The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1896-01-17
HOW TO AID ALASKA.
The Convention Should Assist the Rich
Northern Territory.

The Convention Should Assist the Rich
Northern Territory.
The manifold advantages to accrue from
an extension of the work of the convention
so as to aid Alaska were presented by A.
G. Lane, who said:
'In presenting this subject for the con-
sideration Of this convention, realize that
it is not strictly within the scope of it's CALL
But take the liberty of anticipating tl:at
any subject looking to the commercial, ag-
ricultural or manufacturing interests of
this commonwealth is proper subject for
discussion in this body. q desire to urge
upon the members Of this convention the
Importance Of taking vigorous and imme-
date action in favor of some plan of home
rule for the territory of Alaska.
Mother Nature, ever mindful Of the ne
cessit1es OF the future, and with an uye al
ways watchful of the progress and industry
of her children, left hidden in the rock
ribbed bosom Of Alaska's endless mountain
chains untold millions of mineral wealth
guarded from premature attacks by glis-
tening ramparts Of insurmountable ice
She left in the sky-blue seas that lash the
feet Of the monarchs Of the northern world
countless multitudes of valuable seal, wal
rus and whales to clothe and feed the daring
mariner or brave woodman and miner who
turns his back on the comforts of our civil
ization to clear out of the new world a
IL IL.
left in the silent glades Of that land of
promise nutrition sufficient to feed the plant
life for thousands of her children. In fact,
true to her mother instincts, she builded I'D
haven Of refuge for those whom she fore
saw would be crowded out Of the old worlds
and driven westward by the march of prog
ress and the fierce competition in dense
centers Of population.
For many many years she answered the
adventuresome gold seeker who knocked at
those mountain sides for admission into
her chambers Of wealth: 'Stayi the time ia
not yet But at last the day and the hour
are at hand, and her store house doors ara
now open, the barriers swept away and
many thousands of courageous and daring
American pioneers are in that region LAYING
in indestructible cement an everlasting
foundation upon which to rear an empire
that Will one day astound the world by its
greatness; but their efforts are more than
half lost, their progress more than half
backward, because Of the fact that they are
denied the right of self government. be-
cause they are denied the right of title to
the land and the right of policing and pro-
tecting their natural heritage. They are so
lar removed from the seat Of government
and removed from the centers of power
and influence that their demands and
prayers, If heard at all, fall upon deaf and
unanswering ears. Their possessions are
their fisheries ruined and their civil rights
contracted, their citizens browbeaten and
inundated by foreign powers whose for
mldable warships, cleaning with instr,1-
ments of destruction. plow through their
peaceful seas that are thousands of miles
removed from any commercial water course
or land possessions that would give anv
foreign power any reason but avarice and
greed to be there. They have no home gov
eminent to heed their distress. no one in
authority to speak for them or place their
grievances before the national government
at Washington City.
This state is the natural gateway to her
greatness, and as she progresses and multi
plies in population and advances in ciyiliza-
ton, so must the demand for the products
Oh our factories, fields and furnaces in
crease taxing INFO consideration the vast
numbers OF people who are preparing in all
parts of the United States to migrate 70
that northern land during the next two
years. This convention could, in nv i1do-
ment, do nothing that would be of greater
service to our people than to cultivate
closer and more cordial friendship with the
people IN that country; and to nv mind
tnat can De done In no better way than to
make ourselves the champions of thair
cause. the answering echo of their rigb+-
eous cry TOR protection. do not wish TO he
understood as IN any way rejecting ON the
integrity OF any Of the distinguished gentle
men who have accepted the government
trust as officers Of that far-off territory
On the contrary, believe that as a r,,ie
they have been honorable gentlemen who
have endeavored to discharge their fuI1
duty to their constituents as thew could
conceive 1t to be and as their limited mowers
and the manner of their appointment per-
mltted them to do; but they have for tbe
1nost part been men from remote distances.