The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-11-24
TO uMvEl At ALASKA YUKON FAIR
FITTING TRIBUTE TO MEMORY
OF MAN WHO BOUGHT GREAT
COUNTRY.
So - 4.tut ~. ia

grafton of the rare foresight and wis
dom, and the indomitable courage,
which led William H. Seward, then
secretary Of state of the United States,
to induce an unwilling congress to pur-
| chase Alaska for his country, the citi-
zens of Seattle will erect a monument
| to commemorate the act which has en-
| deared the grand old statesman to the
people of the Northwest.
1t is planned that the monument
| shall be completed in time for the
| Alaska Yukon Pacific exposition,
which is to be held in this city in
the summer og 1909 to exploit the
| resources of the Northland. The move
ment is considered especially timely
on this account.
international in Scope.
The exposition will be an inter-
national fair, with ex hibits from
countries bordering on the Pacific
ocean, and from the states Of the
union and the national government,
but primarily it will tell the world
Of the wonders Of the ittle-known
n%orthland, a country marvelously rich
in minerals Of almost every sort, ricn
beyond conception in fisheries, and
possessed of agricultural resources OF
considerable Importance. The ont
ment will occupy a prominent position
on the exposition grounds during the
period of the fair, and hen will be
removed to a site in one of the city's
beautiful parks.
Alaskan History.
Alaska was bought by the United
| States in 1867 from Russia, the con-
| sideration being 81, 200, 900. The pur-
chase was bitterly opposed by men
prominent in both houses of congress
and the press of the country walled
loudly and long, asserting that the
territory would never produce any
thing more valuable than icebergs, and
that, instead of being a source Of rev.
enue, it would be a constant expense.
i Seward, however, was determined
that the United States should secure
the territory. The time was most aus
~::, D,- r,oo%o1 Ill o~I
Russia mad been friendly to the union
in the Civil War just closed. The part
the period of strife had not made
Americans love the British. If Alas
ka joined the North American pos
sessions of the crown, Russia feared
that in the event of trouble with Eng
land the lion would run off with the
weak sister across Behring strait. If
the United States purchased the terri
tory, it would be doing Russia a good
turn and England a bad one.
Stewards Greatest Work.
This much the less astute states
men could see, but there were few
who could see, too, that the prop
erty to be secured was worth many
times what the czar asked for it.
Therein came Stewards mastery
shrewdness. 1t is recorded that a few
days before his death, he was asked
l vryho% he o0oriIo~ol 4-o
Gus measure in his busy official ca
reer. "The purchase of Alaska" said
the grand old secretary, "but it will
take the people a generation to find
it out"
The secretary was right, both in nis
conclusion that the purchase Of Alas
ak was his greatest official act and in
his prophecy that it would take a
generation for the people to find it out.
In fact, the people are only now be-
, ginning to find it out. The wonder
of the bargain that Uncle Sam got
will continue to grow for many gen.
erations.
Summer Helped.
The debate On the question of the
treaty was long n bitter, the OPP
position being led by Senator Ben
jamin F. Butler of Massachusetts and
Congressman Washburn of Wisconsin.
IF we are to pay for ner .Russia's)
friendship that amount, I desire to
give Ter the $780, 90 and let her keep
Alaska" said Senator Butler. Wash
burn called the proposed treaty IAN
outrage on the rights Of the Amer,-
can people," n defied ANY living
man on the face Of the earth to pro-
duce an evidence that an ounce Of
gold was ever extracted from Alaska"
Senator Charles Sumner and Repre-
sentative Nathaniel p. Banks led the