The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-09-21
SEATTLE, MONDAY, SEPT. zI.
THE ATTIC FOLLY.


lished forecast of future Arctic explora-
tons. and assumed that such fruitless ex-
peditions would not be tried again within
the present century; nevertheless his pre-
diction is put to confusion By the fact that
Lieutenant Pea-y. Of the United States
navy. is az Mccormack bay. within the
Arctic circle, where he, his wife, and his
party of FIVE will winter. His plan for the
summer of 1892 is TO penetrate to the in
terror of Greenland, moving on the ice
zap as far north az he can get
in time TO return 10 Mccormack
bay at the end of July, and
Ii is announced that he will need a relief
expedition next summer. for without it he
and his party will be obliged TO take the
hazards of trip of 400 miles from McCor-
mick bay to Upernavik. A relief expedi-
ton will cost from 5000 to 5000. OF
course Lieutenant Peary's wife had no
business TO go on such an expedition, and
doubtless was only permitted to go by her
husband because he shrewdly saw that her
presence would insure the prompt dispatch
of relief expedition.
When it was proposed to congress to
send relief expedition to rescue General
Greedy and his companions, an eminent
Republican rose in the United States Sem
ate and gave notice that while he would,
as matter of humanity, vote for the bill,
he would never again vote dollar for an
Arctic expedition; that in his judgment it
was as contrary to sound public policy to
vote money for Arctic expeditions as 1t
would be to make an appropriation for
the Kelley motor, for flying machine,
for balloon ascension, or the shooting of
Niagara rapids in a rowing shell. This
was the thought, though not the language,
of the sensible senator, and he was right.
Lieutenant Peary, we are sorry to say, is
reputed to be fit for a better fate than
adding his name possibly to the long line
of martyrs to the delusive and destructive
pursuit Of the unsolved secrets of the
Polar sea. From Barentz down to General
Greedy nothing has been accomplished
commensurate with the wicked waste of
life the delusive phantom of Arctic dis
covery has cost the world.
Mcclure proved that there was North
west passage, but il was worthless as a
commercial sea route, and yet to establish
this absolutely worthless fact Sir John
Franklin, a great and good man, miserably
persisted. Franklin had been the able
governor of one of England's Australian
colonies, a man Of great administrative
ability and humanity of solid and versatile
talents. An able seaman, a wise execu-
tive, an enlightened philanthropist, he
lost his noble life wandering to and fro in
dismal Arctic wastes. dying. as did our
own De Long. of starvation, and leaving
behind him pathetic memory of excep-
tional heroism tested up to the gates o.
death by awful and utterly useless sacri
flee. Every Arctic navigator-Parry,
Beechey. Franklin, Ross, Rae, McClintock
Mcclure, Kane, Hayes, Hall, belong
Greedy stands for the same
gloomy story of severe suffering
With no results worth the purchas,
at the cost of life and hardship TO the gal
liant men composing the expedition. Thu
world does not know any more about the
insoluble mystery of the Arctic sea than
il knew after Martin Frobisher's expedi
ton, more than three hundred years ago
in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, nor have
we penetrated much nearer the pole than
did that daring navigator. The world ha.
won nothing out of this terrible sacrific,
of these superior spirits save the knowl
edge that Franklin and De Long met suf
fering. sickness and death by cold anC
starvation with an heroic fortitude tina
would have counted nobly in some fine en-
terprise of great pith and moment to tn,
world that often perishes still born or lead
but languishing life for the lack of th
very seli-consecrating leadership that wa.
30 wantonly wasted in the frozen zone.
Commander Gushing, taking his life II
his hand, to blow up the Albcmarle
Arnold Won Winkelreid gathering to hi,
breast the sheaf of hostile spears that
were sure 10 pierce his breast; Nathan
Hale, stalking his life SIS spy for hi
country. illustrate national heroism anc
sacrifice. because they played for stak,
that If won. blessed 4 whole country and
helped sacred cause to conquer To di,
rs LiNluSStoNe ulcUs 10 uaTe as STANLEY
dared. is the act of public benefactor
because he acts in tropically productive
and populous regions where the commerce,
and civilization of the world can utiliz,
the conquest long after the death Of the
conqueror, but the record Of nearly IN
years has proved that Arctic exploration
is as indefensible on the score OF utility {,
commerce or science as walking acros.
Niagara on tight rope or trying 10 shoe
the rapids below Suspension bridge
whether you live or are lost. civilization
reaps nothing from your irrational rash
ness or your barren death.
A man who bets his life against some
thing that is absolutely worthless 10 civ
ilizsiion If he wins 1t. is of no more mora
or material consequence To the world than
the fellow who breaks his neck tumblin.
from n tight rope or trapeze or riding Il
his death in hurdle race. II was an aw
ful price to pay for Arctic adventure "a
send ID, pride and glorious promise q
the American navy 10 solve secret thai
VAS as absolutely worthless to the world