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

Der Of the group looks like a rough
mOuntaineer. He Is clad in skins. His
hair is uncut. But he is one of the i'm
mortnls of his day. He is Marcus
Whitman.
As we stand in the corner Of the
room see q strange scene Tyler and
Webster, the two leaders Of the Amcri-
can government, are being driven bac k
and back from their old positions OF
statecraft by this seemingly untutorcd
man Of the backwoods. Then like
Paul before Agrippa, sec Marcus
Whitman step forward, and hear him
say: "Mr Secretary. you know not
what you are doing. Better, far bet
ter, barter away all the wealth and the
sovereignty ~ the New England states
for n few Newfoundland cod than sur
render TO England the priceless treas
ures Of Oregon and the strategic posi-
ton of the far northwest"
Bah" answered Daniel Webster
with scorn, what is the use Of Ore
gon to the Union? That land is wholly
inaccessible. A wagon road could
never be built across those mountains"
Then. as Richeleu turned upon his
king, l see Whitman turn and hear
him triumphautly say: "Mr. Secretary.
that Is grand mistake that has been
made by listening TO Interested persons.
Six years ago | was told that there
was no wagon road to Oregon, and it
was impossible to take a wagon there,
and yet. in spite of plcndings and al
most threat, I took wagon over that
road, and have 1t now" rs that SOP"
said Webster. Then Oregon must he
saved to the Union" And so | find
in these few words that the devotion
which Marcus Whitman gave To his
wife by compelling the men to carry
his wagon over the Rocky mountains
was one of the mighty means OF help
ing to save Oregon TO the Union. It
proved that the far northwest and the
east were not separated 10y impossible
barriers. And it furthermore proved
that all mems greatest and truest sue
ccsses are always dependent upon their
faithfulness in the common duties Of
ordinary life. Marcus Whitman's love
for his country is today associated with
the pure love which he bore Narcissa
Prentiss The true successes by which
we will be able perhaps TO do some
great act for our country will be de-
pendent upon how we fulfill the little
duties Of everyday domestic existence.
How His Reward Came.
How shall we close this Fourth OF
July eulogy upon a great nation builder
and the savior OF the far northwest?
BY finding him seated in the guhcrna-
torial chair Of Oregon? by finding him
grazing the United States senate. like
Sam Houston. who brought Texas into
The Union? BY finding him the VESTS
.avorite candidate for the presidency
Oh. no. Like Abraham Lincoln, Mar
,us Whitman did n great work for this
Union. Like Abraham Lincoln, God
iook him away to his heavenly reward
rs soon rs that work was done The
indians. whom he came to save, iucit-
I'd to bitterness by the bahled foreign
FRS, killed this noble man and his no.
bic wife. At Wallawnlla their bodies
ic buried. May our lives be devoted,
patriotic lives. as were those Of Marcus
Whitman and Narcissa Whitman. May
DIR deaths like theirs, he heavenly
translation. And may our nciChhOrs.
as did theirs, feel the world is better.
not only because we have lived for orr
country but MISC for our God.
You know the rest In the book you hav
read
That the British were not year ahead
The United States have kept oregon.
Because Of one Marcus Whitman Ho
Rode eight thousand miles and was pna
too late.
In his single hand not q nations fate
Perhaps hut a gift for the nation she
Would hardly part with today. Il No
May believe what the papers say up1n
This great northwest that vas oregon.
END whitman. All. my children. he
And his wife sleep now In 4 martyr :
grave.
Murdered, Murdered, both he and She
BY the Indian souls they went west 20
save.
Such is the ira 1ic story of the LIES
work Of the great nation builder. Mar
us Whitman He was the missionary
If 1886. the Christ ian patriot of 1872,
he martyr Of 1SfI.
Copyright. 1904 by Louis Klopsch.l