Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-07-07

white mans God had died. When the
two younger braves were about to de-
part for their own fnraway wigwams,
one Of them in Indian eloquence spake
these words, which were published in
the little frontier paper Of that time:
II came to you over the trail of many
moons from the setting sun You were
the friends Of my fathers. who have
all gone the long way. came with
an eye partly opened for more light
for my people, who sit in darkness
80 back With both eyes closed. How
can go back blind to my blind people
who sit in darkness? I made my way
to you with strong arms through many
enemies and strange lands that might
carry back much to them. I go back
with both arms broken and empty.
My people sent me to get the white
mans book Of heaven. You took me
where you allow your women to dance
rs we do not ours. and the book was
not there. You took me where they
worship the Great Spirit with candles
and the book was not there. You
showed me the images Of the Good
Spirit and pictures of the good land
beyond, but the book was not among
them to tell us the way. I am going
back the long sad trail to my people
Of the dark land. You make my feet
heavy With gifts, and my moccosins
will grow old in carrying them. yet the
book Is not among them. When I tell
my poor blind people after one more
moon In the big council that I did not
bring the book no word will be spoken
by our old men or by our young braves.
One by one they will rise up and so
out in silence. My people will die IN
the darkness, and they will go on the
long path to other hunting grounds.
No white man will go with them and
no white mans book to make the way
plain I have no more words"
whitmnn's Response TO the Call.
1t was the publication of these words,
copied In the eastern papers, that made
Marcus Whitman heed the COLL Of the
Nez Perces Indians; it was the publ
cation Of these words that nerved
Whitman to consecrate all his life to
giving the Flathead Indians the white
mans Book Of Life" 1t was that re-
solve to 20 in the name of Christ to
the far northwest which made it posi-
bic for Marcus Whitman to save Ore
gon to the Union.
Marcus Whitman did not so to the
banks Of tn" Columbia to save Oregon
for the Union. He went 70 the north
west to save the red men for Christ.
When God calls us to one sphere of
work he will always open for us other
spheres Of labor if we will only obey
his first call, which says: Come.
Come. Come now
But Marcus Whitman was states
man as well as humble gospel mis-
sonary Like Livingstone in Africa,
be saw how much could be done in
that land by the resources of civiliza-
ton. His prophetic gaze travelled on
through the centuries. and he longed
20 have that fair region under Christian
influences and prospecting under the
white mans skill and industry. He
could hear the tramp Of the oncoming
genera tions, as well as the creaking
Of cart wheels by his side. There
fore, when Marcus Whitman, on the
famous Fourth Of July, 1896. with his
young bride, spread the blankets upon
the top OF the Rocky mountains, with
Mount Hood and Mount jefferson
standing afar off as guarding scntincls,
and dedicated that western soil OF God
and his native land. Ike Paul, he was
surrounded by great cloud OF wit
nesses. In inspired vision he could
see the farmers OF 1904 planting their
seeds in those valleys. He could see
those mighty forests changed into
homes and factories and stores and
libraries aud schools and churches
He could hear the singing Of the NOW
Ing ma chimes and see the white winged
ships like great sea gulls floating II
those harbors. And az Columbus tool
possession of the new world in the
names Of Ferdinand and Isabella. who
fitted out his small fleet, Marcus Whit
man dedicated this western soil to his
two masters - to his God and to the
United States government.
Fought by Greed and SelGshEess.
He dedicated this western soil II
spite of the fact that all could be
said to discourage settlers had beer
said in calumnious disparagement. The
Hudson Fay company wanted it lef'
In the undisturbed possession OF thu
wild animals whose skins they were
turning into gold. They wanted it fol
perpetual hunting ground. Therefore
they declared II to be land barred by
impossible ranges of mountains, lant
Of undrn Unable morasses. pestilentia
and mnlarisl. unfit for the residence o
: white men, a lind given up to barba
: rism and Indian savagery. So persist
ent were the falsehoods disseminated
: by these greedy, selfish capitalists tina
before Marcus Whitman's advent Ore
! gon had been lying like the capstonc o
the Jcr,lsn lem temple which the build
, prs rejected. hut which aftcrward be
r fame the chief of the corner All TIT
national statesmen, both trans and els
( Atlantic. cared no more for 1t than
pearl diver would care TO carry arount
= with him a cobblcstone, or n damon,
] merchant would care to preserve al
= ordinary pebble among his precious
r Jewels.
r Why, so useless was this Oregon
Q region considered in 1912 that DAME
r Webster. then premier of Presiden
e Tylers cabinet, was willing to barte