The Republican journal., 1910-04-14
The Father of Oregon.

regarded by the pioneers and their de-
scendants as the Father of Oregon. As
! the leading England representative on
the Pacific coast he entertained pioneer
Americans by the thousand and supplied
their every need, whether they had
money or not. For thus aiding the rivals
of his country and employers his conduct
was called in question and he forfeited
his position, which had paid him SIP, 900
per year for many years. In his defense
he quoted from the Bible eff thine enemy
hunger, feed him; if he be naked, clothe
him." And he adds: ''These settlers
are not even enemies" DR.. McLaugh-
lin would not have found it in his path of
duty to care for this ceaseless tide of
immigrants had it not been for the untir-
ing effort of DR.. Whitman.
Astor had given up his undertaking on
the Pacific twenty years before and
Nathaniel Wyeth had sunk 500, 900 in a
similar enterprise. AS Wyeth was re-
turning home, defeated, he met DIR. Whit
man and his wife, accompanied by the
first important Oregon immigration. DIR.
Mclaughlin as the head of the Hudson s
Bay Co., and the Indians, were interest
ed in keeping Oregon in wild state for
the production of furs. But DIR. Whit
man was interested in extending the
boundaries of a great civilized nation
Il was through the courtesy of the Hud-
sons bay fur traders that Mrs. Whit
man and Mrs. Spaulding made the jour-
ney in safety and We're the first white
women to look upon the beauties along
the banks Of the Columbia, including
every variety of natural scenery from
! cataract to snow-clad peak. Their land
ing at Vancouver in the autumn of 1886
was to be compared with the landing of
the pilgrims at Plymouth Rock Here
We're men, truly great, cherishing oppos-
ing religious faiths, with conflicting f.
! nancial interests and owing allegiance to
| different governments, planning together
| for the elevation of the Indians. DR..
| Mclaughlin gave DR.. Whitman credit at
, the company forts and entertained Mrs.
Whitman and Mrs. Spaulding while their
husbands were away selecting a site for
| mission. Jason Lee, a Methodist mis-
sionary, had come with Wyeth and To-
Gated at Champolz in the willamette
valley.
In 1887 reinforcements for the mission
arrived. Among them was Anna Maria
Pitman, who became Jason Lees wife
When the party arrived at Vancouver,
DR.. Mclaughlin sent messenger to in
form Jason Lee and entertained them
royalty until he came for them. When
Blanchet, the first Catholic priest came
to The Dalles, he called to his boatman,
''Drive away those naked Indians. :"
The boatman replied. Holy father, you
come to civilize Indian, Oregon Indian
have no clothes. If you no want to see
him that way you better turn back
home.''
While Jas, Douglas, young friend of
DR.. Mclaughlin was working at Fort
St. James beyond the Frazer he walked
into an Indian camp and shot murderer
While Chief Factor Connolly was away
the Indians came to the fort and demand
ed pay. Connolly's sixteen year old
daughter hearing the commotion rushed
out and found every man Of the fort tied
and knife being fourished above the
head of Douglas. Instantly she seized
the weapon and turning to the chief
cried: What, you friend of the whites
and say not word? According to your
own laws the deed was just 1t is blood
for blood. The whites love their kindred
as well as YOU Why should they not
avenge their murder?'' AS the awe
stricken Indians fled, the chief called
after them, "You braves, woman make
you run. Go home, hide in leede holes"
Such stories of romance are often con-
nected with stories of courtship in the
best days of the Hudson's Bay Company,
Jason Lee made trip to the States and
secured $4,000 and mission colony of
So persons. When Joe Meek arrived
from Fort Boise with DR.. Whitman's old
wagon, he expressed regret that he
started with the wagon. But DR.. Whit
man assured him that it would be a good
thing as many would follow and fill the
village. The thought of filling the coun-
try with white people was not pleasant
to the Indians. When so men and IL
women came over the mountains in 1912,
leaving their wagons on Green river,
Whitman resolved to 60 to Washington,
inform Congress in regard to the needs
Of the country and pilot the next immi-
grafton sotass to see that the wagons
came through in safety. He set out on
the ride by which he sacrificed his life
for Oregon, October 8, 1912.
While Whitman was away an educated
Delaware Indian told them that Whit
man would bring back a vast army to
to take their lands. A council was call
ed. The oldest chief Of the tribe, who