitation
should be respected as you would re-
spect the honor of the house whose
guest you were, whose bread you had
eaten! [Applause.] There are bet
ter ways OF righting mistakes than by
slaughtering those who, in their sim
plicity and respect OF our honor, have
come among us pursuant to our own
request. England has always respected
her promises, and, as a consequence,
she has a great foreign trade; she rec
ogni zed that, if she held supremacy in
commerce, that supremacy must come
through intercourse with foreign lands.
Small in landed area, being but l54,-
OOO square miles, the statesmen of the
British Isles began to extend their
domain by conquest. Britannia's eye
was on the commerce of the Asiatic
countries; she recognized that, in the
sealed countries and islands of the Pa
cific, there resided SOO,OOO,OOO souls,
each man and woman fired with the
ambitions of their stations, all con-
sumers, and many of them producers
of such articles as are useful in civil
lized countries. Though some of
them were barbaric, though some had
an ancient civilization secured only
through the constant effect OF study,
vet all were filled with desire TO rise
and be placed in possession of the