New-York tribune., 1901-08-04
MARCUS WHITMAN.
A MISSIONARY IN THE OREGON OF
EARLIER DAYS

MARCUS 81 WIIITAAN AND THE EARLY DAYS
rae 4 &c. Octave. PIP, ~ 81 SILVER HaTle''
Dr MoWry's book is an exposition e the part
played 10y Marcus Whitman and his fellow mis-
siorar1es in the exciting contest that finally re
suited IN winning oregon for the United States
IN the midst of the contendiag claims of Ameri-
can and British explorers. IN which the great
Hudson's Bay Company took an active part. the
fat stands out that the beginnings Of ciyiliza-
tilu upon the oregon coast were due u mission
ary spirit ard enterprise and this spirit and
enterprise were aroused - The Indians them
selves. DR.. NoWry tells how The passage Of the
Lewis and Clark party through the Nez Perez
and Flathead Indian country left q tran Of
stories about tn white men for generation
aft=rUard:
II happened that in some way The Indians Sc
cured from them a tai silk hat and for twenty
thirty years that hat 10 the Indians a
symbol Of the white men Il was a great trophy
for any one who could obtain possession Of it,
That old silk hat Was the occasion II many
story being told of what happened when the
Whits men went through their country.
These stories were concerned with the Won
GerfuI power e the White mems straight iron
rods that could thunder and send out Ighnings.
and also # the.r Book from Heaven" which
told them how L. live and how 20 reach the
delegation of four men was sent across the con
tinent by the Indians t. inquire about this book
and TO ask aid from The palefaces. It was as a
direct result Il This remarkable expedition tha-
The oregon missions were dispatched. Marcus
Whitman was SEPT with The Rev Samuel Parker
in 1874, by The American Board, 10 sly out the
land
i j. interesting TO note in Mr Parker's ac-
count Of his journey published in 1873, a pas
sage renarkIns upon the feasibility Of con
stIIct.ng q railroad from the Atlantic 10 the Pa
c.1e ocean" ana predicting that -'lhe time may
TOT De- far distant when tiips VIII BE- made across
tLe continent they have been made 10 Niagara
Falls, 10 see Mature wonders
It fen out that Or. Whitman was sent as a
missionary. with his wife. The WhItmans SET
tied al WaUlatpu. near Walla WaIla among the
Nez Perces and their wd,k was for civilization.
The Hudsons Bay Company's influence was al
ways against civilization; il needed a wilderness
for its supplies of turz. Sir George Simpson and
Others at its head ndus,riously circulated re-
ports of the irnpassability of the mountains de
signing 10 keep cut the immigration that would
Otherwise D. sure 10 set that way. Dr. Whit
man labored not only on behalf Of the Indians
salvation; he lad also a Watchful eye on his
country interests. He fot1saw the future. and
be. anne satisfied, in Or MoWrys words. that
the Oregon region would be lost 10 The United
States unless American settlers could be brought
over in such numbers clearly TO outvote the
British subjects" IN the winter of 1S42-'43 he
made his famous overland journey 10 the East
Its objects and results have been the subject Of
a considerable controversy, IL is Or. MOWry's
purpose 10 show that the representations he
made 10 Congress. to Webster and 10 President
Tyler were decisive in establishing the govern
nents policy 10 retain possession Of Oregon;
and that n melted the great overland emigra-
ton Of the following year that strengthened the