Page:History vs. the Whitman saved Oregon story.djvu/15



It was owing to Dr. Mowry's strong endorsement of the first published (or Spalding–Gray) version of the Whitman Saved Oregon Story to me, in 1877, that I was imposed upon by it from 1877 to 1882, and I have corresponded extensively with him upon it, especially since I discovered, and (in lectures in the great Peabody Institute course in Baltimore in November, 1884) demonstrated its total falsity; and he, as late as December 9, 1898, wrote me a letter imploring me not to publish the really vital evidence upon it, as follows:

""I have copied hundreds of typewritten pages from those letters" (i. e., of Whitman and his associates to the American Board) "during the last thirteen years.

"One thing, however, I have not felt at liberty to copy, and do not think the Board should ever have permitted you or any one else to copy.

"I refer to the confidential letters written by the missionaries to the Secretary of the Board, relating to their private and personal affairs, and particularly complaints one of another.

"I do not think you ought to publish any extracts from the letters of that character."

" .... In my own case, I always showed to the Secretary the matter which I had copied, and I believe that this has been the general practice. I certainly hope you will not make public such private affairs, even though the courtesy was extended to you to copy private letters.""

I therefore awaited his "Marcus Whitman" with some curiosity to see whether he had written it on the lines of sup-