Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 6.djvu/317

Rh interpretations of some of the great epochs in the history of the race.

The second paper of the evening was given by Professor Bourne, who discussed some of the salient facts in Oregon history prior to 1840. After some keen characterization of the earlier movements of exploration of the Pacific Northwest, in relation to the general movement of exploration of the continent and pointing out of parallels between the occupation of Oregon and the settlement of the Atlantic Coast, he developed the part Congressman John Floyd of Virginia had in bringing the interests of the United States in the Oregon Country to the attention of Congress. Professor Bourne was inclined to give Mr. Floyd the credit for taking the initiative in the agitation of the Oregon Question that has more commonly been assigned to Hall J. Kelley. It was Floyd who first applied the name "Oregon" to this region. It before had been used to designate only a river. For these services of Floyd Professor Bourne thought him deserving of more prominent recognition among the makers of Oregon. The expression which conveys the idea of a saving of Oregon Professor Bourne thought originated with Senator Thomas H. Benton, but he took the ground that there was never a condition of fact warranting its application.

Mr. Hosmer reviewed the points of significance in the exploration of Lewis and Clark, using the Greek myth of the Dioscuri, Castor and Pollux, to indicate the distinctive character, exploits, and methods of Lewis and Clark among American explorers.

The sessions of the second day were taken up with a conference on the "organization and development of his-