The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-05-05
GOV. M'GRAw ON GEN. GRANT
Annual Gathering of the Graut Ban
quet Association.

l. .
Annual Gathering of the Graut Ban
quet Association.
On Saturday. April q, the Grant Ban
quet Association held its eighth annual
gathering One OF the most brilliant
| assemblages known 10 New York sat
down TO dinner at the Hotel Waldorf.
Letters were read from the governors
OF nearly every state. but that of Gov.
Cary of South Carolina and that Of Gov.
McGraw OF Washington were selected by
the New York Recorder for publication.
Gov. j. II. McGraw wrote: Pioneers
on the Western frontier of American civ
ilization, tha citizens OF the state OF
Washington. from the earliest period OF
its settlement have been too busy. In hey-
ing out a substantial basis for a new
commonwealth OF the Federal Union, TO
devote time to hero-worship. They have
themselves produced heroes. one of whom
"A hero or peace-the Rev. DIR. Marcus
Whitman. by his ride across a continent
10 save great territory from alien own
ership, will IN future history rank with
Paul Revere and Anthony Wayne In their
exploits In war tine.
Yet the people OF this state, II do
not misjudge them, would be reluctant
to let pass the opportunity which you
offer 10 testify to their admiration, al
most TO the extent OF hero worship. for
the qualities which made Ulysses S.
Grant the martial hero of the American
republic In the nineteenth century. With
the history OF this state the names of
Grant and other leaders on either side
or the great civil war are indissolubly
connected. The first important road made
in the territory of Washington was con-
structed by one of Grants predecessors
as a comma nder OF the federal forces
the general of the army of the Potomac.
hEf oil Ia he brill 10 aaN and
gailantry of the defense of the San Juan
Islands was due to the gallant but subse-
quently misguided Pickett, whose charge
at Gettysburg eQualed that historic one
at Balaklava. With Pickett was the
brave Forsythe. whose hand first declared
in writing. In the face OF an armed Brit
ish force, that what Is now a county OF
this state is the territory of the United
States
IAN historic figure I'm this state by the
success OF his conduct of the battle at
the Cascades. In which he gave proof a
the ability which qualified him later 10
succeed Grant as general OF the United
States army, was Lieut. Philip H Sheri-
dan. John Gibbon. among the bravest
Of the soldiers Of the war. Is a familiar
name In Washington, where he is loved
and honored. Last, the name of Wash
ington's first governor, the colonel of
the Nineteenth New York. the famous
'Htghlanders." he who lost his life in
its early prime at Chantilly. the generous
and noble Isaac Ingalls, Stevens a man
who. as Bancroft says, had majestic
presence. massive brain. great stores
OF knowledge, who was a pro-slavery
Democrat. vet whose first public utter
ance after the news OF Fort Sumter was
received here was, I conceive my duty TO
be to stop disunion.'
The patriotic character OF the citizens
OF Washington territory only eight years
after It's organization. in 1853 is 10 be
seen In the fact that when Lincoln's call
for volunteers reached the territory there
were scattered over its sxty-odd thous-
and miles of area only 5000 men between
Is and 60 years OF age. nearly all pioneers
with families, yet four fun companies
were raised at once, and In time a full
regiment, the First Regiment Of Wash
ington Infantry, was organized.
Coming 20 Grant himself. you VIII ind
that he was sent TO Vancouver barracks
in the fall Of is52 arriving there almost
co-incidentally with the formation OF
the territory of Washington. OF his life
there he gives several pages OF descrip-
ton in his personal memoirs. The people
OF the state of Washington will never for
get that the early life OF our greatest
military hero is thus interviewer with the
early history Of their state
Il have mentioned these few facts U
out how in our republic the interweavings
OF men and events, the makers and the
making of history. from the Atlantic TO
the Pacific. are as closely knit as the
glorious federal union, which we here in
Washington realize as fully as you IN
New York was saved and preserved for
now and forever ny the surprising milf
tary genius of Ulysses s. Grant
u nder such conditions. what can I say
IN answer 10 your request that I should
express the sentiments entertained by
yourself and your people on Gen Grant
except that our sentiments are your SEN
tlDenfs, that the American people from
Manhattan Island 70 Gan Juan island
from the sun rising where you face
EUROPE 10 the sun setting where We face
Asia. all OF as. knowing no pride or
prejudice Of section or locality. must
whenever we look on the starry folds OF
f1id Glory agree on one sentiTnent-that
- Grant * due the fact that we are not
Aliens In government. but we are brothers
IN fact as in name and that 70 him Is
Que Ertz, part % the glory which our
common flag reflects upon US oil. To him
today. by his life and death. We owe
more than 20 any other one cause except
% the martyred blood OF lincoln. he
de@p-rcoted. all-powerfui and constantly
increasing sense OF patriotism, now
stronger than ever before. which gives
all good citizens faith that for centuries
80 come our nation Will he composed ~
an tndlssoluhhe union Of indivtsibls units
and among them the state OF Washington
one with New York"