Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1904-07-09


the American sailors Ia fish for cod off
the banks of Newfoundland 4 few
years before this I, prove his utter
ignorance of the intrinsic value of this
land of the northwest. Daniel Webster,
then the most powerful member of the
United States senate uncontroverted
by Clay and Calhoun and Benton. made
this astounding speech: What do we
want with this vast, worthless area.
this region of savage; and wild beasts
of deserts, of shifting sands and
prairie dogs? To what use could we
ever hope To put thcs" great deserts. or
these great mountain ranges. impene-
trable and covered Ia their base with
eternal SHOWS? What can we ever
hope To 10 with the western coast OF
5000 miles. rock bound. checrless and
embarrassing. and not Il harbor on II?
What use have we for such Il country?
Mr.. President. l will never vote a cent
from the public trea sury to place the
Pacific coast one inch nearer Boston
than it is now" All. me. Am going
beyond my right in declaring that Mar
Gus Whitman. kneelii < upon the top of
The Rocky mountains on the Fourth
Of July. 1876 and taking possession of
that western coast 'or God and the
United States. was an inspired states
man:
Whjtmnn's Brave Enterprise.
But Marcus Whitman had more than
inspired vision and opened ears. He
had consccratcd, noble Christian
heart. as well as clear brain. He
was gospel miss onary who was
ready. If necessary. TO die If 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 defied the
warming elements a. well as savage
tribes, the tcrrors of the SHOWS and
the prccipiccs and colds as well as the
Indian tomahawks.
After the Hudson Bay company
found il was unable TO stem back
western immigration II took another
course. II decided to import its own
loyal English subjects from Canada
and gradually crowd the Americans to
the wall. II tried TO 90 with the Amer
leans as the Americans of the east did
with the Indians. About century
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
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 Jacket
said in quiet tone. to Joseph Elliott.
Move along. Joe" and Mr. Elliott,
surprised nj the requ st. moved little
along the log. In little while came
the second request of Move along.
Joe" and II third req lest. "Move along,
Joe" and a further request. Move
along. Joe" until Mr.. Elliott was nj the
end of the log. Thei when the Indian
said Move along. joe" Mr.. Elliott be-
came angry and answered: why. man.
l cannot move along any farther with
out landing in the mud" "Ugh." 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 were imi-
tatcd by the Hudson Bay company
IL began settling Oregon with its own
friends. in the hope that il treaty
between the United States and Eng
land should he nego lated. leaving the
possession of the country TO he de-
cided by popular "otc. the English
settlers would outnImber the Ameri-
cans Whitman no sooner learned the
nature Of the scheme than he set out
winter though il was. for Washington
TO put the government on its guard and
warn IL against ncgt tiating any treaty
by which the pOsitiol of Oregon would
he affected. That lonely ride from Ore
gen Ia Washington in the winter of
1872 Is II story of personal intrepidity
and patriotism which ought To he i'm
mortal Would you and | be willing
TO sacrifice for our country ana our
God as Marcus Whitman sacrificed?
Nouiu you WIilltE. IL IltfpS-
sary. To give up our all and lay down
our lives in suffering. greater than any
soldier ever suffered upon the Amer
lean battleiiclds:
But. as | take Il step further i'm my
study of this remark able nation build
er. | find as with Marcus Whitman. the
greatest of men are always the gen
TEST of men. Furthermore. I find that
the seemingly unin portant incidents
of their lives. which hey did out Of the
pureness and nobility of their hearts.
have sometimes had he most far reach
ing effects In their ultimate triumphs.
Not only do we admire Marcus Whit
man as II patriot AMI hero. but as Il
lover and a husband. and il is re-
markable fact that his public success
was in no small dcgr 80 due 10 the quail
tiles he displayed in his private life.
Do you ask how tie one could con-
tribute Ia the other: l answer by rap
idly DRAWN. three verbal pictures.
Scpnp the first. W. nra nnyv Stnu,iiny