The morning call., 1893-09-05

the seal Of our disapproval on the false
hood. To designate the early settlers as
vagRbonds is libel on the American pio-
neer. To designate them as flibusters is
utterly untrue"
No man in the society Is better qualified
to speak OF the character of the maligned
pioneers than William F. Swasey, who was
50 intimately connected with all of them.
He said
Il desire to speak to the resolutions dis
passlonately, with by mind freed for the
time being from the bitterness engeudered
Oy the acts which have caused them to be
Onered: but to one who was contemporary
with. and humble participant in those
incidents of history that lave been so out
rageousiy distorted and miSchievOusly per-
verified; to one who was humble COM
patriot OF those who made that history
whose lives and characters have been 80
foully and Indignantly aspersed by this
so-called hlst0rlan-it Is difficult TO be con-
strained to terms of moderate speech.
when my mind reverts through the
u m and haZy vista of the past and recalls
the scenes and incidents of those early
days that resulted in the acquisition of
this magnificent territory to the Union;
wnen my imagination pictures upon the
canvass of memory the very forms and
features of those loved companions Of my
early youth, the most of whom have long
slumbered in the silent valley, as
noble, brave and unselfish a class of
men as ever with their blood crimsoned
pathway to guide the footsteps of those
who should follow them, there is in my heart
sucn An intense feeling of bitterness. ntler
loathing and detestation for the vicious
wretch who has so baSely maligned them
that no language IN my power is adequate
to express.
what motives prompted this inhuman
ghoul IN his devIlish work? Surely not
Tnr a
tancled personal wrong; and these men
lived and performed their noble work and
many of them died long before the scene of
their laoOrs was marred by this mans
abhorred presence. His fendshness can
be attributed only to a gangrened heart
and natural lust for lying.
my position here tonight is some what
different from that of any other member
present / refer to this fact in no spirit of
righteousness. but with every proper feel
Ing OF fraternal regard and esteem for
every hOnnred member of this society.
IF my expressions in giving vent to my
feelings upon this subject seem harsh,
surely |, of all here present, have cause
for them.
I'm 1845, at Suffers Fort | was a boy
clerk In the service of that n0ble-hearted,
generous man. John A. Suffer. Shortly
after l was consular secretary at Monte
rey and shortly after that | was the
Youngest officer upon the staff of that
| brave, unselbsh, patriotic man, John c.
Fremont, in his famous battalion, of which
stall am now the sole survivor. Conse-
quentIv l was humble companion of
the noted men of those times. And
now as look upon the faces
around me my gaze fails to meet
the answering look of one of those
who stood by my side in the days of the
conquest; their footsteps have ceased to
echo, their voices are hushed and stilled
forever. and their forms lie shrouded be-
meath AZraePs dark and lev wing, and
feeilng OF awe creeps over me as | realize
the fact that L alone, of all that little band,
am here tonight TO lift my voice in loving
words, in VindicatiOn of their lives. And
1t would be- cGwaTdly and craven in me if
my voice were silent whenever and Wher-
ever their names may be assaulted.
1T is not necessary for me at this hour
to cite special instances or reiterate what
is so we'll and t:uthfulIy set forth in the
preamble and resolutions before us, but it
Is duty TO announce myself living wit
ness TO most of the events alluded to- and
to attest and VOuch for the truthfulness of
every allegation contained in them; and
If there is one duty higher than another
incumbent on this society it is to preserve
and transmit TO posterity truthful history,
and protect and vindicate the characters
of those who made it, and these resolutions
should receive its prompt and emphatic
approval"
Then came the vote. Sore letters had
been received from absent members who
wanted to go on record, but during the
reading the gray-haired veterans were so
inpatient that they could not restrain
| themselves, and while every sentiment
which touched the popular chord Was
cheered to the echo. it was always fol-
lowed by cries OF "Vote!" "votew and
when President Gibbs put the question on
the adoption of the resolutions such storm
OF ayes crested the proposition that there
was no possibility of mistakinG the feeling
which thrilled every member at the oppor-
tunity Of once more testfying TO the noble
characters OF the men who made possible
the California of to-day.
No, the pioneers have not forgotten.