And State Papers 4 2 3 



will be more than repaid ten times over by the 

 result ; and what it may ultimately mean we do not 

 know, but we know what the present holds, what the 

 present need demands, and we take the present and 

 hold ourselves ready to abide the result of what- 

 ever the future may bring. 



When I speak to you of the Pacific Slope, to you 

 of the new Northwest, whose cities are seated here 

 by the Sound, I speak to people abounding in their 

 youth and their virile manhood, who do not fear to 

 grasp opportunity as the opportunity comes, and 

 who weigh slight risk but lightly in the balance 

 when on the other side of the scale comes the great- 

 ness of triumph, the greatness of acquisition. We 

 took Alaska thirty-five years ago, and at last we 

 have begun to wake up to the heritage that thereby 

 we have handed over to our children. I speak to 

 you, citizens of Alaska, people who have dwelt there- 

 in, to say how much all our people owe to you. Dur- 

 ing the last year many wise laws have been put upon 

 the statute book in reference to Alaska ; not as many 

 as should have been put, but a good many. I ear- 

 nestly hope that Congress will speedily provide for a 

 delegate from Alaska, so that the people of the Ter- 

 ritory may have some recognized exponent whose 

 duty it shall be to place its needs before the National 

 Legislature. Meanwhile, with the assistance of the 

 Senators and Representatives in Congress from this 

 section of the country, I shall do all that in me lies 

 to see that the proper kinds of legislation are en- 

 acted for the Territory. 



