The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-08
MRS. FRANCES FULLER VICTOR
CDR. O. w. Nixon of Chicago"


this statement, as my father was not there or
within $50 miles of there, and did not compel
him to do any such thing. have always under 6r
stood, however. that Mr.. A. did give Dr;
W. a cow worth about $40 or $45 by way OF
gratitude for services rendered"
Now, American COWS at this period were
worth 800 in the Willamette Valley. IL others
paid at an equal rate the mission superln-
tendent was well rewarded for his services.
Apologize said others did pay, ana few per-
sons knowing him would question his word
But Mr.. Eells says his father, who was mem
Der of the mission board, was not there;
Which authority is mistaken cannot pretend
to determine. But that Mr.. Walker, the asso-
ciate of Mr.. Eells' father in the Spokane coun-
try, was there, is certain, as that is on record,
and it may be that Mr.. Applegate's memory IN
cluded the whole board instead OF only Ut.
Whitman, Spalding and Walker. The error Is
immaterial as to the main fact.
Peter Burnett, Ex-Governor of California. In
his 'Recollections of q Pioneer" says that
"What surprised us most, after the representa-
tons that had been made, was the fine pas
turage we met all along the way, and espe-
cially at The Dalles, where we had been led to
believe the cattle could not subsst at all dur
ing the winter" This passage simply corrob-
crates what has been charged by many of the
pioneers-that an effort was made to secure to
the mission the immigrants stock or pay for
the wintering of it. Daniel Waldo, another
good authority, says in his vigorous style
whitman lied like help in telling him his
stock could not subsist on the road to and at
The Dalles. "The first night out found the
finest grass / ever saw, and 1t was good every
night" Several OF the immigrants declare that
DR.. Whitman and his nephew were fed for the
most of the time he was with them out OF the
supplies of several families. When we remem-
Der the value of food on the plains this was no
common debt on his part, and ought to Incline
US to divide the praises due good deeds be-
tween DR.. Whitman and the immigrants.
The main point at issue. however is the mo-
tive which led DR.. Whitman to go East in the
winter of 1912. l have said, and reiterate 1t,
that the causes which led him to make the
journey were the trouble he continually had
nf lab oYNd
teachers and the difficulty of securing them on
account of the fears inspired by their out
breaks. No one except the members OF the
board had ever remained long at the missions,
and when they were in straits they called on
the Hudson Bay Company, which, by threat
ening to withdraw its trade, kept them from
Whitman to have limited number of selected
Christian families settled about him, who
would furnish him the necessary aid on the
farm at the mills and in the schoolroom and
be an example to the Indians, But let us see
what is authoritatively said about that The
following extract from the Missionary Herald
of September, 1S43, furnishes all the facts i'm
portant TO sustain my position, and is by the
editor in the introduction to Whitman's report
TO the Home Board:
at was stated in the last annual report that
the southern branch OF this (Oregon) mission,
embracing Waiilatpu, near Walla Walla, and
Clear Creek (Lapwai), and Kaimah, higher up
the waters OF Snake River, had been discontin-
ued.
"At a special meeting held in October last to
consider this decision it was thought advisable
that DR.. Whitman should personally commu-
nicate the condition and prospects OF these STA
tons to the prudential committee. Alter
long and toisome journey he reached Boston
early in the spring and upon hearing the rep
resentations which he made II was resolved 10
sustain the mission without any material
change.
'Were the prospects of benefting those for
whom it was more especially established even
less than 1t is, there are other considerations
which would justify its continuance Aside
from its influence on the Indians. the emf
grants who are now crossing the Rocky Noun
tains in companies containing sometimes hun
dreds of souls, will be in a most deplorable
condition if they find III their new homes moth
ing better than heathenism or Roman1sm. An
other object OF Dr.. Whitman's in making the
above visit was to procure additional laborers
He desired also to induce Christian families to
emigrate and settle in the vicinity of the diff
ferent stations, that they might relieve the
missionary of his secular responsibilities and
also contribute directly, in various ways, to
the social and moral improvement of the In
dians. How far his wishes in this particular
viii be responded to is at present uncertain.
He set out on his return to his labors about the
LIST of June and probably he has nearly, If not
quite, reached his station"
/ have before me copy of the letter written
20 Hon. Elwood Evans by Archibald McKinlsy
Esq.,, of the Hudson Bay Company, who was in
charge OF Fort Walla Walla when Whitman
went East, and who furnished him the COM
pany's dress and guide. He says OF the
doctors motive, that he is certain OF its real
object. he tOiO me tnaL ne cOHlO NOT Dear
the idea of abandoning the Lapwai station.
My opinion on the subject was solicited, which
gave in writing, but have not copy OF my
remarks. l remember, however, deprecating
the proposed action of the board, and in
various conversations with the doctor
strongly commended his resolve in going East
in order to have personal interview with the
head members OF the board. How does this
testimony agree with the statement that Dr..
Whitman's sole purpose In going East was to
arrange an International treaty on his own
lines?
The "opinion" which Mr.. McKinlay was
asked to furnish in order to strengthen Whit
mans cause with the board was in the form of
q letter to Dr.. Greene, secretary of the Home
Missionary Board, copy of the answer to
which is before me. Let make few eX-
tracts to show its nature:
MISSIONARY HOUSE, BOSTON, April IL, 1914.
ArchfbdLd cRinJdy, Ut1a WdtIn, Orego's-DEAR
SIR: Your friendly letter TO Mr.. Spalding OF the
9th December, 1912, has been forwarded TO me
by him. that may be furnished with the views
you entertain OF him missionary laborer, and
his in teaching and improving the Indians.
Letters from other gentlemen residing in Oregon
country and presumably acquainted with the
! labors and success OF Mr.. Spadfng, we are happy
| TO say, accord with the views expressed by your
| self. When Dr. Whitman arrived here in March,
| 1843, he made such representations as led the
| committee p Here owing to the worn condi-
ton of the paper on which the letter was written
some lines were missing.I The mission have
| confirmed the board in the decision they then
made. We were led to the previous purpose of
| disseminating some of the labors and having Mr..
Spalding return the States, by some Responding
letters which we received from the mission in a
| time of disappointment, and when there were
some unhappy dsagreementS among of
| those then connected with the mission. .
| TThe remainder of the letter refers to commits
| sion 10 purchase some books, which DR.. Whitman
had left for the writer to attend to- and which he
promises send by the first vessel leaving for the
| Sandwich Islands, whence the Hudson Bay Com
| pany's vessel would bring them to the Columbia
River This letter is signed, Very respectfully
and truly yours, d. GREENE,
Secretary A. 2. G. F. M"
| Referring to the story of the Red River
| settlers, and the statement that Sir George
| Simpson went to Washington, ct cetera, in g
! letter somewhat later than the one from McKin-
| lay to Evans above quoted, McKinlay again
writes: fWho will believe that the American
! Government were so ignorant of the country
| lying between the Missouri and the Columbia
| that they had to get their information from the
| English? l have already shown you
| that there existed not the slightest foundation
| for these statements. They are utterly false
| and void of truth as anything ever concocted
| even by the Prince of Darkness himself"
And further he says: al believe Whitman's
assistance to the immigration of 1843 was
| much appreciated, but do not believe that he
had any part in forming. or organizing the
party Whitman in 1913 counseIed
the immigrants of 1S43 Il did the same not to
attempt taking their wagons to The Dalles. 1t
| was thought impossible to do SO, but few of
| them made the attempt and succeeded.
/ Neither Whitman or l knew anything back
| from the banks of the Columbia, hence our
/ opinion that it would be unwise to make the
| attempt without first exploring to find the Law