The Alaska prospector., 1903-06-11
PRESIDENTS SPEECH
To Alaskans at Seattle. Favors Legislation For
 A1aska.

The following is the gist of the speech made by President Roose- welt to the Alaskans in Seattle on May 23:
 Very few European races have exercised a more profound influ- ence upon Europe, and none has had a more heroic history than the race occupying the Scandinavian countries of the old world, and Alaska lies in the same latitade, and can and will in the lifetime q those l am now addressing support as great population as the Sean- dinavian peninsula of the Old World. It is casicas how our fate as a nation has often driven us for ward tewasd greatness in spite of the protests of many of those who esteemed themselves, in point of training and culture, best fitted to shape the nations destiny. In 1903 when we acquired the so-called Louisiana purchase, when we ac- quired the territory stretching from the Mississippi to the Pacific, there were plenty of wise men who an- nounced that we were acquiring a mere desert; that it was violation of the constitution to acquire it, and that the acquisition was fraught with the seeds of the dissolution of the republic. And think how ab- surdly the event falsified the pre- dictiOns of those men.
 And 90 when, in the late sixties, we by treaty acquired Alaska, this territory with its infinite possibili- ties, was taken by this republic in spite of the bitter opposition of many men who were patriots ac- eesding to their lights, and who es- teemed themselves farsighted - many men who held that we were doing ourselves and nation a wong by acquiring this territory which iS now one of the possessions upon which we pride ourseves most;
 And when speak to- you of the Pacific slope, to you of the north west-the new northwest to- you whose cities are seated hepe by the Sound-I speak to people abound ing in their youth and while man. hood; people wbs ds' nSt bsgr to- grasp opportunity as the sYpostun- tyconses, ,amI whn wsi9hslight risk but light in the Balance when on the other side of the scale comes the greatness of triumPh, the great ness of conquest, the greatness of acquisition.
 We have taken Alaska thirty-five years ago, and at last we have be- gun to wake up te the heritage that thereby we have handed over to our children and euy ehGl asea's children.
 And now I speak t~ you, citizens of Alaska, people who have dwelt therein, to say how much all oar people have to owe to you. During the last year many wise laws have been put upon the statute book in reference to Alaska; net as many as should have been put by a good many.
 l earnestly hope that congress will speedily provide foy q delegate from Alaska, SO that the people o3 the territory may have some reeog- nized exponent, whose duty it shall be to place their needs before the national legislature Meanwhile, with the assistance of the sena tors and representatives in congress tsom this section of the country, I shall do all that in me lies to see that the proper type of legislation, sAe proper kiaas of legislation, are enacted for the territory.
 The immediate cause of the great development of Alaska, of course, is to be found in its mines. But most of the people of this country are wholly in error when they think of the mines as being the sole, or even the chief, permanent cause of Alaskais future greatness. Alaska has untold nOssibilitieS If auricnI.