Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1904-07-08

cided by popular vote. the English
settlers would outnumber the Amerl-
cans. Whitman no sooner learned the
nature OF the scheme than he set out.
winter though II was. for Washington
10 put the government on It's guard and
warn II 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
1872 is story OF personal intrepidity
and patriotism which ought 10 be im-
mortal Would you and be willing
to sacrifice for our country and our
God rs Marcus whitman SACRIFICED
Would you and be willing, in neces-
sary. to give up our al! and lay down
our lives in suffering greater than any
soldier ever suffered upon the Amer.
lean battleficldsi
But, as ] take 4 step further I'm nv
study or this remarkable nation build
err. find. AK with Marcus Whitman. the
greatest OF men are always the gen
test Of men. Furthermore. find that
the seemingly unhnportant incidents
or then lives, which they did out of the
purenesS and nobility of their hearts
have sometimes had tie most far reach.
ing effects In their ultimate trIumphs.
Not Gully 60 we ai,.n.rp Marcus Whit.
man rs patriot and Il hero. but as n
lover and n husband. und 4 Is re-
markaLlc fact taat his public success
was in nO small degree due 10 the quail
tiles lac displayed in his private life
DO YOU ask how the one could con.
tFibuif IL tn Glher: answer by ran.
idly drawing three verbal pictures
Scene tho first: We are now stanliHs
In the little village church OF l'intts
burg. In the central part of New York
state. II Is in the winter Of 1920: Feb.
ruary Is the month. 4 rather short
heavily built man OF reddish hair and
beard. with determination marked up.
on every lineament OF his face, Is the
bridegroom DR.. Marcus Whitman Is
his maine. \ sweet faced young lady.
NRrcissa PrentIss, daughter of Judge
Prentlss. Is the bride. In the presence
OF their village friends the young cou-
pie become one. The congratulations
are spoken. The words OF farewell are
now said. The bride and groom turn
their faces west. and the long bridal
trip Of,3.OO0 miles commences.
Two Brides Tn the Party.
Scene the second: We are now at the
frontier station OF Fort Laramie. Of the
Platte river. The little caravan Of
transcontinental 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 to 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 by name. Il tell you that wag-
on cannot so through" I hear one of
the rough members OF the caravan say.
] now see a set look upon the face OF
DIR. Whitman. His jaws snap shut
with the grip or steel trap. Then u
CLINT comes into his eye as he says:
But 1 tell you that wagon will go
through. These ladies, my wife and.
Mrs. Parker, must not be compelled
n
muttered oath comes from the lips of
the rough man at the fort rs be SAYS:
"All right. We will try TO pull 10
through" And pull and push and lift
that wagon through those men did.
They dragged IL over the mountains
and across the prairIes 20 tighten the
journey OF two young women who as
brides accompanied their husbands to
faron missionary fields.
Scene the third: II is the year 1S43.
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 or frame. The second member
OF this notable group has huge. mass
i've body. leonine face. He Is one
with looks expressive OF the descrip-
ton given by famous English jurist:
HE Is the most magnificent physical
as we'll as mental specimen OF his day
and generation" He is the qucstioner.
He is Daniel Webster. The third men,
Der OF the group looks like rough
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 in the corner of the
room / see strange scene. Tyler and
Webster. the two leaders OF the Ameri-
can government. are being driven back
and back from their old positions of
statecraft by this seemingly untutored
man OF the backwoods. Then like
Paul before Agrlppa, see Marcus
step forward, and hear him |
say: Mr.. Secretary. you know not
what you are doing. Better, fur bet
ter. barter away all the wealth and the
sovereignty or the New England states
for few Newfoundland cod than sur
render TO England the priceless treas
ures or 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 Onion? That land Is wholly
inaccessible. A wagon road could |
never be built across those mountains"
Then. as Richelieu turned upon his |
king. see Whitman turn and hear |
him triumphantly say: Mr. Secretary,
that Is grand mistake that has been |
made by listening to interested persons. |
Six years ago I was told that there
was no wagon road TO Oregon. and IL |
was impossible TO take wagon there. |
and yet. In spite or pleadings and al |
most threat, ! took wagon over that |
road. and have IL now" lis that SOP
said Webster. Then Oregon must be |
saved 10 the Union" And SO | And |
IA these few words that the devotion |
which Marcus Whitman gave to his
Wife by compelling the men to carry
Ills wagon over the Rocky mountains
MAS one OF the mighty means of help
ng TO save Oregon TO the Union. 1t
proved that the far northwest and the
east were not separated by impossible
And Ii furthermore proved |
hat all mems greatest and tIuest sue
,esses are always dependent upon their
In the common duties of
ordinary life. Marcus Whitman's loveI
for his country Is today associated with
he pure love which he bore Narcisso |