The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1910-02-05

My chief, Mr.. Calhoun, did not
die until some six years after that
first evening when DR.. Ward and l
had our talk with him. He was
said to have died of a disease of
the lungs, yet here again history is
curiously mistaken. Mr.. Calhoun
slept himself away. | sometimes
think with a shudder that perhaps
this was the revenge which Ne
mesis took of him for his mis-
takes. His last days were dream
like in their passing. His last
speech in the senate was read by
a friend, as DR.. Ward had advised
him. Some said afterwards that
his illness was that accursed
sleeping sickness imported from
Africa with these same slaves. 1t
were a strong thing had John Cal
hound indeed died of his error!
At least he slept away. At least,
| too, he made his atonement. The
south, following his doctrines, it.
self was long accursed of this same
sleeping sickness; but in the provi-
dence of God it was not lost to us,
| and is ours for long and splendid
| history.
1t was through John Calhoun, a
grave and somber figure of our his
tory, that we got the vast land of
| Texas. 1t was through him, also
and not through Clay nor Jackson,
nor any of the northern states
men, who never could see a future
| for the west-that we got all of our
vast northwest realm. Within a
few days after the Palo Alto ball, a
memorandum of agreement was
signed between Minister Pakenham
and Mr. Buchanan, our secretary
of state This latter had been fully
enough impressed (such was the
story by the reports of the col
umns of our west-bound farmers,
with rifles leaning at their wagon
seats and plows dashed to the tail
gates. Calhoun himself never
ceased to regret that we could not
delay year or two years longer.
In this he was thwarted by the i'm
petuous war with the republic on
the south, although, had that never
| been fought, we had lost California
lost also the south and lost the
Union!
Under one form or other, one
flag of democracy eventually must
float over all this continent Not a
part. but all Of this country must be
ours, must be the peoples. 1t may
cost more blood and treasure now.
Some time we shall see the wisdom
of John Calhoun: but some time,
| too, | think, we shall see come true
that prophecy Of strange and bril-
| liant mentality, which in Calhoun )
| presence and in mine said that all
Of these northern lands. and all
| Mexico as we'll must one day be
ours-which is to say. the peoples
for the sake of human opportun-
| ity, of human hope and happiness.
Our battles are but partly fought.
But at least they are not, then, lost.
For myself, the close of the Mex
| lean war found me somewhat worn
by travel and lily equipped in finan-
cial matters. | had been discred-
tied, | say, by my own government.
My pay was withheld. Elisabeth,
by that time my wife, was a girl
reared in all the luxury that our
country then could offer. Shall
say whether or not | priced her
more when gladly she gave up all
this and joined me for one more
long and final journey out across
that great trail which had seem
the trail of democracy. of America,
Of the world?
At least we reached Oregon. 1t
holds the grave of one of ours; it is
the home of others. We were
happy; we asked favor of no man !;
fear of no one did We feel. Elisa
beth has in her time slept on bed
of husks. She has cooked at a sooty
fireplace of her own; and at her
cabin door | myself have been the