The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-15
HOW TO AID ALASKA.
The Convention should Assist tho Rich
Northern Territory.

The manifold advantages 10 accrue from
an extension OF the work of the convention
50 as to aid Alaska We're presented by \.
q. Lane who said
In presenting this subject for the con-
slGeraton of this convention. / realize that
IL is not strictly within the scope of its call
But | take the liberty of anticipating tEat
any subject looking to the commercial, ag-
ricultural or manufacturing interests of
this commonwealth is a proper subject for
discussion IN this body. l desire 10 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
cess.ties Of the future, and with an eye al
ways watchful of the progress and industry
Of her children, left hidden in the rock
ribbed bosom OF AIaska's endless mountain
chains untold millions Of mineral wealth
guarded from premature attacks by gls-
teuing ramparts OF insurmountable Ice
She left In the sky-blue seas that lash the
feet OF tho monarchs Of the northern world
countless nultitudes of valuable seal, wal
rus and whales 10 clothe and feed the daring
mariner or brave wooGman and miner no
turns his back on the comforts of cur civil
ization 10 clear out Of the new world a
civilization and home OF his own. She
left In the silent slades of that land of
promise nutrition sufficient 10 feed the plant
life for thousands OF her children. In fact
true 10 her mother instincts. she huilded Up
a haven of refuge for those whom she fore
saw would DE crowded oct 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
alTeniuresome gold seeker who knocked at
those mountain sides for admission INTO
her chambers Of wealth Stay the time is
are at hand. and her store house doors ara
row open. the barriers swept away ana
many thousands Of courageous and daring
American pioneers are IN that region laying
in indestrucuble cement an everlasting
foundation upon which 10 rear an empire
that VIII one day aStounf the world by its
greatness. but their efforts are more than
half lost. their progress more than half
backward. because 81 the fact that hey are
denied the rght Of SELF government. be-
cause they are denied the right OF title %
tho land and the right ~ policing and uro-
teCtiUC their natural heritage. They are so
Tar removed from The seat Of government
ami removed from the ce1ters of power
and influence that their demands and
prayers Il heard az all. fall upon deaf ard
UnanswerjnE ears Their possessions are
being plllaged their mines co1Hsca..l.
their fisheries ruined and their c.vl rights
contracted. their citizens hroW1eatan and
tnt-0i 3ated oy Foreign powers whose for
mllalne warShips. cleaning with iustctl-
ueHts Of destruction. pillow through their
peaceful seas that are thousands az miles
removed from any commercial water course
or R0t possessions tGat would Zlve uuv
fore IN power any reason hat avarice ard
greed o. he ,rere. They have no home gov
eminent 10 heed thet. distress no one IN
aatnor.,y 70 speak fer them or place their
grievances before the national EoFern.le.t-
az Washington C1y.
"Ths SsAte4s the natural gateway 10 her
esastuess. arl as size progresses ans multi
pltes JOB population and advaucrs ln -syiIEa-
Itar. so must the demand for the uroducts
az our Histories. fields ard furnaces in
crease. taking into cons .derat5ou the Vast
numbers ~ people ~ ao are preparing In all
parts ~ the United States 10 III crate II
tnat northern. land during the next tu1
years. Th.s eorVen on CoulG 81 NY fl-r-
ulert 10 nothing tsRt would ~ of CREATE
Service ~ our people thar 10 cultivate "A
c! seq and n1aga coriial friends nap Rtth the
reeple in shat so 1nrrT. and g. nv mind
trat can he 5o1e 30 so stter wav thau =,
make ourselves Jhe champions or Their
ca So tEe answering echo az thar rfrh.-
eaes --S far protection. 7 So not wssa 10 ra
en.strera18 as IN any wav rejecting on the
irts cF.ty ~ AIRY ~ tae q sir isnot gentle
fss1 who have accepted the COVE -y,er7t
trt,st as Officers @: that fsr-osT terr.torv
t'r she contrary I 1FIeFe that as 4 r7lfe
thev bare nee7 honorable gentlemen v-na
hAF- eai~aVorei 10 discharge their taI
~ tr th~ir cers,i-Geuts as thsv could
corcr.v" Z 20 tF A73 - -ht.r israi;a1 powers
a1t the manner 20 taelr appe.atala ~ Isv-
81 rt-l fs@n O. &c., hsi they haVe sar she
Eaosi l-f, a~-l men from remote distances,