Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1895-12-06

altered my opinion In the matter. Am
erican interests acquired In the coun-
try, which the success OF the immigra-
ton of 1913 alone did ana could have
secured, have become the foundation
OF the late treaty June Is, 1S46) between
England and the United States in re-
gard to Oregon; for 1t may be easily
seen what would have become of Amer
lean interests In this country had the
results of that immigration been as
disastrous as aave been the two at
tempts In 1S45 and 1S46 to alter the
route then followed. Any one may see
that American interests. as now acquir-
ed, have had more to do In securing
the treaty than our original rights.
From 1885 till now 1t has been apparent
that there was a choice only of two
things: The increase OF British inter-
ests to the exclusion of all other rights
In the country, or the establishment of
American interests by citizens ION
the ground). In the fall of 1912 I point
ed out to our mission the arangements
or the papists to settle here. which
might oblige us to retire. This was
urged as q reason why should return
home and try to bring out men to car
~ on (the secular work. of the mission
airy stations, and (others) to settle In
the country on the footing OF citizens.
and not as missionaries, You will please
receive this as an explanation of many
OF my measures and much of my pol
ICY"
WHITMAN INDUCED THEM.
Twelve years ago Rev. Myron Eells,
OF Union City. wash, wrote to IA per-
sons who came in 1843, asking who in
duced them to start to Oregon. Jesse
and Lindsay Apologize, A. Hill, Mr..
Matheny, ]. w. Nesmith. J. B. McClane,
j.. G. Baker, ]. M. Shively, w. J. Dough-
erty, replied that they were not induced
to come by Whitman. s. n. Gilmore,
while not being induced to come by
whitman, says he Is "sure that many
came who otherwise would not, had 1t
not been known that Whitman would
be with them" William Waldo. Mrs.
c. b. Carey, John Zachary. John Hob
son, and they speak of others, We're in
duced to come by Whitman through
pamphlets and newspaper articles. Ma
than Eaton, Charles Eaton, A. j. Hem
bree. as the writer knows, say the same
was true Of them. w. G.. Buffum, of
Amity, who came in 1845, would have
been with the 1913 immigrants but for
business reasons. An article by Whit
man caused him 20 make the decision.
II the truth could be known, 1t is reas-
onably certain that one-half to two
thirds of the 1913 immigration could
be traced directly or Indirectly to Whit
mans influence. 1t has been said that
Whitman made no claim of that kind
for himself.
Letters from here have recently come
to light wherein he does assert such
claim very distinctly. In this con-
nection 1t il interesting to note that
the only accurate knowledge concern
Ing the number of persons who crossed
the plains in 1S43 is obtained from DR..
Whitman's letter to the secretary of
war soon after he returned to Oregon.
He says: 81 have been instrumental
in plotting across the plains no less than
= families, consisting of 1000 persons
of both sexes, with their wagons.
amounting in all to more than 100, 694
oxen and IT'S loose cattle" On March 81,
1850. the Oregon Spectator contains an
extract from a letter published in
Sandwich islands from Rev. s. c. Dam
on. who visited Oregon in 1S43, which
says: "In the summer of 18l3, 121
American wagons, drawn by 296 horses,
sos oxen, with 973 loose cattle, and 1000
immigrants, 65S males and 442 females,
came across the plains to Oregon. AID
the previous settlers In Willamette val
ley numbered about 400" These dis.
crepancies are doubtless due to typo
graphical errors.
OREGON WAS IN PERIL.
Fourth-"As to the Webster-Ashbur-
ton treaty" Much 10 made of the fact
this treaty was signed in August, be-
fore Whitman left home, and that,
therefore, there was no danger of los
ing Oregon" The fact II, that treaty
had nothing to do with the boundary
question farther west than the Rocky
mountains. The danger of losing Ore
gon thereafter was as great as 1t ever
had been; and any candid person who
reads carefully the debates In congress
through the years 1S42-1S46. must ire
sistibly arrive at that conclusion.
Fifth-Much has been said about
Webster trading off Oregon for Goldfish
ing privileges in Newfoundland. 1t Is
true public record can be found to sup
port the position. He did this, however,
in 1916, in defense Of his part in the
Ashburton treaty, when the value of
Oregon was far better known than In
1912. Now, what is this river st. John?
We have heard a vast deal lately of
the value and Importance of the river
Columbia and its navigation; but will
undertake to say that for all the pur-
poses of human use the st. John is
worth 100 times as much as the Column
bia is or ever will be. In point Of mag
nitude it is one of the most respectable
rivers on the eastern side of America
Having uttered such language 1t is not
unreasonable to suppose that he may
have said the other. at least in private
conversation. The story could not well
have been originated without some
1t is pleasant to reflect
that he lived to change his mind, as the
reference to him by DR.. Field would
indicate.
BEER SERVED HOT thUM THE VAT