Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1888-09-06
SEPTEMBER 6, ls2a;.
WHITMAN.

And as we think of his Christian courage
shall it not be with the prayer that the
mantle OF his miss ouary spirit may fall
upon us that the fire Of Christian love
in our hearts may be kinded to Il
brighter glow; and that, as we depart
from this place, it may be with renewed
resolutions Of greater earnestness and
zeal in the cause Of the Master?
And Whitman was not only a
Christian hero, he was also an ardent
patriot. There is no conflict between
religion and patriotism. Loyalty to the
Sovereign Ruler of the Universe does not
preclude loyalty to the government
under which we live. The true Chris
tian has in him the clement of pure
patriotism. His love of country is
included in his love to God. 1t was
thus with. Whitman. His love tor the
Master was uuquestioned but this did
not quench the flame of patriotism in his
heart but caused it to burn brightly aud
brilliantly.
An opportunity was presented to him
Of rendering valuable services to his
country, and the advantage was not
neglected. Although there are some
who would deprive him Of the honor, yet
it is in view of all the facts, nationally
considered incontrovertible that the
possession by the United States Of this
Northwest coast is due to the ardent and
unselGsh patriotism of Doctor Marcus
Whitman.
His winter ride across the continent
to save this coast to the United States is
one Of the most thrilling episodes in the
history of our country. The object, the
incidents and the result of the ride are
fttingly described by lady of Brooklyn,
New York:
wHITMAN's RIDE.
Listen, my children, and you shall hear
OF hero's ride that saved State.
a midnight ride? Nay, child. for a year
He rode with the message that could not
wait.
Eighteen hundred and forty-two;
No railroad then gone crashing through
To the Western coast not telegraph wire
Had guided there the electric fire
But fire burned in one strong mans breas,
Fer beacon-!ight. You shall hear the
He said to his WIFE, ''At the fort to-day.
AT Walla Walla heard them say
That hundred British men had crossed
The mountains and one young, ardent
priest
Shouted, 'Hurrab for Oregon
The Yankees are late by year at least
They must know this at once at Washing
Another year, and all would be lost.
Some one must ride, to give the alarm
Across the continent untold harm
Ia an hours delay; and only
Can make them understand how or why
The United States must keep Oregon |"
Twenty-four hours he stopped to think,
To think Nay, then, if he thought at all,
He thought as he frightened his saddle girth.
One tried companion, who would not shrink
From the worst 10 come just o mule or two
To carry arms and supplies. would do,
With guide as far as Fort Bent, And
she,
The woman of proud, heroic worth,
W ho must part from him, if she wept at all,
Wept as she gathered whatever he
Might need for an outfit on the way.
Fame for the man who rode that day
Into the wilds ut his country's call
And for he, who waited for him a year
On the wild Pacific coast, a tear
Then he said "Good by y and with firnset
lips
Silently rode from his cabin door,
just as the sun rose over the tips
OF the phantom mountains that loomed
befo.e
The woman there in the cabin door,
With . dread at her heart she had not
known
When she, with him, had dared to cross
The Great Divide. None better than she
Knew what the terrible ride would cost
As he rode, and she waited, each alone,
Whether all were gain or all were lost.
No message of either gain or loss
Could reach her ; never greeting stir
Her heart with sorrow or glsdness he
In another > car would come back to her
II oil went well and if all went ill
All God Could even her courage still
The pain at her heart? If the binding
snow
Were his winding sheet, she would never
know;
If the Indian arrow pierced his side.
She would never know where be lay and
died;
II the icy mountain torrents drowned
His cry for help. she would hear 10 sound !
Nay, none would hear, save God, who
knew
What she had to bear. and he had to do.
The clattering hoof-bests died away
On the Walla Walla. All had che known
They would echo in history still toe
Az they echoed then from her hears of
stone
He has left the valley. The mountains
mock
His coming Behind him. broad and deep,
The Columbis meets the Pacific tides.
Before him-four thousand miles before
Four thousand miles from bis cabin door,
The Potomac meets the Atlantic On,
Over the trail grown rough and steep,
Now soft en the snow. now loud on the