Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1885-01-01
TEE PloSEg9.

WRITTEN RoR THE POST -ISTELLIGENcsR.
THERE'S in the character Of the pioneer
much to excite our admiration and much
to challenge the considerate and kindly
Judgment OF after years. His career in
America is about ended. The unsettled
public domain, the theater of his ex-
PLOTS, his conflicts, his victories and
defeats, will soon be no more. Such
being the fact, il becomes rs, whose
hives have been to some extent contem-
poraIeous with his, and whose knowl-
edge of the circumstances by which he
was surrounded is every way accurate,
to put on record our estimate OF his
character for the instruction of coming
generations.
Character Is what person really is
reputation il What he seems 20 be to
others. The latter ia usually a reflex Of
the former, though not always. Char
acter is a mysterious compound. IL
consists, first. Of those forces, molina.
tious, tendencies, beuts and impulsions
which come along down the line OF he
reditary descent; and. secondly, OF the
moulding and directing forces which
spring out of the external environment
Of the person. The inclination TO be-
come pioneer sprung from the firs'i
his actual character as q pioneer Is Coz
trolled by the second To judge a man
or class OF men rightly, We must view
them in the light Of their surroundings.
We do them great injustice when We
attempt Go gage their character BY the
lights and standards OF after years, and
especially when the motives that prompt
cd their acts have passed from view, or,
In seen, their force 10 no longer telt.
1bis is the uttersnce Of no exceptional
principle, bat uniform and universal
truth. Forty years ago the puipits OF
this land famed and Kissed and echoed
with sulphur rs thunder. This formerly
ssethins aud eruptive volcano Of brim
stone is today extinct. Then the Chris
tian character was mors angular and
muscular than it IL today. But Who
shall saw that the lose Of God was NOT
as pure and the love Of man AZ noble
then a. uov7 The manifestations have
changed. but the essence remains the
came. To Judge the aota OF the Garlic:
Christians py the present standard u
bat 10 exclude n.any from the kingoeul
OF heaven. Having said thus much,
pass 10 more direct consideration VI
1 my subject.
IA must Re remembered that from tbs
same Wild valley or dark woods. in vhict
ascsn ded the smoke from the humbls
I cabin of the pioneer, there also Rsce ndet
| the etboke from the wigvam and tns
/ council fire Of the savage. Much ha'
ben written of the character OF ths
American indian, bat that character etE
be truthfully tpi:omizsd 10 . sentence
/ he had no virtae bat bravery: he reoog
nixed no vice bat cowardiee. cs'
these terms, especially toe latter, IN {
generic sense, as covering a cluster o.
vices. al having their root In cowardice
I The Indian never chose an open light
Ambush was his ruie. 1he poisoae q
arrow or the deadly bullet came freu
4 sue ccyer Of thicket, the shade OF
t, tree or the protection OF rock. ID
was ever ready 10 start up, like the feloi
wolf, at midnight in var OF extermin
alton. when be vas apparently thu
most friendly. and his seerning friend
I ship most demosS.ratiye, there vas thu
grsatef daneer.
/ such were the surroundings OF Nh
! pioneer. Ne Was IN constant DANCE
from savage beasts and still more saw
age tnen. A character Developed unde
she influence OF suchturroundinrs veul'
have for It's chief attTibates vatehfGl
ness. decision, toFtitnae. bravery and
constantly decreasing confidence IN In
dian fidelity and virtue. 10 prsveB
Ambascade be had no frequented paths
no accustomed hanntG he was Aiwss
ors the alert. his rifle ready, his ammo
niI.on az hand. when danger eoBfrenI
ed him be acted with prompt and deadl
siceluou. There was The sharp csscs Q
toe rifle and his foeman bin tbs dus
Yoa saw ne Vas cruel. ve say he vas b.
J ohsying the iaS of self preservatsol
HIS tread vas ~ noisesess "A that of a
psns her whose matrimonial ins9ie B
sfsen invaded. His endurance and fel
vsuae ~ere wonderful HanEer. col
and prtvaiicnx bad ns tegrors tor hir
IL toe essslv period OF els rtoueersng /
eoxea not, hence tiid nct reap II
kesn eve aud trusted rife we're ats pa
: vxvaFs. The forrest. tie stream. q
, axes ani tae ocean shore wrss bis Lar
! els. bread vas a iaxafy he dad N
often saloy. His visosoGs hsalth. IA
ac i've Rnd powerful nauscasAa foFee
his capacity for greaE endurance a. ~
As has Saai Of all kaaSiesags Of f2tian
Ahsw tAst bFeAG. iheugh . es0senier
- not nse<ssasy alsSss-nt fer Tue deys
sgIaeEs 0J tai aud Ssgosoas ma
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