The Alaska daily empire., 1915-09-13
CEN. ISAAC I. STEVENS.

was killed recalls this great man to memory Gen. Stevens after making brilliant record in the Mexican War resigned from the army and appointed the first Governor of Washington Territory by President Pierce in 1858 at Che age Of sl years. He later elected Delegate to Congress- His career Governor was marked by a twoyears Indian war in which the pioneer settlers of the Terrory-numbering less than 5000. counting women and chndren-subdued combi- nation of warning tribes that had been organized into an offensive alliance by crafty and capable Chief Lesch and other Indian chiefs.
 The history of the United States records no ac- count of greater capacity than shown by Gov Stew ems during those dark days 1S5556 His was one of those marvellous characters that the hardshps Of the American frontier have developed Strong to the point of being tyrannlca. he undertook task no matter how difficult with no thought of failure in his mind He prosecuted the war against the Indians with the repidity Of movement efficiency and unreenting sever ty that characterized the achievements in war of Gen. Jackson. Indian agents missionaries and others among them some of the most prominent pioneers of tho Territory members of the opposition party-pro tested at Washington and won the support of promi nent members Of the government against the vigorous young Governor He ordered to keep his Territor al troops out of the field confne their work to gar son and defensive duties and permt the Federal troops to subdue the Indians
 Although West Pointer himself-he graduated
 first in his class-he answered the order from Washing ton by giving orders to the militia to down the h. dians and kill or capture them and if Federal troops interierred to treat them as enemies and engage them The Federal courts were appealed and injunction was issued against him. He had his militia put the Federal judge and United States marshal in iai and redoubled his efforts to end he Indian before the President could remove him from office
 The war was terminated by the capture of Chief Leschi the arch conspirator who was tried by militia court martial and se,euced to death Fearing that the courts or Federal troops might intervene, the execu- ton Of the sentence took place three days after the con- yctiou.
 Interference with his plans by Federal troops, it is claimed was prevented only by the decisive de- feats administered to them by the Indians and the deep seated sympathy with the Governors purposes and methods entertained by Major Granville O. Haler one of the best Indian fighters who American army uniform whose men lost to the Indians only after most of them had been killed
 The courts aiterward held many of the acts of Gov Stevens to be unlawful but the ended and the conspirators who caused the White River and Saught CT and other massacres paid for their crimes with their lives The bloody battles in which the pioneers annihil lated the warning Red Men made heroes of Col. B. F. Shaw and others whom the people never ceased to hon. or But peace did not put an end to the war Gov. Stevens and he resigned and announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for Delegate to Con- gress asking the pioneers of the Territory for vindica tion He was nominated practically without opposition. but the campaign that followed was one of extreme bit terness-one which left scars factions and feuds that continued to play important parts in the Territory until after the early days Of statehood. Gov Stevens was styled drunken tyrant." "pro-Slavery Demo crat~ Che murderer of Leschi But he elected by an overwhelming majority and to the National capital When they became familiar with all the facts, both Presidents Pierce and Buchanan upheld Gov Stew ens and he again became interested in National poi- tics. Notwithstanding that he born and reared in Massachusetts he espoused the of the proslav cry wing of the Democratic party in the Charleston convention and fought Douglas as earnestly as he fought Leschi. He chairman of the executive committee that managed the Presidential campaign of John C. Breckenridge in 1S6O
 But when secession came. he offered his services to the Union and died as he lived. in the thickes of the fight while leading charge against another great man of action. Gen. "stonewan" Jackson.
 The late Col Harvey Scott. one of Stevens right hand men, though he but boy in Washington Ter rtorys Indian war; more than once said that Gen. Stew ems was the one really great man connected with the history of Washington Territory and State, and that his title to a place in satuary hall representative of that commonwealth was clear beyond dispute.
 We have not the space here to tell of other things more important perhaps than the Indian which were taken into account by Col Scott in making his estimate of Gen Stevens Suffice it to say that he among the first to sense the brilliant destiny that await ed the Puget Sound country and started the movement that resulted in the Northern Pacific railroad He d rected the first survey for railroad through the Cas- eade mountains. and succeeded in having young ar my officer sent to the coast to do the work The young officer was Capt Geo. B. Mcclellan later known to fame organizer and commander of the Army of the Patomac candidate for President and Governor of New Jersey.
 President Lincoln often and seriously considered making Gen. Stevens commanderinehef of the Union armies but that is another story which space for bids here
 Gen. Stevens was great man. one whose nane is sacred among the fast disappearing the 4os and