Page:Portland, Oregon, its History and Builders volume 1.djvu/185



I

The pioneers took little thought of wealth or station. They passed over millions of gold in Baker, Union and Grant counties, and on to the Willamette valley, to found a state on just laws, that should honor and bless mankind, after all the gold has been worn into impalpable dust.

When the king of Spain was anxious to found a state in the new world, of which Oregon was then an unknown fraction, he dispatched a royal decree in 1778, to his governor, Don Pedro Piernas, at old St. Louis, as follows:

"The source and origin of all empires has been the refuge and kind usage which men find in the gentleness of the laws. The evil administration of them is the greatest impediment to the building of a government; for not only are those who are present and exposed to them exasperated, but others are pre- vented from coming. Hence as our laws are extremely mild, they ought not to be obscured by ambition and self-interest."

Had our illustrious pioneers who set up a government at Champoeg on May 2nd, 1843, had a copy of this royal message before them, they could not have proceeded with more thought and consideration, for that piece of kingly wisdom, than they did.

All the actors in this temporary government were unpretentious plain men, men who were busily engaged in opening farms or establishing pioneer business interests. Not a single man from first to last in the whole six years existence of the provisional government, was found to be actuated by selfish motives or aspirations for power and place. The welfare of each and all of tTie little state was the ambition of every man who served the state. It is but a natural desire to praise the work of unselfish men. But a careful examination of their whole record, in comparison with the state governments, we have had, since the pro- visional government passed into history, will show, that the pioneer government was, all things considered, the best government that ever ruled the destinies of Oregon.

From his longer service to the provisional government, the governor, George Abernethy, was the most prominent member of it, and his name will go down to future ages as the best governor Oregon has had to this date. A plain un- pretentious citizen, with common sense for talent, and unswerving integrity for motive power, he faithfully, steadily, courageously, and conscientiously steered the little craft through all the dangerous rocks and shoals and bufifeting storms of rival sectarianism, Indian wars, British intrigues and opposition, until the infant state was safely housed within the aegis of the great republic.

The greatness of these brave pioneers and the granduer of their great achievment, has been yet scarcely recognized or appreciated. But as time rolls on and this city swarms with its hundreds of thousands, and its commerce covers the great Pacific, the genius and justice of the laws and institutions which these men founded will be seen to be far greater than any possible material pros- perity. And then the lengthening shadows of their colossal work and fame, will cover the whole land, and place their names among the greatest and best of mankind.

"O strange new state, that yet was never young. Whose youth from thee by gripping need was wrung; Brown foundling of the woods, whose baby bed Was prowled round by Injuns crackling tread. And who grew strong through shifts and wants and pains; Nursed, defended by men with empires in their brains. Who saw in vision, more states in their train ; With every hand upon a vassal oceans mane ; Thou, skilled by freedom, and by great events. To pitch new states, as old world men pitch tents, Thou, taught by fate to know Jehovah's plan. That man's devices can't unmake the real man.