The Day Washington Was Born: A City Holds Its Breath

THE STATE OF WASHINGTON.

Celebration of Her Admission Into the Union.

The people of Washington celebrated the passage by the two houses of congress of the admission bill, and the signing of the same by the president. A large and enthusiastic audience gathered at the opera house in honor of the auspicious event.

There was some little delay in opening the meeting, owing to the fact that the band that had been engaged for the occasion had not arrived. As it was decided by Mayor Moran, the president of the meeting, not to wait upon the music any longer, he and the vice-president took their places upon the stage.

Judge Orange Jacobs was the first speaker introduced. He said this was a festive occasion. It reminded him of the lady of uncertain age, who, after years of weary waiting, had at last found a husband, and who was asked what song she should sing at her wedding, she replied: "It is the way I long have sought, / And soon it became; I found it not."

"I can say," continued Judge Jacobs, "it has been a period of all my life. My father moved to Michigan when it was a territory; when I reached my majority I came to this Pacific coast and have since lived here. I have seen this coast develop in resources and increase in wealth, and have been a part of its history. I, too, in common with other citizens, have passed through years of weary waiting for this news. And now the news has come flashing across the continent that our day of liberty has arrived. We all rejoice. What is the reason of all this rejoicing? Does this change involve any advantages we have not yet enjoyed? It does, and in a few words I wish to explain some of these advantages.

"We shall be clothed with all the rights, privileges and immunities guaranteed by the constitution. We shall have the right to vote for president. We shall have a right to elect our own officers, and they will be chosen from our own state. There will be no shipments of federal office-holders. I perhaps should not speak on this last point, for I came here myself with a commission in my pocket; but there is this palliation in my case, that I lived in Oregon when it was a territory of which Washington was a part. It will give us a right to increase the number of our judges, and litigation can be attended to, so there will not be the condition of affairs existing to-day, the court dockets crowded and no judges to clear them. Farther than that we will have full representation in congress. We will no longer be men who have a right to speak but not to vote; but two senators and one representative, each clothed with the right to vote as well as speak. The admission of Washington means increased population, the building of cities, increase of capital, a swelling of the volume of business, and, most of all, the development of our great resources. It means our acquisition of swamp and school lands granted to territories when they become states, giving us funds for internal improvements and the maintenance of our common schools. Full representation in congress means large appropriations for our rivers and harbors, for post offices and other buildings. It means unparalleled glory and happiness for the state of Washington.

"Could we tear away the curtain that hides the future from the present—and judging the future from the past—we should see a glorious era before us with our grand resources, a great and glorious country named after the father of our common country. It is true that the state of Washington is 300 miles or more from the seat and center of political power; but the hearts of our people beat the same as those who dwell amid the scenes of the revolution, and are as devoted to the grand principles of our constitution. I prophesy for the state of Washington a future of unparalleled and unexampled glory.

"THE NAME OF WASHINGTON."

Mr. W. K. Andrews, the next speaker, said: "There comes before me tonight a significant phrase—not a sentence—and that is the name Washington. I see in this audience who heard the early days of this territory. They brought their wives and children with them. They have seen their children and their grandchildren grow up about them. Today those children and grandchildren read 'The State of Washington.' These early pioneers who hoped to read 'The State of Washington' soon after coming here, had their hopes deferred from time to time; now they see their hopes consummated and today they read 'The State of Washington.' During all these years of weary waiting we have been in a state of servitude. Now that we have been given our liberty we have been given responsibilities as well.

The speaker then reverted to the theme of his address, 'The Name of Washington,' and dwelt upon the inspiration in the name Washington. 'No other state,' said he in conclusion, 'has received a grander name and none can be given one more grand. Washington was the first in war and the first in peace, and so may we be. If any foe should assail us, we should be the first to fly to arms, and when peace is declared we should be the first to throw down our arms. We may also be the first in the hearts of our countrymen.'

"THANKS TO THE PIONEERS."

Mr. Alfred Dolman spoke briefly with particular reference to the early historical records of the state, and of their importance as a source of inspiration to those who would hereafter occupy this country. No country, he said, had the advantage of more inspiring materials. Every page in the history of the state was a page of honor. The speaker then briefly reviewed the historical circumstances which gave significance to the annals of the original states of the Colonies, and declared that in none of them were the historic memorials more important than those of the state of Washington. Concluding, he said: 'Those whose duty it shall be to impress upon the future population of this country ideas of patriotism, of enterprise, of courage, in the several qualities which dignify human nature—will find texts for all and a wealth of heroic example in the record of the pioneers.'

"SONG TO THE STATE."

Mr. Dyer said: 'Standing here as I do in this presence, in the beautiful city of Seattle, in view of the snow-capped peaks and the shimmering waves of Puget Sound, I would do violence to my feelings if I did not express my gratitude for the position we now occupy. Much has been said about the advantages we will enjoy as a state, but we cannot paint our wonderful future.'

