Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 3.djvu/41

Rh Few things so stamp a people as the ideas held in regard to money.

Population congregating in any locality for the purpose of making a livelihood soon organizes itself into a political society, for man is a "political animal.' Industrial life can not exist without some form of civil government. In the early period of the fur trade this function was supplied by the company, and particularly its officers. It was of an autocratic type, but rendered substantial justice, and was able to secure a most excellent order in circumstances that might easily have been disorderly. No region so remote from civilization was ever more safe for the traveler than the territory under the jurisdiction of the Hudson Bay Company.

Its ideals, however, were not sufficient for the democratic settlers who came to pursue an agricultural life. At a very early date justices of the peace were appointed in the mission settlement in the Willamette Valley. The formation of the Provisional government in 1843 was a long step in advance, and must mark one of the important stages in the social evolution of Oregon. It is one of the finest examples to be found of the resourcefulness of the American frontier settler. Although temporary in character, it sufficed to keep the region in trust until events could so shape themselves that the United States could extend over the region a territorial form of government. This again was a forward step in the social evolution. At first sight it may seem that it was little more than a change from Governor Abernethy to Lane, but it marked a greater change than that. It was the realization of something long desired; it attached the population of Oregon to that of the rep'ublic. The social life expanded with the very thought; the social life and habits that prevailed in the republic were to prevail in Oregon; the nation was henceforth to aid in the develop-