New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-11

NJ the F1athead tribe Of Indians No members
OF that tribe had been seen there before.
Their visit was a wonder In itself But the won
der grew when the object Of their journey was
ascertained. They had no desire to trade: they
had not come for the white mans frewater.
They had heard Of the white mans religion and,
above all. Of a sacred book to the possession Of
which he was indebted for all his prosperity. To
- these things. to carry back the wonder
full book and to persuade a teacher to go and live
with them were the objects OF their pilgrimage
which, as they truly said. had lasted many
moons. II is asserted that while they witnessed
all the gayetes Of the frontier capital and the
services of the Catholic churches. they were sent
back without the Book. Two. indeed, died in st.
Louis and third on the way home. so that only
one was left to face his disappointed fellow
tribesmen This tale is so unusual that it long
ago took on the hue Of legend and Is still open to
doubt. But there is no doubt that It was told
and believed at the time. that it was reiterated
in the press and by word Of mouth until 1t be-
,ame familiar to everybody.
A wave Of missionary enthusiasm swept over
the churches II is needless to go into the par
ticulars of the movement. II carried Marcus
Whitman to Oregon. and that is enough for the
present purpose. He had no sooner arrived than
he began to see that whatever became Of the
Indians the country itself must become that Of
the white man. and his hopes gradually centred
on the one thought OF making 1t home for his
own people. Neither he nor his colleagues neg
lected work among the savages. Few I'M
grateful ones among them repaid his care by as
sassinating him and his wife. But years after
ward. as DR.. Nixon attests. the devout tribesmen
kept up religious services, sang the hymns which
they had been taught. and listened reverently to
the reading OF the Gospel according to Matthew.
which had been translated into their language.
They had the Book at last.
In 1912 the crisis was felt to be at hand. In
that year 1870 American settlers found their way
to the mission which Whitman had built up.
The employees Of the Hudsons Bay Company
saw that the country could no longer be held as a
mere hunting ground They bestirred themselves
and soon had a troop Of English immigrants on
the way to Oregon. 1t was the knowledge of this
fact and the feeling that the population of the
country would decide it's fate which aroused
whitman to action. The course he was impelled
70 take seemed to be adverse to the duty which
ne had promised the American Board to perform
His fellow missionaries complained bitterly, ana
tradition has 1t that he was sharply reprimanded
when he faced the Board in its own headquar-
ters But he interpreted his duty in his own
way He braved the winter peris of mountain
and plain with but one companion, General Amos
L. Lovejoy. and such guides az he could obtain,
and after hardships innumerabe. dropped
among the politicians Of Washington like bolt
from the blue. 1t was well that he had crossed
the continent twice. for in spite of their SURPRISE
they had all customary objections on the tips or
their tongues When they said the country was
worthless. he gave them a revelation When
they objected that nobody could drive wagon
over the mountains he replied that he had done
this very thing though he did not say that ne
had turned his wagon into I two-wheeed cart
and had carried the superluous wheels on the
load When they intlmated that he could not
get any settlers to go with him, he said; we
shall see" In his dress Of skins. a downright
frontiersman he won the heart OF President ~
Ter and senced the objections OF the cautious
Webster then Secretary Of State Best OF ALL
with the aid OF General Lovejoy and the general
interest awakened along the border, he found
thousand emigrants ready for the road as soon
az the weather settled in. the spr'ng OF lS43. IL
was the descent OF these eager coonists thar
settled the Oregon question. AS to the talk OF
war and the clustering party cry. "Fifty-four
forty or fight" is not the .ame Of these things
blazoned on the pages OF every poiuca' h's'oiS
- the Nation? Dr. Nixon himself has much to
tell that is only remotely connected with WHIT
mans adventures and patriotic services; for ex-
annie a depression on the history of whitman
College which is growing ur in sight or WHIT
mans grave on land that he titled. But whit
man and his well-timed visit to Washington are
tho themes for which readers will seek his DOCK