Page:Centennial History of Oregon 1811-1912, Volume 1.djvu/329



THE CENTEiNNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON 203

from coiuiug. Hence as oui* laws are extremely mild, they ought not to be ob- scured by ambition and self-interest."

Had our illustrious pioneers who set up a government at Champoeg on May 2, 1843, had a copy of this royal message before them, they could not have pro- ceeded with more thought and consideration for that piece of kingly wisdom, than they did.

All the actors in this tempoi-ary government were unpretentious plain men, men who were busily engaged in opening farms or establishing pioneer business interests. Not a single man from first to last in the whole six years' existence of the provisional government, was found to be actuated by selfish motives or aspi- rations for power and place. The welfare of each and all of the little state was the ambition of every man who served the state. It is but a natural desire to praise the work of unselfish men. But a careful examination of their whole rec- ord, in comparison with the state governments we have had since the provision;]] government passed into history, will show that the pioneer government was, all things considered, the best government that ever ruled the destinies of Oregon.

From his longer service to the provisional government, the governor, George Abernethy, was the most prominent member of it, and his name will go down to future ages as the best governor Oregon has had to this date. A plain, unpre- tentious citizen, with common sense for talent, and unswerving integrity for mo- tive power, he faithfully, steadily, courageously and conscientiously steered the little craft through all the dangerous rocks and shoals and buffeting storms of rival sectarianism, Indian wars, British intrigues and opposition, until the in- fant state was safely housed within the aegis of the great republic.

The greatness of these brave pioneei's and the grandeur of their great achieve- ment has been yet scarcely recognized or appreciated. But as time rolls on the genius and .iustiee of the laws and institutions, which these men founded, will be seen to be far greater than any possible material prosperit.y, and then the lengthening shadows of their colossal work and fame will cover the whole land, and place their names among the greatest and best of mankind.

"0 strange new state, that yet was never young, Whose youth from thee by gripping need was wrung ; Brown foundling of the woods, whose baby bod Was prowled round by Injuns' crackling tread. And who grew strong through shifts and wants and pains — Nursed, defended by men with empires in their brains, Who saw in vision more states in their train : With every hand iipon a vassal ocean's mane: Thou, skilled by freedom, and by great events. To pitch new states, as old world men pitch tents: Thou taught by fate to know Jehovah's plan. That man's device can't nninnko the real iiinii."

Of the forty xVmericans that came over the mountains and settled in the Wil- lamette valle.v in 1842, only six — Hugh Burns, Medorem Crawford, Allen Davie, Reuben Lewis, John L. Morrison and J. R. Robb — attended and took part in the meeting for organization. And those who opposed the organization — the Hud- son's Bay Company — could have destroyed it at any time. John ^leLoughlin