Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1880-08-27
Address to the People OF Oregon and
the United states.

the court house at Astoria, Feb. Dist,
1874, to prepare an address to the
people on the subject of the erection CT
monument to the memory of the late
DR.. Marcus Whitman, respectfully
submit the following, and recommend
it's adoption
To the people Of THE OREGON of lS47,
embracing the present State of Ore
gon, and the Territories of Washing
ton, Idaho and Montana;
b. direction of the Pioneer and
Historical Society Of Oregon, we most
respectively bring to your notice the
subject Of the erection of an appropri-
ate monument to the memory of our
lamented DR.. Marcus Whitman, who
fell martyr in defence of truth and
justice, in the land of his adoption, in
the year lS47. 1t has ever been
the custom of states and nations,
where christianity and civilization pre-
walls, to rerpstuate the memo!i s
of great and good men, -benefactors
Of mankind and if we neglect longer
to do justice to the memory of that
noble and self-sacriicing martyr, we
shall prove ourselves unworthy of the
enjoyment of the blessings and privil-
eyes that now surround us, through
his self-sacrifcing efforts.
1T may not be out OF place to call up
some of the efforts to settle and civil,
ize this region of country. Tn the
year 1892 Captain Gray, of the ship
Columbia, entering the great Oregon
river, and gave it the name of his ship
Columbia, claiming the river and
country for the United States. In
1905 s Lewis and Clark explored the
country, and reported by order of the
1, American Government. In lSl0-ll
John Jacob Astor occupied q CONNER
cial point near the mouth of the Co
lumbia river for the purpose of trade,
and gave it the name of Astoria.
But his interests were betrayed into
the hands Of British subjects, and his
enterprise was consequently abandoned
In 1878 the country was nominally
surrendered to the United States gov
eminent, but was still occupied by
the Northwest Fur Company, and he
Hudson Bay Company. In 1885 pr.
Marcus Whitman, learning Of she
5 beautiful country called Oregon, and
being prompted by purely christian
motives, determined to plant mis-
sion ir the country. With that OBJ
feet in view he braved all dangers, and
crossed the Rocky mountains in 1886
and settled where his ashes now re-
! rnalr. In 1912, having learned tina
the possessions of the United States
on the Pacific Coast were about to be
traded for q trihing consideration,
through the Misrepresentation Of the
Hudson Bay Company and other Brit
!. ish subjects representing, that they
were OF but little value, DIR. Whitman
determined at once to re-cross the
Rocky barriers and make a true rep
resentation Of the value and IMPORT
ance Of the country to our government
and to prevent if possible, the transfer
of the country into the hands of the
British government and, although III
the midst of Winter, and without aid
or council from any source, and when
the dangers of the contemplated jour
ney were presented to him, and re
monstrance used by friends, his reply
was:
"MY LIFE IS OF BUT LITTLE MOMENT
& fiFql GAN BUT SAVE THIS COUNTRY, FOR
OUR AMERICAN PEopLEw
To accomplish this purpose, he
braved the mountain tempests, faced
EVERY danger, and, reaching Washing
ton City, made such explanations and
representations of the value and i'm
portance of tho country to our govern
. ment, that the negotiations were brok
EN- off, aud Oregon was saved for the
sflture happy homes of millions of his
fellow countrymen. And on his re
turn he brought to Oregon an immi
grafton, in accordance with his prom
lisa 10 the Executive of the Nation
to fully prove to him the truth of his
representations in substantiation oil
WHtIiI WI Icicr W tile iiitllgrttlOilS Oh
1913, many of whom are now living
and can give testimonf.
I, ! For this, and for the zeal of the
PROTESTANT Faith, he fell, and with
him his noble hearted wife, and fifteen
pf}is friends and associates. If any
man, since the days of Washington
kSde&rsss, to be held in remembrance
> by his countrymen, and honored fol
noble deeds, and sacritic for patriotism
and truth lit is Dr. Marcus Whitman
Yet, thirty three years had passed
aad the winds of Heaven had swept
oyer e,he unmarked grave of the Mar
tyr-not a stone to mark the spot
where rests he mortal remains of this
self-sacrifcing man and associate dead
Shall this any longer be 2 We submit,
sallF question to the two hundred thous
and p'spple inhabiting the before men
I !