Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-21

ferred, nor had his mind any boundaries SUI
ficiently great to inclose even that portion Of
the West known as the Oregon country.
Not statesmen, but pioneers, won and held
this great region for the United States. At the
beginning of the nineteenth century it was dis
puted territory. Both Great Britain and the
United States believed they had superior claims
to the Northwest; probably one was as much
justified in its contention the other. From
1918 to 1916 this region was Jointly occupied by
reason of agreement signed by both ma
tons.
During the period of the joint occupancy the
disputed region falling more and more I'M
der the control of the Hudson Bay Co., which
seemed destined to transform it into a British
province unless some occasion should arise to
arouse the Americans to this danger and con-
vince them of the value of the district
THE apparent apathy of our Government was
due to a colossal ignorance of this vast
region in spite of the information brought back
by the Lewis and Clark expedition. To us it
seems ncomprehensible that a man like Daniel
Webster could voice the following sentiment in
Senate: What can we ever hope to do
with the Western Coast-a coast of 5000 miles,
rockbound, cherries and uninviting and with
not haIbor it? What use have we for such
country? Mr.. President, will never vote one
cent from the public treasury to place the
Pacific Coast inch neare~ to Boston than it is
now
NO words uttered in the Senate were
more wide of their mark and, fortunately, the
opinion Webster and other prominent officials
expressed carried little weight with the pioneer
It was the latters restless spirit, the spirit of
the frontier, adventure, the meat of strong
men, that caused him to dare the perils of this
migration to an unknown land.
It was not due to the efforts of statesmen, no
matter how exalted they might be. 1t was the
strength, courage and hardihood of the pioneers,
qualities beloved by men since the world began
qualities which are the very soul of the United
States.
The stories sent back by hunters, trappers and
missionaries, and the efforts Of men like Alonzo
Whitman stirred the people of the East and
reused the desire of the Nation to possess this
country. Mere desire however, does not ac-
compliSh results in itself. 1t was these early
pioneers and trail blazers, the daring men whose
fathers had settled Kentucky, Tennessee and
Missouri, and whose grandfathers had made up
the forces of the Old Dominion in the Revolu-
ton, who stubbornly contested the ownership of
this region with the Hudson Bay Co. These
hardy souls venturing forth, though it might.
mean the lingering torments of the deserts
thirst, though the privations of the mountain
passes had to be faced though death by the
diaboical tortures inflicted by a cruel savage
might be their fate. the intrepid pioneers ac-
cepted all these risks and hesitated not to
brave the perils of the plains to win for them
selves home in the famed Oregon country
anu IOI the NAHUM al SLlpue III the west.
Over a 3,0O0-mile journey he travelled with
his covered wagon, which held his dearest
possessions-wife, children, perhaps old
mother-all his worldly goods we're also crowded
into the ark-lke vehicles that carried civiliza-
ton westward.
THE fascination of this migration has
been an undying theme and a source of
pride to all patriotic Americans. No wonder
President Hoover, on February 81. 1880, issued
a proclamation concentrating the event of
the Covered Wagon Centennial. For it was on
the 10th of April, 1930-100 years ago-that the
first wagon train left st. Louis for Oregon,
pioneering the way for the thousands of men
and women who settled the Pacific States.
In the words of President Hoover, ITO recall
the national significance of this centenary of
the great westward tide which established
American civilization across continent" the
United States Army, at its annual military
position and carnival in Washington, Septem-
Der 25 26 and 81, will feature as the principal
demonstration of its program thrilling inter
probation OF the perils encountered by the men
and women of the covered wagon trains who
won and held the West.
The great early md-contnental highway,
known the Oregon Trail, was by way of the
Missouri River up the Platte Valley. thence
across the mountains. The fur traders used it,
the Forty Miners used 1t, the cattlemen used it
in part, the railroads we're to follow its course,
but lastly, the men who wore deepest the wheel
marks of the Oregon Trial were neither the
traders nor the trappers, but the home builders,
the first real emigrants to go West with the
intent of making homes beyond the Rockies.
It was the pillow against the steel trap that
decided the ownership Of the Oregon country.
The trap would cease to be a factor with the
passing of the fur-bearing animals, but there
was permanency to the pillow, and this per-
manency even the Indians appropriated, for
this humble instrument of industry dashed to
the tailboard Of every immigrant wogan, be-
came a hated symbol TO the savage brain. It
was the white mans poWerful medicine that