The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-11-06
THE WHITMAN MONUMENT.

At the annual meeling Of the Pioneer
and Historical Society of Oregon, held
at Astoria in February of the present
year, committee consisting of five
persons was appointed to prepare an
address to the people Of this State and
the Territories adjacant, upon the sub
ject of the erection of a suitable monu-
ment to the memory Of DIR. Marcus
Whitman, who, with his wife and fifteen
of his associates, were victims of the
great Indian massacre, the horrible de-
tails of which have come down to US
from the year 1s47. In pursuance of
their instructions, the committee have
prepared such address and respectfully
submitted the same to the people, in
company with a subscription paper,
upon which all persons disposed to aid
in this long-delayed act of justice TO the
memory of as true and snselfish a man
as ever gave his life for the good OF
Others, are requested to place their
names, place of residence and the
amount respectively donated for the
work.
The efforts made in early days to set
tie this country and open its vast re-
sources to civilization and commerce
are briefly set forth, and it is claimed
truthfully withouta a doubt-that mainly
by the efforts of DIR. Whitman was the
ITnifad Cfatao Gnvarrn,arf t,ravantaTl
from reiinquishing her hold upon the
region, then known as Oregon Territory,
for compensation altogether trifiing.
This fact alone is sufficient to entitle
him to monument at the hands of n
loyal commonwealth, whose pride and
boast il is to live under the protection of
the flag of the United States and when
in addition to this, we consider the mo-
tives Of Christian philanthropy that in
duced him to cast his lot in the western
wilds of the continent, and read with
shuddering horror pale and eyes aghast," !"
the terrible tragedy that opened for him
and his companions the doors of the
mystic hereafter, we feel sure that a fit
ting monument should tell to pos-
terity some of his manifold deeds of
patriotism, charity and love. Nor
should the claims of Mrs. Whitman to
the grateful and appreciative remem-
brance of posterity be forgotten or
ignored. Noble, jealous and self-sacri-
ticing, suffering from the very fact that
she was woman, many things from
which her husband was free, sharing
with him the tolls and deprivations in
cident to their pioneer life, and finally
suffering with him the horrors of a vio-
lent death, who shall undertake to say
that she should not have a part in the
proposed movement?
We copy from the address of the com
mittee the following, feeling sure that
it will meet a ready response from many
hearts:
II any man, since the days OF Washington,
deserves to be held in remepbrance by hls
eounirymen, and honored for noble deeds, and
sacrifices for patriotism and truth, it Is Or.
Marcus Whitman. Yet, twenty-seven years
have passed, and the winds OF Heaven have
swept over the unmarked grave OF the martyr
NOT a stone to mark the spot where rests the
mortal remains OF this selfSacrifcing man.
Shall this any longer be . We submit this
question to the two hundred thousand people
inhabiting the before mentioned state and Ter
ritOries. In the name Of the martyred dead we
make this appeal 70 our generous people, hop
ing they will respond with willing hearts and
liberal hands