The Iola register., 1900-12-07
PAPEROF ALLEN COUNTY
THE STORY Of ALASKA
A Most Interesting Review of the His
tory of our National Iceburg'

Praise meeting OF the Ladies Missionary soce
ty OF the Presbyterian church at lola Nov
26, I9OO)
Very few persons unless they have
made a study of Alaska, have a com
petent conception of its vast extent
and varied resources. Until the re-
cent gold finds in the Canadian Klon-
dixie made that country the talk of the
whole world, the world generally
knew little and cared less, about Alas
ka and It's outlook.
In view of the fact that so little in
terest has been taken i'm itshistory, its
produces and the origin of its in
habitauts, | shall dwell at some length
on these points before passing to the
native religion and the efforts made
by our early missionaries to win the
natives to the Christian faith.
Alaska, or Russian America, as it
was al first called, was explored and
claimed by the Russians early in the
18th century and remained a part Of
the Russian Empire until 1867 when it
passed into possession of the United
States
In 1884 Gar Nicholas, as ever most
friendly to the United States, offered
TO give Alaska to our country, pro-
vided our country would maintain the
Russian boundary line and thus shut
out England from any fronta &c on the
Pacific coast. But for "diplomatic
reasons" we are told the offer was de-
clined. Two subsequent similar offers
were made and were as promptly de-
clined as the first had been.
In 1867 Immediately after the close
OF the war of the Rebellion, when the
country was deeply in debt and suffer-
ing from losses in many ways, our
government bought the territory from
Russia, paying for it the sum of ST,
200, 200, the princely price of a little
less than one-half cent per acre. The
purchase of the "National Iceberg"
as it was dubbed by the opposition,
was bitterly opposed in Congress,
the House of Representatives at one
time refusing to ratify the measure.
Why this load must he added to their
already heavy burden puzzled the
American people. Diplomatic powers
believe that there was secret under
standing between the two governments
for be it rem mbered, at a critical
period in the history Of the Rebellion,
when it seemed not unlikely that Eng
land and even France might espouse
the cause of the Coniederacy, Russia
stood as ever the staunch friend Of the
government and one bright day when
the future of the Union looked dark,
the Nation awoke to find Russian war
ships ominously guarding the entrance
To her big metropolis, the great city of
New York; awoke to find Russian
warships sullenly guarding San Fran
cisco at the Golden Gate. Diplomats
believe that the Russian admiral car.
ried sealed orders in case of war be-
tween the United States and England
to proclaim Russias alliance with the
North. So it is thought in order to
show the Nations gratitude for this
act of friendship in our time of need,
and in some manner to repay Russia
for the money expended, the territory
was purchased, little guessing what
golden jewel Columbia had gained.
Secretary Seward was one of the few
who saw with prophetic eye the ''com-
ing glory of Alaska" When asked
what his greatest official act had Deen,
this greatwar secretary who had stood
beside Lincoln all through the bloody
and trying days of the Rebellion, re-
piled without hesitation: "The pur-
chase Of Alaska; but IL will take two
generations for the people to appreci-
, ate tine value of the purchase" The
\second generation Is just beginning to
verify his words.
And so Russian America, renamed
by Charles Sumner Alaska, from the
Indian word signifying great coun-
try" passed into our possession ana
became part Of ourselves, to have,
to hold, to care for, to protect and
cherish, to educate, to Christianize
aud to lead into the higher life. With
the purchase of Alaska we took up the
white mans burden and whether we
are willing or not we cannot rid our
selves of the responsibility, nor shove
the burden upon alien shoulders. The
Holy Book tells us that 'He who ne
elects TO provide for their family is
worse than a heather" And so /
take it, the Nation that neglects to
provide for its own is worse than a
heather nation.
Alaska has an area in square miles
equal in extent TO one-flfth OF all the
other States and Territories combined