Page:Centennial History of Oregon 1811-1912, Volume 1.djvu/413



THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OP' OREGON 261

the country settled by either Americans or any other people. As long as there were no settlers, the Indians would obey their orders and would be happy and content in the forests with their ways of living. To bring settlers that wouW convert the country into farms, build towns, start saw mills and establish herds of domestic animals, would desti-oy the business of the fur company and drive it out. It was but natural that the company should oppose emigration and settlements. And in doing so, it became the ally of the first American settlers. "Whether consciously or unconsciously, cannot now be determined. With its power and influence with the Indians, its wealth and organization, and its knowledge of the country and means for bringing colonists from either Canada or the home country, it could have quickly and easily throttled all attempts to establish American settlements by an organization devoted to the support of the British claim to the country. But to do so would have put in jeopardy the profits and future existence of the company as a business paying institution. The managers of the company in England undoubtedly expected and relied upon Chief Factor, John McLoughlin and others to discourage settlements in Oregon; believing that without business support and encouragement The Ameri- cans Would Be Starved Out. Fortunate for the Americans, John McLoughlin was not built on the narrow gauge pattern of his employers in London. His great heart and humane sympathies would not permit him to view with cold blooded indifference the suffering and destitution of men and women who had risked their lives and everything else in the great struggle to reach Oregon. He helped them as much as he could, and not be unceremoniously kicked out before the first few Americans had secured a foothold in the Willamette valley. As it was, for this open-handed aid to the Americans, he lost his position and a sal- ary of twelve thousand dollars a year. With the most hopeful view of the case the Americans had the narrowest chance in the world to secure a foothold and establish an American settlement. Had they not succeeded Oregon would cer- tainly have become a British province. With McLoughlin 's opposition exerted against them, as his British employers desired it to be exerted, the Americans unsupported by Congress as they were, might not have succeeded. The tacit support of John McLoughlin given in the name of humanity, undou1)tedly greatly aided in deciding the fate of Oregon in favor of the American settlers.

THE COLONUL PERIOD

Assuming that the Colonial Period commenced with the innuigration of 1842, in which none of the Missions had any part or parcel, and continued down to 1848 when the United States organized a territorial governnient, an idea can be formed of the respective influences which conspired to mould the for- tunes and character of the Oregon settlers.

Of the missionary forces, Jason Lee, Daniel Lee, Cyrus Shepard, and B. L. Edwards of the Methodist church came overland to Oregon in 1834, and founded the mission in the Willamette valley. Rev. Samuel Parker on behalf of American Board missions, came overland to Oregon in 1835, but not to labor as a missionary but as an agent of the Missionary Board to examine the country and locate mis.sionary stations. And next year, 1836, in pursuance of Parker's plans and locations. Dr. JMarcus Whitman, and Rev. II. H. Spalding, with their