Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 24.djvu/302

280 Ought the man of the house to be labored with on this subject?

Tuesday, 6. We ride a few miles in nature's oak park, the most enchanting and delightful scenery of the kind I ever saw, the ground, the trees, all beautiful; such is the variety and beauty of the flowers as to present themselves in every step; it is like a flower garden, a flower garden, indeed, on a large scale, to an extent unmeasured, and it hardly seems right that our horses should step—

[1845] Monday, June 2. Beautiful, fine weather. The month of May has been rainy and cold, but summer has now come. We have passed through the seasons of the year in Oregon, it being a year yesterday since we arrived at Williamette Falls.

Tuesday, 3. This day is election day in this territory; politicians wide awake. Governor, sheriff, territorial attorney, treasurer, recorder, judge and assessor, besides county and military officers. There are four tickets,—four great political parties. Tickets are denominated Republican, Farmer, People, and Farmer, but more properly Hudson Bay Company ticket. Now is the time for office. The candidates for governor are Gov. Abernethy, O. Russel, J. L. Lovejoy, and Wm. Bailey, less, I believe, than five hundred tickets or votes taken.

Monday, 9. We learn that Geo. Abernethy is elected governor of Oregon. In this election, it appears the American interests have a strong claim upon the affections of the population of this land. Also the cause of temperance has its successful friends and supporters. The friends of Alcohol, voted, I suppose, for Wm. Bailey. The Hudson Bay Company's sycophants for O. Russell or J. O. Lovejoy. Mr. Russell, more openly Hudson Bay. Mr. Lovejoy on or off from Hudson Bay Company as he thinks he will best secure office and honor. Though I am