Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1870-02-19


with more shocking barbarity tothe bodies
of the slain, than in the murders Of in.
dividuals aud small parties during that
cventful Fall, and at occasional intervals
during the entire history of American set.
Element on Puget Sound. Here, too, ad.
ditional danger isincurrod from the hordes
of northern savages from far up the coast
making their occasional raids on our re.
mote and unprotected settlements
After tho discovery Of America by Co.
lumbus, it was not long before tho Atlantic
Ocean had ceased to be regarded a. great
barrier to an advent to the Atlantic shores
Of the American continent. Indeed long
before the first settlemeot Of New England,
the continent itself was the obstacle to west
ward progress, then already the path to
empire. To cross this immcnsity Of land,
or to avoid it being crossed, really had be.
come the problem before the Pilgrim Fa.
theirs thought Of settlement in America.
The latter theory was regarded the one
which needed solution. None were bold
enough to attempt crossing the continent
itself, yet this was the task the Oregon
cmigrant had to accomplish or to make the
voyage around Cape Horn. The history
of the Oregon controversy develops the
fact that it long continued to be doubted
whether it were possible to people Oregon
orerland from the United States, or wheth-
er that Territory must receive its popula-
tion by sea, pia Cape Horn. If the for
mer failed, then Great Britain, with her
over-gluttcd centres of population, could
use Oregon as an escape.valvc, and all the
probabilities seemed to indicate that Brit
ish colonization would ultimately settle the
Oregon controversy BY maturing occupan-
cy and possession. 5'
- But third of a century ago, two heroic
self-sacrificing American women found the
solution of this problem Of doubt and uncer-
tainty. Actuated by as holy an impulse
as inspired the Puritan Fathers to spread
the blessings of tho Christian religion in
new lands, they undertook the pilgrimage
to Oregon to convert the Indians. What
sermon could be more eloquent than. that
silent readiness to undertake such journey /!
No heroism more sublime than their viii
linsness to 60. How sanctifed has been
that preaching! How shortly after the
fruit appeared, in opening to Amcricaniza-
ton the vast region west Of the Rocky
Mountains, preparing It for the homes Of
men, women and children If women
could reach Oregon orcylaad, the. settle-
ment of territorial claim was attained.
That interesting incident Of the past was
the sure harbinger of what we are now
about realizing. The great engineering
and utilitarian idea Of the 10th century, is
about to be consummatcd. The continent
is crossed by railroad. After American
women had traverscd the broad plains and
crossed the great mountain chains of the
American continent, it was needless further
to search for Strait of Anian."' That
journey accomplished safely, preceded the
emigrant wagon road. As natural con-
sequence, the railway has been substituted,
the commerce of the Pacific and the East
ern seas is concentrated in American cities
on the Pacific shores, and the United States
of America is the leading power Of the
world. .s.tl..f...r - .4rsa .fff
The example of the sainted heroines,
one ofwhom Mrs, DR.. Marcus Whitman)
was slain at her post of duty by the psr6d-
ious savage, for whose benefit she had gone
into exile from home, kindred, and oil it's
endearments, and the other Mrs. Rev. II H.
Spalding) lies under the clod in an Oregon
valley, was soon followed by . hardy band
of men, women and children. In each of
these was living argument Of the integri-
ty of claim of their nation to this territory
They were alike devoted to the glorious
task of dedicating the wilderness to become
the home for Gods creatures, and reclaim.
ing for their country vast expanse of val
liable territory, we'll nigh lost by the g mas
terly inactivity" and apathy Of the Govern
ment. 4 . 3' Aald - jass'5 eds naaA
Now was heard the tread Of pioneers, ~
Of nations yet to be, az Il ert.gl Il
The first low wash of waves, where soon
Shall roll human sea- co 9fAtana
At that time, however, the gloom Of des-
olatiou hung like pail over these regions.
Many of you can recall the dread in those
times Of the North Pacific Coast and its
imagined dreary and dreamy loneliness.
The unfortunate result Of Astor's Colum-
bia river project, the fate Of the 1Smquis,
Jewett's narrative Of the wreck and cap.
ture Of the ship Boston and her crew, had
stripped the northwest coast Of America Of
single inviting feature. But iu greater
degree, the immortal Bryant, in his !" Wis
ion of Death" dedicated these shores as its
fit abiding-place, and presents the GRIM
monster as penetrating these ,;,n.,, i.
Continuous woods, - =
Where rolls the Oregon, and hears no sound
Save its own dashiugs.'' ssg ssaslj gotise8
He then breaks the avfal silence Of his
own creation in the oraeulara assurance,
"Yet the dead ars there.,'
The educ::tiou of an American youth, in
those days, was thossht TO hare bean neg
iec:ed if be we're unable 10, seateI these
memorials verses, Hare yop not. felt the
contagiou Of that Inspiration ] Are you
NOT, even now, sometimes anccted BY that
ideaiity Tfansfsr yourselves u your AZ
lantic' homes, aud imssiue' thsss ecssas
kAa ~ Al