Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1905-04-28
OLYMPIA WASHINGTON: FRIDAY MORNING, APRIL 28 1906

ol THIS part OF the story Is the essence
OF the bungling cruelty. 1t is possible
that Stevens did drink occasionally
1t Is probable, however, that there il
something back OF that Gibbs letter
some rancOr that does not show. The
Gibbs letter is damaging as it stands
1t is also disgusting. But there is
one thing absolutely certain. l,
would be impossible for man to be q
diseased inebriate and to work out the
wonderful career of achievement that
stands to the credit of | Issac /. Stevens
Those who know General Hazard
Stevens appreciate him for singularly
just and fearless man who would moi
garble the truth in anything. The
following extract from 4 recent letter
bears the question in hand: "Now
Gov. Stevens was a man of intense
mental activity and a very little liquor
would affect him. He was habitually
a very abstemiOus man in the use ol
liquor. He was man of pure life, free
from all forms OF vice and bad habits
His only dissipation was in hard work
There were very few occasions when he
could be justly charged with being un-
der the influence OF liquor. l state EN-.
phatically that no instance can be
shown where his public acts were affect.
ed by the influence Of liquor, that his
whole career as Governor and Super
intendent Of Indian Affairs, studied
now in the light of all the facts and con
ditions, shows no alterations caused by
liquor or anything else. Nay, more. Ii
the whole career was to be lived over
again it would be hard to. show any
serious mistakes, or how it could be
bettered. or greater results accom-.
plished."
This is from the fearless son who
was with the Governor on his treaty
making expeditions, who continued
with him through life and WAS himself
seriously wounded en- the same bat
tlefield Chantilly, where the father
gave his life for the cause OF his coun-
try.
Mr.. Meeker tries to score another
point against Stevens in mentioning
the failure of the attempt to make u
treaty with the Chehalis and Quinault
Indians, but says nothing about the
fact that later treaty was concluded
with the Quinault tribe.
There are many more points needing
criticism, such as the authors needless
fling at the uprightness of Judge Nc
Fadden the statements attempting to
show that in the war the whites almost
always exaggerated, while in Mr..
Meekers's eyes the Indians told the
truth; he says no trouble had occurred
with the Indians before the making of
the treaties, ignoring the Whitman
outbreak and the explanation of the
Hudson's Bay Company people Oh
such disturbances being natural to the
Indians occasionally. 1t is tempting
to plunge at length into these ques.
tions, but this criticism is already too
long. However, there is one other
point that should in all fairness be
mentioned.
In the trouble that grew out of the
proclamation of martial law and the
handling of the Company A question,
Governor Stevens was censured by the
Territorial Legislature in 1857. That
resolution is published in full by
Mr.. Meeker. How did the people like
this action of the Legislature? This
is the only reference Mr.. Meeker
makes to their answer: "No indie.
pendent newspaper had been able to
survive during the rule OF the junta
surrounding the Governor At Olympia,
after the previous campaign of 1857,
heralded as the triumphant vindica.
tion of the Governor by his election to
Congress.
"Isn't that a mean way OF passing
over such a matter after publishing in
full the vote OF censure? Does it not
manifest ill.will or prejudice?
But that isn't all. If Mr.. Meeker
had space for the entire vote Of cen.
sure and for the slurring remark about
the promotion Of Stevens to Congress,
why did he not have space to publish
the answer OF the very next session OF
the Territorial Legislature? Why did
he suppress the truth that the vote OF
censure had been combatted and
changed. The second resolution ap-
pears on pages 65-66 in the session
laws OF 1S57-1858. 1t was passed on
January 10, 1858, and is as follows:
"WHEREAs. In the prosecution OF the
late Indian war, Isaac |. Stevens, late
Governor of the Territory of Washington
proclaimed and enforced martial law in
the counties of Pierce and Thurston, and
for which he received unmerited con-
demnation by certain resolution of the
Legislative Assembly, passed January
i16, 1857;
''7Aergore, be 1t Resolced, by tie Legis-
lattice assembly Of tie Territory Of Wash
ington, That in thus proclaiming and en-
forcing martial law, we believe Governor
Isaac l. Stevens to have been actuated
by motives of the purest patriotism, and
with desire only for the safety, welfare
and prosperity of the Territory.
"ReS0lued, That in our opinion, the
state of the country demanded that
stringent measures should be adopted,
and such as could be effected by martial
law only, and that there was absolute
necessity for the same, sufficiently evil
ldenced by the fact that the enemy, who,
prior to its existence, were continually
on the alert and supplied with informa-
ton of all operations, after its enforce
ment were continually struck by our
gallant troops, and soon reduced to sub.
mission.
ResOlred, That the resolution passed
January 16. 1857, does not now and did
not at that time express the opinion of
majority OF the citizens of Washington
Territory, but was in direct contraven-
ton of the same, fact manifested by
the triumphant election of Governor
Stevens as our Delegate to Congress,
receiving in such election over two-thirds
of the votes cast.
ResOlped, That the Secretary OF the
Territory be requested to transmit copies
of these resolutions to the President of
1.-THE United States, the President of the
Senate, the Speaker OF the House Of
Representatives and to the Hon. Isaac
l. Stevens"
Leschi was undoubtedly great
Indian. His story could easily be
told without the attempt to tear to
pieces the reputation of Isaac /. Stew
ems or any other man. The fame OF
man, irrespective OF color, is never
permanently affected for good or for
II i'll by falsehood.