Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-09-03
Did DIR. Whitman Save Oregon
Mrs +. +. Victor, in Californian for September

Mrs +. +. Victor, in Californian for Septcmhcr.l
That II private citizen like DIR.
Whitman should have had any in
fucncc in determining aquestion that
had batileu the skill OF the greatest
diplomatists for over half a century,
is not susceptible of belief. He
could say nothing they did not al
ready know; and as to the folly
said to have been contemplated by
Mr.. Webster, of " trading off Ore
son for 81 codtishery," 1t will be
seen by tho treaties quoted, that the
fishery question had b9en settled, as
it was supposed, forever Ivy the
convention of 1878. 1t was, how
ever, brought up again in 1852, after
the Oregon boundary was settled,
in order to force the United States
into reciprocity treaty with the
British Provinces, when the United
States secured greater privileges on
the fishing grounds than they had
before enjoyed; but which it is now
said they are again in danger of los
lug.
SO much for the origin and pur-
pose of tho Ashburton treaty. Bnt
there still reiiilins the romantic,
though unfortunately foundationless,
story of Dir. Whitman's visit to
Washington with a poi,tWdl purpose.
DR.. Whitman left the Cayusc coun-
try Oh business connected with his
mission carly in October, 1912, and
performed remarkable Winter
Journey to the States. The treaty
he is said to have influenced WAS
signed before he left Oregon, and
be arrived at his destination III the
following Spring, after Lord Ash
burton had returned TO England,
and about the time Mr.. Webster
retired from tho Cabinet of Presi-
dent Tyler. He may have seen the
great statesman, and may have given
him his opinion of the Oregon coun-
try; but his doing SO could not af-
feet i tieaty that was already made,
nor one that was to be made, several
years after, by different plenipoten-
tiaries. Both Great Britain and the
United States knew the value of the
Oregon territory and thnt was why
it was so difficult for them to come
to IL settlement Immediately after
the AHhbulton treaty, the ne@otla-
tons concerning the " Oregon Cues
ton were transmitted to London,
and there remained until lSi4, when
they We're rc.ransIcrrod to Washing
ton. Polk who was Il candidate for
the Presidency, made the Oregon
boundary the principal issue on
which he was elected. 1t was Folk
who set going the cry of " Fifty-four
forty or fight SO popular at one
time. Nevertheless, he very cheer
FULLY signed the Oregon treaty Of
June Is, 1916, which made the forty
ninth parallel the northern bound
ary Of the United States, west ns
we'll us Gust of the Rocky Mountains.
AS in the case of the Ashbur!on
treaty, both governments were glad
to be we'll rid OF the controversy
without Il WAY. Perhaps no similar
question WAS ever clothed with the
real romance that has clunG to and
colored the Oregon Question. 1t
less needs the "dycniitiou5 aids of
invention than any modern history.
w Ens; s;llsh writer says that he can
tinu no trace of man in the monkey,
but he has no difficulty i'll finding
abundant traces Of the monkey III
man.
lr is said that there are 100
watches manufactured each day III
the United States
TIE distance from Panama to AS
penwall by water IS 10000 miles;
by land it is II miles.
MEN, like piLs, are useless when
they lose their heads.