Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 24.djvu/416

 384 C. D. Chitwood as the stone itself, and be read by future generations who will follow us. REMARKS OF HARVEY G. STARKWEATHER It is a significant fact that this splendid audience has gathered here today to honor the memory of a great Oregon pioneer, Peter Skene Ogden. Such an assemblage speaks of an awakening of in- terest in the work of the pioneer, of a more just apprec- iation of the sacrifices of such pioneer characters as Dr. McLoughlin and Peter Skene Ogden. Others have deplored the fact that the active interest in Oregon history has been confined to a comparatively few of our people, while the great mass of our citizens have gone their way oblivious of the fact that our state has a most interesting and romantic story. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should honor the memory of this great pioneer at this meeting here today, but, borrowing the words of the immortal Lincoln, I might say, the world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it should never forget what they did here. Through the efforts of the organization of which I at one time had the honor to be President (The Sons and Daughters of Oregon Pioneers), there has been placed in the public schools of this state a course in pioneer history of Oregon so that every boy and girl in our schools may know the thrilling story of our state's early settlement. Knowing it, they will become more loyal Oregonians, and in becoming better Oregonians they will become bet- ter Americans.