Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1882-11-12

@-.- - VnTrnAx DED roe e.
Econ.

ECON.
:, 1910 DIR. Whitman lived at his mis-
-. mar Walla waila, and, ono DAY
n October, vent on professional Visit
70 Fort wallnla, . Hudson Bay Company
trading post, where he hoard OF com
r.rv of Canadians and half-bresds that
h.d reached Fort Colville. having made
The journey ssross tho continent. ne
also hoard . Hudson Bay man excla'm
th.t Nth this embarrassment the English
vould hold the country. Whitman vas
reenIv n W 70 the future importance OF
OREGON 70 the nation, and was deeply
interested in preventing the br,'lsn
from owning the country. he neafo 'ne
hoasG made that Gov. Simpson, Of the
Hudson Bsy,Company, was in Washing
4on. and that, NO opposition being pos
s;bls be could secure Enalish soprem
sov. All these things made such an I'M
ursauion on him that, against the 70
monstranoes Of his brother missionar'es'
be resolved 70 60 20 back East TO make
knovn the true facts at Washington,
and 70 induce an American emigration
70 cross the plains next season. ne
started across the plains in the faii ana
reached the frontier in January; making
. midwintsr journey that vas very naz-
ardoua. and encountered difficulties and
dangers that would appal the stous'ss
heart melted by . lees patriotic motive.
Gen. A. L. Lovejoy was his sole COM
panion in this journey. and tells the
story OF it, hazard and hardship. Gen.
Loyeioy is now aged, and disiikss con-
trovsrsy, but Mrs. Lovej"y assures ns
that he vas aware Of Whitman's aims
and motives; know that his great object
in the Journey was to save Oregon from
British rule, and gives him credit In
great part for socompllshin his patri-
otto intention. This meeting with Mrs.
Lovejoy and hearing these truths from
her. and Witnessing her anxiety to secure
Justice for Whitman's memory in this
connection, induces us to revive ques-
tion that has been debated With more
or les III feeling; for strange ss it may
appear, there are those living who would
rob this noble martyr, who modestly
made no claim for himself Of glory in
this oonnsctioh, Of tho honest NEED OF
praise that posterity 10 willing 10 accord
him, and Who sven brand his memory
With ths accusation that he was snsrce-
nary ander circumstances that Gen. and
Mn. Lovejoy, and others Of the emigra-
ton that returned with Whitman in
1sls, pronouncs false.
Il b plainly proved that, on his arrival
In January, Whitman went TO tho from
tier and did what he could to induce
people 70 smiarate. by assuring them
that wagons could be driven 70 the Co
lumbis River, and that he would join
the emigration in time to pilot them
through. Gen. and Mrs. Lovejoy were
In this emigration. Then he went to
Washington and laid the facts before
Secretary Of State Webster, without Of
fsct; thsn be found President Tyler and
made such an impression that he re-
esivsd tho promise that II he could take
IN emigration through with their wag-
ons, NO treaty should be made to relin-
quish Oregon 70 Great Britain. He took
direct issue With Gov. Simpson, Of the
Hudson Bay Company, who had said
that the country was only 1T to trap and
hunt in, and that no wagon road could
possibly b made soross the continent.
Having accomplished all this, DR..
Whitman went to the Office Of tho Home
Missionary Board in New York, and
thsrs h. vas rsprimandsd for his acts.
The Board was dissatisned, and said he
bad 10 business, - . missionary, TO
Gauss him 70 maks the terrible journey.
HE fsllov- missionaries. his friends. and
his companion, al say HE object was TO
bring Amsrioaus here 10 hold tho ooun-
~ and convey correct information TO
he Government Ct Washington. All
this b. b accomplished, and in % doing
- saysd Oregon 70 The United States, or
= lsase - prsvsnssd any possibility Of
tSansfsr Of Oregon 70 England.
Whitman vas NO boaster and never
claimed any superior credit for his acts.
h ~ m intense American and q gen.
uine patriot He vas murdered while
IN The discharge Of his assumed duty -
miasionAry TO the Cayusss. All his life
= . heroic picture Of sslf-sacrifioe and
sel1-abqaeaaion. II does seem ~ IL NO
-DM o. woman should b found TO vish
70 disparass his memory, or fail 70 40
cord him dns praise for his trsmendous
s6oet 70 secure American supremacy on
The Columbia River. Il II useless to
aSeee vhsthsr . treaty could have bssn
eoupasnd 10 txAnsfaR This region to
Great Britain. All 10 claim ID that
British supremacy vas souaht 10 b e.
tablishsd By bringing over an smiera.
don 70 create majority Of British sub
3sc1s hsrs. and that Gov. Simpson vas
In Washington, trying 70 show that there
vae NO value 70 this country; that no
soads coeid b made 10 Il and that IL
-vae alfsAdy psopasd With Bxitish sub
jscta This vas the cass that whitman
msA He heard the boasts Of British
subjects and b made that midwintsr
3eazney % yarn ne administration At
WaahinGtm a al ths fActs. and pilotsd
aSsly suoas ths large emigration that
sstslsd ~ Qusslion of supremacy. to
which b vas eood angel = veil q .
guido. Il vas enough for Whitman's
memory 70 have Won III love. rssps 4
end gratitsds Of Ne early pieossrs that
b pileesd aesoas thoos unknown vilds.
10 = TOO much At this late day that hs
shoald b aeoussd Of making that smi-
GpAAioa pay him for his services vhsn
tAsss + full svidsnos that b. rsndsr,d
sesh service fsssly and without change.
A.