the assurances were positively made that the country was comparatively worthless, more valuable for hunting and trapping than for all civilized uses. This was the condition of affairs when Whitman reached the capital. It was all but conceded that privileges on the north-east coast, in respect to fisheries, should offset the surrender of the Columbia River region to Great Britain. Governor Simpson, of the Hudson's Bay Company, had reached Washington, had interviewed Webster, and managed to leave this impression on his mind. There was no living man to plead for Oregon and tell the truth fearlessly, until, "in the dead of winter, an awkward, tall, spare-visaged, vigorous, offhand sort of a man appeared at the Department in his mountain traveling garb, consisting of a dark-colored blanket coat and buckskin pants, showing that to keep himself from freezing he had been compelled to lie down close to his camp-fire while in the mountains, and on his way to Washington he had not stopped for a moment, but pushed on with a vigor and energy peculiarly his own." This man had been tauntingly told that it was impossible for his Government to be informed so as to prevent the surrender of Oregon, but he had surmounted impossibilities and was there in person to make known the facts.
Entirely unmindful of his rude garb and weather-beaten looks, Whitman sought an interview with the Secretary of State, gave his object, and stated the plans and purposes of the British Government. He had hardly made his object known when Webster interrupted him: "But, doctor, you are too late; we have just about traded Oregon off for a cod fishery." His first interview failed to make any strong impression. Webster had made up his mind that there was actual value in the fisheries, while he knew nothing about the Columbia River region, and at best there never had been any benefit apparent from the claim to ownership. But Whitman had not crossed a continent through winter snow and ice to be balked in a single interview. He sought the presence of the President, and, wild man as he appeared, dressed in blanket coat and skins, he interested John Tyler in his cause, and procured a hearing for himself and for Oregon. It is true that John Tyler is considered the least among the Presidents, and his name is not fragrant with great and good deeds, but we owe him this much consideration—to recognize that only for his influence the Ashburton treaty would have gone as already planned, and the national domain have lost the great wealth and glory of the galaxy of States to be formed from the Pacific north-west.
Only for the perils encountered by Dr. Marcus Whitman the result would have been entirely different; the British flag would still wave over Fort Vancouver, and over many a broad league of land besides that now shelters under the American flag. We do not need to particularize his efforts to win this great success; but he did win, and we reap the benefits as a nation to-day. After his cause was won he presented himself to the American Board, to be censured for leaving his station and causing such expense; but, since then, the successors in that Board claim the glory of his act and sanction the deed. He sold his little property and went westward, preaching on the frontiers the nature of the far distant west, and enlisting about eight hundred and fifty sturdy frontiersmen and their families to accept his pilotage across the continent of wildernesses, to make homes on the western shore. That was the commencement of emigration in force to Oregon. Thousands followed where they led, and Dr. Whitman perhaps at last fell a victim to his patriotism, for a later emigration carried disease into the country, that spread among the Indians, and so poisoned their minds that, with their native superstition, they one day massacred his family, to find that they had thus destroyed their bright est hopes and murdered their steadfast friend. This happened after eleven years of devotion to his work and their interests, and to-day we hear occasionally that among early pioneers contribution is being made to raise to his memory a monument on the spot where he lived, labored, and died. It grows so slowly that we may doubt if it will ever suffice to record the acts that grace his memory.
Over the region where Whitman wandered, searching for a fertile location, and half doubtful if any spot would answer, stretch the most fruitful grain fields of the continent. Every acre of upland and bottom is fertile, and railroads are pushing their way there to relieve the toiling river steamers of work they cannot do. The years have been revealing the resources of this grand region slowly and reluctantly, but they have not fully done their work of revelation yet, for the ranges that look down on Walla Walla blossom with precious ores, the hills near by are lined with coal deposits, and, far and near, the valleys and the uplands invite coming population and offer untold wealth. The herder retires before the agriculturist; but flocks upon a thousand hills respond to the labor of the farmer, to yield millions. The work of development has just commenced. It is to be regretted that Dr. Whitman could not have lived to see this day, and receive from a grateful country the plaudits he so well earned
