The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-06-10
A TRIBUTE TO THE PIONEERS.
The Late r. i. Grants Opinion on the
states Founders.

The Late r. j. Grants Opinion on the
states Founders.
At the request OF large number of the
pioneers who met in this city few days
ago. the following editorial written by
the late r. J. Grant when he was editor
OF the Post-Intelligencer. published in
this paper on June 2. 1876. is reproduced:
NO organization, no matter what its
nature might be, could afford the people
of Seattle more qualification by holding its
assembage in their midst than is afforded
them by the action of the Pioneers Associ-
alton of Washington Territory in holding
Its annual gathering in this city. Unlike
conventions and gatherings in which only
a portion OF the community is interested.
the meeting Of the pioneers is interesting
to all. To some. OF course, the event is
of more Importance than 10 others. but
all have an interest in the Pioneers AS
ISOLATION. all have a pride in the achieve
ment OF its members. and all can feel that
they are the beneficiaries of the struggle
and hardships of which the pioneers tell.
The "reminiscences of the pioneers form
the history of the first life breathings of
our commonwealth--of a commonwealth
which, though in its infancy. is grand in
deed, and which gives promise of attain
ing greatness in the full maturity of its
powers of which those who laid the foun-
The pioneers are the fathers of the COM
monwealth, their struggles and their
hardships were the struggles and the
hardships of a state coming into being.
They cleared the forests. not for them
selves alone, but for posterity and for all
time. AS they subdued a wild and rugged
land and prepared IL TO sustain and sup
port its share OF the people OF the earth.
each blow of their ak was blow destined
%. g.
row turned by their pioughshares that the
earth might yield again and again to their
children's children so long as men shall
inhabt the earth. No stroke of work
done in the progress of that great labor
was done in vain. None of the mighty
energy was lost. Each tree that fell fell
never TO rise. Each nail driven in a set
tiers hut was a nail helping to bind to-
gether the fabric of the community. Each
days labor was given to posterity more
surely than if 1T had been sold for gold
TO be buried In the earth and brought
forth by delighted searchers centuries
hence.
1T is for this that we honor the pio-
neers. 1t is for this that we are proud
and happy TO have them meet among us.
We are their heirs. Our inheritance is
the fruit OF their labor the reward of their
fortitude. the recompense of their hard
comfort and contentment. the very soul
of the state. could not have been but for
the log cabins of forty years ago The
imposing edifice of learning. the complete
system OF education, could not have been
but for the crude school house of the past
The churches and religious institutions OF
today are the result of the untiring and
unseltish labors OF the itinerant preacher
who wandered back and forth. now pain
fssfI ri. I,f
now threading with his frail canoe the
silver streams. now gliding over the calm
waters OF the Sound, ever laying broad
and deep the true foundation of the grand
civilization that was TO be. The flourish
ing cities. the steel rails that bind us to
the world. the stately steamers that. he
hemoth-lke, Journey to and fro on our
waters. these things could not he but for
the rude struggling hamets. the bride
path cut with infinite labor through the
most impenetrable of forests. and the
canoe which darted arrow-like through
gloomy passages. over bright bays and
UP laughing rivers.
"All honor TO the pioneers-all honor
and welcome We say IL who are their
heirs. we whose homes are on the lana
which they reclaimed from the forests
We who till the fields that they first TILED
We whose pride and glory is the grand
lighted so many years ago. Welcome to
them, and may they come together again
and again as the years pass away When
their eyes are dim with age and their
hair is as white as the SHOWS that cover
the mountains they love. may they still
see the land which they created the home
OF a great. proud people. a people loving
The land they love. a people honoring and
obeying the laws that they have honored
and oheyed so long. a people honoring.
glnrying in, the flag which they bore over
treeless plains. over lofty mountains. over
raging torrents, through suffering and
danger always proudly. always confident
". always hopefully. until they planted
II by the shore OF the Western sea in The
most beautiful of all lands. May each old
settler. as he Journeys year by year to-
ward the shoreless sea. over whose waters
he must journey away. feel that the flag
which he carried so far and SO bravelv
will wave forever In the soft southwestern
breeze. which kisses his furrowed brow
and toys with his silvery hair Nav he
feel. too. that the love Of the paople ia
with him, that they watch him lovingly
tenderly. as he journeys down the path-
way. and the story OF his deeds is craven
forever on their minds and love and honor