Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1897-09-17
VOLUME XXXVU.-NUMBER a.
PURCHASE OF ALASKA
WAS THE RESULT OF FRIEND
SHIP OF RUSSIA.

/
au,red the Vast Territory -The
| Friendship Of Russia Displayed
on Other Occasions Secretary
Stewards Prophetic Words.
Since gold has been discovered in
Alaska that Territory seems to be the
principal subject that is absorbing at
tention throughout this and foreign
countries, and at this time, says a
Washington correspondent OF the St.
Louis Globe Democrat, it is an inter
esting item how Russia came into
possession of that domain, and its final
purchase by the United States.
The title of Russia to that country
was derived from prior discovery, which
is the admitted title by which all Eu-
ropean powers have held North and
South America, unless We except what
England acquired from France by
conquest. Russia, shut up in the dis
tant interior and struggling with bar
barism, was scarcely known to other
powers at the time when they were
lifting their flags in the Western Hem
isphere. Peter the Great, himself a
ship builder, and reformer, was curious
to know if Asia and America were sep
arated by the sea, and to obtain this
information he wrote his chief Ad-
miral, instructing him to build two
boats, with decks, at Kamtchatka, and
proceed along the northerly coast and
see if they were not contiguous with
America. They should likewise set
apart some men who should inquire
after the name and situation of the
coasts discovered and keep journal of
strict account.
More than three years were con-
suined in this toilsome and perilous
journey to that barren country. Vitus
Behring, Dane by birth and a nav
igator of experience, was made COM
mander of the expedition. Steering
in a northerly direction he passed a
large island, which he called St.
Lawrence. This island which was in
cluded in the cession may be con-
sidered as the first point in Russian
discovery. By another dreary journey
he made his way back to St. Peters
burg, after an absence of five years.
The straits through which he sailed
bear his name, and also the sea, which
he traversed on his way to the straits.
His return was heralded with much
pomp and ceremony, as he was the
first who had ever discovered territory
for Russia. In recognition of this
service he was made commodore, and
in 1741 he organized another expedi-
ton with several we'll appointed ships
and set forth for new discoveries. He
had been out only a few months when
his vessel was wrecked, and he was
cast on an island, where he died, on
the 9Th of December, 1741. The Rus
sian government sent . relief expedi-
ton, who discovered the body frozen
and in almost a perfect state of preser-
walton. The remains we're properly
buried on the island which bears his
name, and now constitutes an outpost
of the Asiatic continent.
Thus it was that the title of that
vast territory was vested in Russia.
However, Russia was not to hold do
main without claimants. In Its
Bodega, Spaniard, looking for new
worlds, endeavored to plant the flag
of Spain on the coast not far from
Sitka, but this supposed discovery was
not followed by any assertion of do
minion. Any such attempt would
have been promptly repelled by Rus
sia. La Perause, a Frenchman, in
1857 did not hesitate to claim the
Russian possession-but without avail.
After that Russia remained in un-
disturbed possession until the cession
to the United States, in 1867.
The negotiations for the purchase
of Alaska were first commenced dur
ing the administration of President
Polk, but failed. The Russian gov
ernment was again approached on
this subject during President Bu-
chanan's administration, through Mr..
Gwin, at that time a United States
Senator from California, and Mr.. Ap-
pleton, assistant Secretary of State.
There were numerous interviews be-
tween the assistant Secretary and the
Russian minister. Senator Gwin
stated that he thought $5,OOO,OOO
would be good price for ,he terri.
tory. Assistant Secretary Appleton
acting unoficially, for the President,
thought it would be a valuable ac-
QUESTION for the Pacific States, and he
was ready to follow it up, but wished
to know in advance if Russia was
ready to cede; if she was, he would
confer with the President and cabinet
and influential Senators and members
of Congress. All of this was promptly
communicated to the Russian gov
ernment through its minister at WASH
ington. Prime Minister of Russia
Prince Gortchakow, did not seem to
think the sum offered an equivalent
for the purchase. The subject was
again dropped, owing to the approach