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

Platte river. The little caravan OF
tranScontincntal travellers are here told
that they must unload their wagons
and strap all their goods upon pack
mules and horses. No wagon had ever
yet crossed the mountains. and no wag-
on could. Up tn this year no white
woman had ever crossed the continent.
There were two brides in that party.
The one was the young wife of Marcus
Whitman: the other was the bride of
his missionary associate. Rev. Samuel
Parker 10y name. Il tell you that wag
on cannot 20 through" hear one of
the rough members of the caravan say.
! now see Il set look upon the face of
Dr. Whitman. His jaws snap shut
with the grip of steel trap. Then II
CLINT comes into his eye as he says:
but | tell you that wagon will go
through. These ladies. my wife and
Mrs. Parker. must not he compelled
to ride horseback all that way" y
muttercd oath comes from the lips OF
the rough man ut the fort as he says:
"All right. We will try To pull ii
through" And pull and push and lift
that wagon through those men did.
They dragged it over the mountains
and across the prairies To tighten the
journey of two young women who as
brides accompanied their husbands to
faroff missionary fields.
Scene the third: 1t Is the year 1919.
We are now standing in the White
House of our national capital. The
president of the United States Is John
Tyler He Is smooth faced. tall and
spare of frame. The second member
of this notable group has II huge. mass-
i've body. u lconinc face. He is one
with looks expressive of the descrip-
ton given by famous English jurist:
"He is the most magnificent physical
as well as mental specimen of his day
and generation lie il the lucstioner.
He is Daniel Webster. The third MEN,
Der of the group looks like n rough
mountaincer He is clad in skins. His
hair is uncut But he is one of the i'm
mortals of his day. He is Marcus
Whitman.
As we stand i'm the corner of the
room | see Il strange scene. Tyler and
Webster the two leaders of the Ameri-
can government. are being driven back
and back from their old positions of
statccraft by this seemingly untutorcd
man of the backwoods Then. like
Paul before Agrippa. see Marcus
Whitman step forward. and hear him
say: MIR. Secretary. you know not
what you are doing Better far bet
ter. barter away all the wealth and the
sovereignty of the New England states
for few Newfoundland cod than sur
render To England the priceless treas
urcs 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. \ wagon road could
never be built across those mountains"
Then. as Richclieu turned upon his
king. I see Whitman turn and hear
him triumphantly say: MIR. Secretary.
that is II grand mistake that has been
made 10y listening To interested persons.
Six years ago | was told that there
was no wagon road TO Oregon. and II
was impossible To take u wagon there.
and yet. in spite of pleadings and al
most threat. took wagon over that
road. and have IL now" lis that sop
said Webster. Then Oregon must be
saved TO the I'nion'' 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. Ii
proved that the far northwest and the
east were not separated by impossible
barriers. And il furthermore proved
that all mems greatest and truest sue
cesscs 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 lie boye Narcissa
Prentiss The true successes by which
we will he able perhaps 10 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 culoSy upon great nation builder
and the savior OF the far northwest?
BY finding him seated in the guberna-
torial chair of Oregon: by finding him
gracing the United States senate. like
Sam Houston. who brought Texas into
the Union: by finding him the VESTS
favorite candidate for the presidency:
oh. no. Like Abraham Lincoln. Mar
Gus Whitman did Il great work for this
Union. Like Abraham Lincoln. God
took him away TO his heavenly reward
rs soon as that work was done. The
Indians. whom he came To save. incit-
cd TO bitterness by the batilcd foreign
crs. killed this noble man and his no
BILE wife. At Wallawalla their bodies
lie buried. May our lives he devoted.
patriotic lives. as were those of Marcus
Whitman and \arcissa Whitman. May
our deaths like theirs. be Il heavenly