Page:The Early Indian Wars of Oregon.djvu/47

Rh Ladder" a picture representing two roads towards heaven—one wide, where the Pope was selling indulgences, and at the end of which the purchasers were seen falling head-foremost into hell; the other so narrow that few could follow it, but supposed to lead to bliss.

This now seems puerile, but in that time was thought a worth} 7 means of bringing savages to practice the religion of Jesus Christ, by Catholics and Protestants. The Presbyterians often argued with the Indians, as it was the fashion of the churches to hold doctrinal arguments among its members a fashion most unwisely followed among a people whose understandings led them to literal constructions, or to strange subtleties, rather than to spiritual insight.

But the root of the troubles between the missionaries and the natives was not at any time in their religious differences, which was really a side issue capable of being turned to account, but which was never used except in simple competition, and which alone need never have endangered the peace of the country.

The real cause of ill feeling between the Indians and their Protestant teachers was the continued misunderstanding concerning the ownership of land, and the accumulation of property. The promise of Dr. Parker had never been redeemed. No one had appeared to purchase the lands occupied by the missions, nor had any ships arrived laden with Indian goods and farming implements for their benefit.

Doubtless Dr. Parker, when he made the promise, was thinking of the hoped for settlement of the Oregon boundary question, and the speedy extinguishment of the Indian title to the country which would folio w,*in order that congress might carry out the plan of populating it by offering liberal donations of land to emigrants. But this we have seen had not taken place, while every year a few more Americans arrived and remained in the country, and without paying for their lands.