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

that western coast for God and the
United States. was an inspired states
mani
Whitman's Brave Enterprise.
But Marcus Whitman bad more than
Inspired vision and opened ears. He
had consecratcd, noble Christian
heart. as we'll as clear brain. He
was a gospel missionary who was
ready, II necessary. TO die IL by his
death he could only accomplish the
work which God had given him to do.
In order to save Oregon for the Union.
In midwinter, alone, he rode straight
across this continent. He dened the
warning elements as we'll as savage
tribes, the terrors Of the SHOWS and
the precipices and colds as we'll as the
Indian tomnhawks.
After the Hudson Bay company
found It was unable to stem back
western immigration 1t took another
course. 1t decided to import its own
loyal English subjects from Canada
ond gradually crowd the Americans 10
the wall. 1t tried to do with the Amer.
leans as the Americans OF the east did
| u
ago Joseph Elliott was the agent Of
the Holland Land company. which
owned nearly all the lumber about the
region Of the western part Of New
York near to Niagara Falls. One day
q famous Indian chief of that time,
Red Jacket by name. met Mr. Elliott
and sat down with him upon log to
talk. In little while Red Jnckct
said, in quiet tone to Joseph Elliott.
Move along, joe" and Mr.. Elliott,
surprised at the request. moved little
along the log. In little while came
the second request Of Move along,
joe" and third request, Move along.
joe" and further request, Move
along, joe" until Mr.. Elliott was at the
end Of the log Then, when the Indian
said Move along. Joe" Mr.. Elliott be-
came angry and answered. why. man,
cannot move along any farther with
out landing in the mud" "Cgh." said
Red Jacket Just so white man in
reference to Indian land. White man
says to Indian. Move along. move
along. move along until white man
pushes Indian off the face of the
earth"
The tactics adopted by the Amer
leans toward the Indians We're imi-
tated by the Hudson Bay company.
1t began settling Oregon with It's own
friends. In the hope that if a treaty
between the United States and Eng
land should be negotiated, leaving the
possession OF the country to be de-
cded by popular vote, the English
settlers would outnumber the Ameri-
cans. Whitman no sooner learned the
nature Of the scheme than he set out,
winter though it was. for Washington
to put the government on its guard and
warn it against negotiating any treaty
by which the position of Oregon would
be affected. That lonely ride from Ore
gon to Washington in the winter of
1912 Is story Of personal intrepdity
and patriotism which ought to be i'm
mortal. Would you and l be willing
to sacrifice for our country and our
God as Marcus Whitman sacrificed
Would you and be willing, If neces-
sary. to give up our all and lay down
our lives in suffering greater than any
soldier ever suffered upon the Amer
lean battlefields?
But. as | take a step further in MY
study Of this remarkable nation build
err l find, as with Marcus Whitman. the
greatest Of men are always the gen
tlest of men. Furthermore. I find that
the seemingly unimportant incidents
u their lives, which they did ont of the
purenoss and nobility OF their hearts,
have sometimes had the most far reach
ing effects in their ultimate triumphs
Not only do we admire Marcus Whit
man as a patriot and hero. but as n
lover and husband. and it is a re-
markable fact that his public success
was in no small degree due to the quail
tiles he displayed in his private lie
DO you ask how the one could con
tribute to the other: l answer by rap
Idly drawing three verbal pictures
Scene the first We are now standing
In the little village church of Pratts
burg, in the ceptrnl part of New York
state 1t Is in the winter of 1896 Feb
ruary is the month. A rather short
heavily built man of reddish hair and
BEARD, with determination marked up
On every limeamest Of his face. is the
bridegroom. nr. Marcus Whitman IS
his name. 4 sweet faced young lady
NarcisSa Prentiss. daughter of Judge
Prcntiss, Is the bride In the presence
Of their village friends the young cou
pie become one The congratulate lions
are spoken. The words OF farewell arc
now said The bride and groom turn
their faces west. and the long bridal
trip of 1000 miles commences
Two Brides In the Party.
Scene the second: We arc now AT the
frontier station of Fort Laramie. or the
Platte river. The little caravan OF
, transcoutinental travellers are here told
that they must unload their wagons
and strap all their goods upon pack
mules and horses. No wagon had over
yet crossed the nountains, and no wag
on could. Up to this year no white
! woman had ever crossed tho continent
/, There were two brides in that party
The one was the young wife or Marcus
Whitman; the other was the bride OF
His missionary associate Rev. Samuel
Parker by name. II tell you that Wag
on cannot go through" / hear one OF
., the rough members of the caravan say
| now SEQ set look upon the face OF