Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1898-04-25
services rendered by Russia to the

Owing to Johnson's push, Stewards
shrewdness and, it was boldly charged
Stoeckel's millions in prospect, the
senate was well prepared for the ia
yorable report Of the committee on
foreign relations upon the treaty. But
it was not so well prepared for the
magnificent speech which Mr.. Sumner
delivered in support OF the treaty. It
was surprise to the senate and the
country. He had made deep study
OF the subject and brought forward an
array Of facts which came near to
convincing the country that reason
able and even excellent trade had been
made.
NO such exhaustive and unanswer-
able speech was ever before made as
! This speech of Summer S. Speakino
or the advantages of the ACQUISITION
ne said they had two aspects-one do
nestle and the other foreign "No+
only ne said, docs the treaty ex-
tend the coasting trade of California
oregon and Washington territory hnt
nc also extends the base of commerce
with China and Japan. To unite Tho
east OF Asia with the west of America
is the aspiration of commerce now ;,
further he said: with increased size
on the map there is increased consci-
BUSINESS OF strength, and the heart of
the cltlzen thrObs anew as he traces
the extending line" Of the treaty it.
self he said: 1T is visible stem in
the occupation of the whole of the
North American continent. AS such
it will be recognized by the world, and
accepted as such by the American peo
pie. But the treaty involves some
thing more. We dismiss one other
monarch from the continent. One
by one we have retired-first, France
then Spain, then France again, and
now Russia. all giving way to the alb
sorbing unity declared in the national
motto-'E Pluribus Unum.'"
Then Mr.. Summer went into thu
question of Alaska's immense natural
resources, paid a startling compli-
ment to it's climate, which his studies
had satisfied him was not bad in all
parts, nor bad at most parts in all
seasons of the year. He found that
grain, even wheat, was grown there.
and that variety of vegetables was
produced without difficulty. He did
doubt that it's mountains were full of
minerals and that it's rivers rolled on
beds of gold.
When the treaty was put to vote in
the senate thirty-seyen votes were re-
corded for ratification and only two
against. The two senators in opposi-
ton were Mo1lill of Vermont and Fes-
sender of Maine. But the treaty was
net yet law, for the house had to
pass upon the question of appropriat-
ing $7,250,00O. The house seemed dis
posed to withhold the money and did
so for some days and until the ques-
ton of the right of the house to vote
on the treaty itself was exhaustively
debated. The friends of Alaska, in
their impatience, accused the repre-
sentatives of holding UP the treaty
for corrupt purposes. What part of
the $7,250,0 did they want? Finally
the discussion stopped and the bill APP
propriating the money was passed
The date was July 81, 1867. The
president signed the bill ON the same
day and notifications were at once ex-
changed.
The name of the acquired territory
in the treaty was Russian America
and many public men in Washington
wanted that name retained. Sumner
and Others preferred that of the long
strip of land extending from the main
land far into Behring sea. Seward had
the decision of the matter and ne
named the purchased territory A e ska.
AS soon thereafter as was practicable
the war; department sent out an ex-
petition to take formal possession.
But that did not quiet the matter
for so loud were the charges Of cor
ruption and so busy were the gossips
that it became necessary for the
l.senate to hold an investigation. AS
usual, those who did not know that
money had been paid to senator's for
their votes were called upon to testify,
and those who did or might have
known were not summoned. 1t all
ended in smoke.
Next to the Louisiana purchase,
which conveyed 1,182,752 square miles
for $27, 267 ,t21, Alaska was the largest
in respect of extent of territory, which
is 81 800 square miles, and the cheap
est in price save that of California,
which, though President Polk once
offered Mexico $25, 900, 900 for it at the
conclusion of the war with Mexico he
took in for the pittance of $3,OOO,OOO.
The Gadsden purchase and the treaty
of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which gave us
Arizona and New Mexico and the ter
ritories comprised in the mountain
states, together brought 568,1O3 square
miles at the cost to Uncle Sam of
SIG, 900 600 The total of square mile
acquisitions by the United States is
1894 1886 square miles and the total