The speaker then went on to recite the wonderful resources and advantages of Washington, and said that in view of the fact that growth had been steady and healthful during its territorial era, and had thus been fully fitted for statehood, it was, perhaps, best that it had been deferred. Here in the audience, said the speaker, are many pioneer men, some of whom came here with a hand axe and laid the foundation for the territory; they built the first log for the school houses and helped to build the first spire that pointed toward heaven. These men should be remembered with words of eulogy on such an occasion.

Today, said the speaker in conclusion, we celebrate the one hundred and fifty-seventh anniversary of the birth of Washington, and we will celebrate the birth of the state of Washington. What grander theme can be sung by poets? What grander story can be told to children yet unborn than that of the birth of this splendid state on the birthday anniversary of the immortal Washington. I would suggest that the first duty which our legislature, elected under the state government, should be to erect a statue to the father of our country, after whom our state has been named, and that on it should be inscribed these words, which were his own:

"I see his august image, and hear, wafted from his venerable lips, these deep-thinking words: 'Go, sons of America! lamenting our separation. Go on and eat large by your wisdom the fruits of our joint counsels, joint efforts and continued dangers. Never enslave relation; diffuse knowledge through your land; patronize arts and sciences; let liberty and order be inseparable companions; control party spirit; have a free government; obey, keep good faith to, and cultivate peace with all nations that up every avenue to foreign influence; connect rather than extend national connexion; rely on yourselves only; be American in thought and deed. This will insure you prosperity to that union, which was the object of my terrestrial labors. 'This we shall preserve undisturbed to the latest posterity the felicity of people so dear, and thus will you supply (if my mapping be) to you the only vacancy in the round of pure bliss high heaven bestows.'

"A WORD OF CAUTION."

Judge J. P. Hoyt brought out the reminder that it was not only a time for rejoicing but for some careful thought. Our duties and responsibilities will now devolve upon the people of the new state, and they should be performed in a manner that will not bring discredit on our name or country. 'Be earnest,' said the speaker, 'in earnest, earnest about the building up of our common wealth and development of our bounteous resources, so that the name of Washington will be not only a credit to its inhabitants but an example of achievement to the uttermost parts of the earth.'

Mr. L. H. Holthaus said this was an era of progress. We are now bound as one civil union the pioneer and the settler. For years we have waited for this day. Looking back we see they were put down to the pioneers who tilled the soil, defied the climate and worked with their hands for the development of the country. It is not only a re-birth of America that has done this, but from other lands who had been waiting an opportunity from oppression, and who have not only come to worship, but to cultivate the constitution and institutions of this country. Their men, said he, weaker, rejoiced with us in the consummation of our hopes.

"LIBERTY IS DANGEROUS."

Mr. F. E. Blaine dwelt upon the necessity being one calling for serious thought. Liberty is dangerous and the people must be careful, and it may be we will find this newly acquired liberty dangerous to our welfare if we do not consider all circumstances. The immense endowment for the support of a school court not be wasted, for the main element of liberty is in the common schools and the intelligence of the people. He also spoke of the need of restraining the disturbing element that will come to the large cities that are destined to be built on the Sound, by laws against anarchy and socialism, labor and capital as well.

The Hon. H. Hanford was called out of the audience and said he was so happy over the new news that he would have been content to sit and listen to the words of wisdom and soberness as expressed by the other speakers and contemplate in silent joy the greatest day in the history of Washington. The day, said the speaker, is one that in the future every son of our common wealth will celebrate with pride as being the birthday of the State of Washington. My heart swells with pride when I recall the pioneers who have waited for this day and whose noble deeds and untiring efforts have made this occasion possible; We should now pause for reflection. A great deal must be done to build a foundation deep and strong. We should realize that here on Puget Sound we have a population of half a million or more. We shall have a city here that will be indeed a Queen City. Not the Queen City of the Sound as it used to be called, nor the Queen City of the Northwest, as is now known; but the Queen of the Whole World!

"THE OLD AND THE YOUNG."

Mr. Collins, the next speaker, said he was like the darkey who, when he attended the circus, said he was ready to die because he was so glad he was there. 'Only I'm not ready to die yet,' said the speaker when the laugh had subsided after the telling of his story, 'because I am the foreman of an oyster claim—mine the oysters.' This raised another laugh, and the speaker then went on to tell how he waited to see the country developed and enjoy great prosperity under its new condition of statehood.

"THANKS IS NOW PAID."

Mr. M. C. Wilmath was called and said he would speak by proxy by calling in Hon. C. Herren of Lewis county, who was in the audience. Mr. Herren came forward and as a prefatory remark said that while he rejoiced with the people of Seattle and Washington at large over the passage of the admission bill, he could not help feeling that the admission was the payment of a debt long due to the brave intelligent people of Washington. The same generous spirit that now causes the people to rejoice had caused them to bear patiently the withholding of that which every fiber of moral man taught belonged to them. The speaker then referred in glowing terms and eloquent words to the noble associations that hang about the name of the Father of our Country.

Judge Gaila Carson was called, and made a brief address from his seat in the audience, in which he alluded to Jefferson, Adams, Abraham Lincoln, Grant, Thaddeus Stevens, Roscoe Conkling and Philip Sheridan as names that would go down to history with that of Washington.

The meeting then adjourned, three cheers for the state of Washington having first been given.