The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-05-17
MRS. JESSIE BENTON FREMONT AND HER NURSE.

4 basin. penetrated the region around tn,
CoIumbia's upper tributaries. marched
down the Pacific coast into California
then Mexican territory. retraced his
way north and east through a gap in
the Sierra Nevadas never penetrated
oy white men before that time, made
another investigation of Salt Lakes
surroundings. and then. swinging east
ward. was back in st. Louis in mid
summer OF 1874. This was the eXpedi-
ton which made Fremont's reputation
all over the world. and reflected on the
government at Washington. which had
tried oprevent the expedition. a credit
which that government took especial
pains tn appropriate.
This expedition had two sorts of po-
liticai consequences of decisive infiu-
ence on the country's history. Ere
mont's report. published In 1Si5. sent
Brigham Young and the Mormons TO
salt Lake. then Mexican territory.
which came TO the United States in the
treaty OF Guadalupe Hidaigo in lS4S.
the end OF the Mexican war and divert
ed them from Lower California, where
they originally intended to locate. and
which remained in MeXico'S hands att
err the treaty and ever since. a still
more important consequence was that
IL gave Fremont knowledge of the
strategic points in California. which he
turned 10 decisive account on his
third expedition. in 1916. when he
struck the first blow i'm the war which
made California and New Mexico Unit
ed States territory. He became one of
Californias first Senators when that
State entered the Union in 1850.
Fremonts youth Che was only AZ at
the time). resourcefulness. and audaci-
~. embodying at once the manifest
destiny" aspiration and the Young
America" ideals. gained him in 1856 the
Presidential nomination of the new Re
publican party. composed largely OF
young. courageous. and enthusiastic
men. His relationship by marriage to
the great Missouri statesman also aid
ed him toward the candidacy. through
the hope which IL furnished the Repub-
licnn leaders that their party might
gain a foothold in slave territory. Ere
mont lost. but IL his party had carried
Pennsylvania and Illinois. which il ex-
pected to win, and which it did win
four years later. he would have been
elected. Fremont died in 1890. For
years past Mrs. Fremont has resided
in Los Angeles. and her home has been
u Mecca for persons travelling through
that locality. one of her distinguished
visitors Of 1901 was President McKin-
on his tour through California.
In 1868. lands belonging to Mrs. Free
mont. in the harbor of San Francisco.
were seized for military purposes by
order OF Secretary of War Stanton, and
though lands adjoining hers which
were taken at the same time were aft
erward restored to the owners. hers
have been held. and not a cent has
been paid her therefor by the govern
ment. Various committees of Congress
in the past third OF a century have in
vestigated her claim, and have report
ed favorably on ii. but no action has
yet been taken. A bill to compensate
her for this property is now before
Congress. and as she Is needy, as well
As in feeble health, there are special
reasons why this long-delayed measure
n Justice should be rendered her
Charles NJ. Harvey.