Page:History vs. the Whitman saved Oregon story.djvu/43

Rh still a peace of 20 years, and then they hold in their hands the destiny of the human race. But if war does come, we shall fight on the side of right. Our claim to Oregon to the 49th degree is clear; what lies beyond is attended with colorable title on the part of Great Britain by the exploration of Frazer's river by McKenzie; but it is only colorable."

As to (C) the only really "original sources" that it is certain Dr. Mowry has examined are:

(a) Four letters from Whitman, the first from St. Louis, May 12, 1843, the other three from Shawnee Indian Mission, May 27, 28 and 30, 1843; the first and last to Rev. D. Greene, Secretary, and the second and third to two of Whitman's brothers-in-law.

All about the migration in the first is the following: "I have made up my mind that it would not be expedient to take any families this year, except such as can go at this time."

On page 181, Dr. Mowry prints part of this letter, but carefully omits the above paragraph.

In that of May 27, i. e., five days after the migration had started from its camp, near Independence, Mo., for Or^on, all that relates to it is the following:

""I cannot tell you very much about the migration to Oregon. They appear very willing, and, I have no doubt, are generally of an enterprising character. There are over 200 men, besides women and children, as it is said. No one can well tell until we are all on the road and get together how many there are. Some have been gone a week, and others have not yet started. I hope to start to-morrow. I shall have an easy journey, as I have not much to do, having no one depending on me.""

To this letter Dr. Mowry never alludes.

I have conducted sundry excursions to the Rocky Mountain and Pacific coast regions myself, but while they were gathering I did not stay ten miles away from their rendezvous, nor wait for an invitation to visit and address them, nor say—after they were fairly started—that "I could not tell very much about them," and, still less, that "I expected to have an easy journey, not having much to do, having no one depending upon me," and if there were no other letter but this—the authenticity of which is beyond dispute—it would utterly destroy the whole story that Whitman had any special influence on or concern about the originating or organizing of that migration, or felt any responsibility for its getting through to Oregon, with or without wagons.

In that of May 28 he wrote: