, 1853-02-12

a Sandwich Islander, and paper conducted
with marked spirit and ability. We have
no doubt but that it will be read with inter
est by The people of the Pacific coast gen.
eraHv. The editor will accept our thanks
for the historical information furnished, as
also for the compliment he has seen proper |
TO bestow upon the Columbian. We wish
the pioneer of the Oregon press abundant
success wherever located.
Westward the Star of Empire
takes its Way"
Of course it does, and it will continue to
advance, until il arrives at the point from
whence it started. And with empire goes
civilization, intelligence and the spirit of lib
eriy Not the strong arm and the stout
heart merely, but the THINKER also takes
his way across the long and weary wates of
the American continent, surmonts the Rocky
mountains and emerges upon the Pacific
coast, strong in the determination TO found
a State and work out for himself brilliant
destiny. Hi, soul is in it; and retreat 10
him is impossible. He comes armed TO en-
counter with every obstacle. The bleak,
bowling wilderness, the savage foe, the des
titution of all the luxuries and Of most of
the comforts of civilized life, but call out
his energies and bring them into action. He
Is bound to find a home, and introduce into
the wilderness his religion, his law and his
liberty.
We have received within few days the
second number of the "Columbian," a
newspaper published at Olympia, on Pugeps
Sound, Oregon Territory, which proves that
the pioneer can scarcely set his foot upon
the widest spot Of earth, before the press
comes 10 hrs aid, as an indispensable auxili-
ary in the accomplishment of the work
hinted at above. Without it forests might
be subdued, and possibly wealth acquired
but a semi-savage or demi-barbarous state Of
society would supervene, which the Ameri-
can character could never submit to-
Wherever he goes, the school-masteT, the
press and the minister of religion must ac-
company him and wherever he plants him
self, he there POUNDS the institutions of
learning and religion.
Had it been announced, ten years ago,
that respectable weekly newspaper would
have been started in the English language
on the very verge of the American CONT
nent, and at the point from which the Co
umbian comes to us, no man would have
been found credulous enough TO have given
the prediction credsnce. Il was not then
forseen what the destiny of that part of the
country was to be. The occasional vessel
which visited that coast for trade with the
Indians, knew TO be sure, that harbors of
surprising magnifcence existed there, capa,
Bile Of giving shelter to the fleets of the
whole world but their placid waters were
seldom TulHed, except by the Indian canoe,
The echoes of theT iorestbound shores sell
dom awakened, exceptby the Indian whoop,
or the shrill report Of his rife. ..r.
But "manifest Destiny" or rather, the
progressive providence Of God, is at work /;
the western coast is 10 be peopled the treas
uTes Of her forests, her rivers, her rich soil,
her various mines, are to be developed for
the benefit Of man-for the expansion of
civiIization-for the extension Of true reli-
glon. Her quiet forests are 10 resound TO
the pioner's axe her placid harbors are to
be rippled by the paddle-wheel Of the steam
er, and 10 glisten with the white wings Of
commerce.
And here we will record little historic
fact, which will forever settle the question
Of by whom and from whence, the first
printing press was introduced into Oregon.
We, in proper person, introduced it, AMI it
was bought and forwarded from the Sand
wich Islands by natives Converted from hea-
thenism, through the agency of American
Missionaries. On the 23d of April, 1888,
We arrived in the Columbia river with the
press and little establishment, and during the
succeeding summer it was taken into the in
terror, to the Kooskooskie, OF Clear Water
river, and little spelling book in the Nez
Perces language was issued from it being
the first press introduced, and the first print
ing done, west of the Rocky mountains, and
north'of California. This fact may seem of
trivial moment now, but will be of more in
terest when teeming millions shall inhabit
those western slopes, and ihe superslitious
savage shall have been superseded by the
civilized and refined Anglo Saxon.
As the pioneer, therefore, in the cause,
we give the right hand Of fellowship to our
eoadjutor Of the " Columbian" and bid him
God speed in the important position he oc-
cuPIes. Let him advocate the true inter-
esIs Of that rising community, as well as in
a moral, religious, educational and temper
ance point Of view, as in its commercial re,
lations; and his influence will BE- felt upon
the institutions Of that promising land after
his pen shall have fallen from his grasp. and
his body moullered in the grave.
The productions of the rivers and coun-
try bordering on the Straits oil Juan de Flu.
ca, Frazier's river and Puget's Sound, are
the very ones to seek market at these
Islands. Lumber, spars, timber and salmon
are wanted here, in exchange for our salt,