Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-11-18

CeWpemy 4e.
laF. AifA-l
The Territory of Oreeon vas the old
est, excspf the original Northwest Tern
tory. Of the Urifed stnsess is Vas the
largest until carved 80. ~ Is has been
sir1cs 1853. vhea Washington Territory
uas ornxized o1t Of Is, and since le5s,
cher The state u Oregon was created
within r.. and the remainder hss since
been Organised inse the Territories OF
Idaho. Montana. wyoming and Dakota
The Territory. eoastuise. came into pos
session Of fhs United States cnder the
ARA term Of WasbfuRxon's PRESIDENCY.
bv che discovery Of the Columbia river
ia NAY. I78z. by Cspfsin Robert Gray.
OF tbs ship Columbia. Of Boston, and tbs
subsequent interior possession Vas az
complIshed during the administration
Of President jefferson By the official ex-
rlcrationsof Lewis and Clarke, IN 1904 3
Bot il vas NOT until the famous Fifty
four forsy-or- fight agitation IN the fsrsf
year of President Folks administration,
which led 70 and cnnplied the relIn-
ouishmens BY the British, Government Of
70 territorv up 20 the 18th parallel. thst
the title Of fhs Territory vas absolutely
established 20 tbs Enited States. The
State Of OrRDn, embracing the entire Pa
cifie coast line from the California boun-
dairy north 40 the 18th parallel. and ex
tending eastward 70 the Idaho line, Was
admiftcd into the Uhion in 1859; and
yet
THE CITIZEN or OREGON
Who now visits the grand cities Of the
East and registers himseif from that
state. will find many apparently inteili-
gent persons Who will ask him where IN
the vorid-ssme will pas the question
in a less polite form-is Oregon, or IN
what part of California il il situated;
similarly as Americans are nos infre-
quently met With the exfraoFdisfy infor-
nation all over EDoIand that Massachu-
setfs IL a part Of Boston and that New
York comprises the greater portion Of
the United States. since the completion
Of the Northern Pacific Railroad and
the great or small pecuniary cost Of the
information which Jay Cooke brought
upon ~ many ten years ago. and the
heavier losses within the past year
through tbs vast operations and great
in the past as toSOregon has very sensi-
bly, decreased. The State itself Is stiil
an solid as ever, nevertheless. and u IL
growing and becoming richer aud more
important in every arm OF industry, IN
every branch of commerce and trade. in
agriculture and manufacture, and In
substantial wealth every year. And not
vithstanding its expanding railroad sys-
tenn, Oregon and the adjacent Terrific
ries will always continue 10 be impor-
tant factors in the Surprising advance
and prosperity and future splendor Of
California, with San Francisco as the
magnificent and unsqualed emporium
Of the Pacific.
oREoos's EARLY DAYS.
But Il il not with Oregon in its present
state ard future progress that this sketch
will deal. Il will be the purpose more
to relate incidents connected with its
early period. before il was created into
statehood, and Of the men who were
conspicuous in that period. some of
whom are still spared TO guide and to
govern the State they helped 10 rear, or
are in the enjoyment of honorable re-
from public labors In the happy retiraey
Of private life in comfortable homes.
And some have become residents of
California, among whom are Hon. Peter
III. Burnett, first Governor of this State
aud subsequently, Associate Justice Of
the Supreme Court: Judge o. @. Pratt,
Captain Il. X. Thompson Of Alameda,
soon TO become resident of San Fran
cisco, and his former partner in the Ore
goa Steam Navigation Company, Cap
tain j. @. Ainsworth Of Oakland. The
pioReers OF Oregon were the actual pio-
neefs Of American nativity and citizen
ship of this Pacific coast. They were
hardy, intrepid. enterprising, adventur-
Gus men. who took their lives in their
hands all the way across the wilderness
of the plains. threatened or beset by hos
tile and predatory Indians, or braved the
perils Of the long voyage around Cape
Horn and the hardships which besei
them In the vilds OF the Oregon of that
early period.
AMONG THESE PIONEERS
Whose career would compare with that
of the famous Daniel Booone in his ex-
pioratiou VI the Dark and Bloody
Gronnd which Is the noted Kentucky of
our age, were men as modest IN the re-
cital of their exploits as heroes with
dauntiess nerve and without vanity nj :
ways are. They pushed their way with
an abiding hope and invincible courage,
little conscious that they were blazing
the pathways and the broad roads to a
civilization and an enlightenment
which xas 10 oensummafe the grand
forecast OF the poet prelate who gave
expression 80 the sublime thought.
= Westward the Star of Empire takes its
way" They were the good and self sac
rificing missionaries. also, whose adven
lures and noble services are chronicled
with those Of Joliet and Marquette, In
rsdceming the wilderness 90 the uses of
mar and planting the seeds Of Christi
anity which builds It's temples in impes
ishAble form, where savage rule and
heashen rites had held immemorable
sway through incalculable centuries.
The pioneers of 0regoa were not tempt
ed 10 the perilous expedition by the last
OF gold, nor led thither bY the promise
of self advancement. Itsvas neble ann
bition and purer motive which impel.
led them, in which their services TO
their coantry and their opportunity TO
enhance lis greatness and It's grandner
were
TuR uPPERMosT CONSIDERATIONS;
And ID 10 the pridsful boast Of America
that she has furnished the world the no
blest exemplars Of this patriotic spirit
and simple ambition, IS ths history OF
this coast 50 conclusively establishes. in
common With that Of the primitive dis
cevery and settlement of the older por-
tons OF our country. IA was the saga
city OF John jacob Assar which hrss
comprehendsd and pot 10 practical test
the craftsmanship OF Thomas jefferson,
which impelled him 90 send out the mem
orahle expedition Of Lewis and Clark,
and 30 extend and establish the boundA-
ries OF the United states. to possess the
vast territory bordering upon the broad
Pacific, as the Spaniara Balaoa had pro
claimed the possession. Of the ocean H.
self 10 his royal master three censusies
before. Astor's object comprised more
than traffic in fuFs. IL coTnnrehended
Also the hope Of settlement and civilsxA.
tion. 10 rsdoand 10 the beneas aud
greatness of his adopted country. The
history OF his expeditions, of the ills
and evils which attended them. of the
craft and Superior power Of the British
Hudson Bay Company. ard the fHal
failure of all his plans, mainly By the
precipitation nf the war of 1872, which
Withheld the Government from giving
20 Astsr The protection that be needed
30 maintsiR his adventure. are familiar
30 tie average reader.