Mexico Missouri message., 1903-06-04
Reclain1edA An Empire.

hbhc 10 CONCERNING mdu WIN
deserves more honor than his
countrymen have ever accorded
him. It is the case of DR.. Marcus
Whitman, the missionary, who
saved Oregon for America, which
originally constituted all that
country west of the Rocky Noun
tsins and north of the And paral-
lei of latitude. The student of
American history has been i'm
pressed with the undertakings Of
Whitman, but that is about as far
as the recognition of his worth has
gone as yet. Future generations
will do better. as will be learned
farther on in this article.
Whitman was born in New York
state in 1902. He had thoro re-
ligious training in his youth; took
to the study of medicine at the
close of his school work and re-
solved to become'a doctor. Indi-
rectly from speech made by an
Indian chief in st. Louis he was
persuaded to enlist in missionary
work among the Indians in the
West. In 1885 he joined one Rev.
Samuel Parker on a trip to Ore
gon. When they reached Green
River, in Wyoming, Whitman
turned back for re-enfOrcements
while Parker went on to seek out
locations for the beginning of their
work.
DIR. Whitman was married on
his return to his eastern home and
returning west brought his young
wife with him. They were accom-
panied by a Reverend Spaulding
and his young bride, and it is said
that these two ladies were the first
white women to cross the Rocky
Mopntaips, The party on crossing
over the great divide Of the Rock
ies'halted on the way, planted the
American flag, and with Bible
reading and prayers, claimed the
country for Christ and the church.
That was very much like a young
peoples meeting or Christian En-
deavor or Epworth League devo-
tionNl meeting of these later times.
A settlement was made at some
distance from Walla Walla, Wash.
Mrs. Whitman began work among
the Indian children while DR..
Whitman spent his time looking
after the souls and bodily health
of the larger Indian populace. On
one occasion in 1912 he was called
ito Walla Walla to see patient
and while there news came that a
British colony had crossed over
land were planning to settle on the
4 Columbia River. The news brought
Joy to the Walla Walla people all
of whom were English. DIR. Whit
man declared within himself that
the authorities at Washington
should know these things-that
the British were intending to take
the country; he remembered the
Louisiana Purchase which we are
to celebrate at st. Louis next year
Within twenty-four hours after
his visit to Walla Walla he had
started on his way on horseback
for Washington City. In a few
months he had completed the jour-
ney. Thegreat Daniel Webster
: was secretary of state just at this
time and thinking Oregon and all
thatterritory worthless, was consid-
ering the advisability of trading lit
for valuable concessions in New
foundland cod fisheries DR.. Whit
man plead earnestly with Congress
aud his pertinacity soon brought
conviction, He offered to lead a
colony to the new country, and he
was urged to proceed. Missouri
ans had hand in helping himi at
Westport, Mo-, compuny Of oy-
er eighs hundred men and women
gathered, with over one hundred
wagons, and the westward journey
was begun. Under the guidance
of DR.. Whitman the party reached
I, Oregon safely and they BECAME