USA > Oregon > The Oregon native son, 1900-1901 > Part 32
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Moreover, the national conventions of the Democratic, the Silver Republican, the Populist, the Prohibitionist, the anti- Imperialist, and the Independent Na- tional parties have all condemned the imperialistic course of the federal ad- ministration.
It is asserted that "imperialism" is a "figment of the brain" and anti-imperial- ists are asked to produce the emperor or even his shadow. The forms of im- perialism never appear until after its es- sence has gained a hold on the govern- ment. And the people are now face to face with the essence of imperialism. The term is not of recent invention. It has an established meaning for precisely the tendencies now under consideration. Froude, the English historian, is writing of the imperializing of Rome, of imperial rule and an imperialistic overthrow of the Roman Republic, when he says: "If there be one lesson which history clearly teaches, it is this: That free nations cannot govern subject provinces. If they are unable or unwilling to admit their dependencies to share their own Constitution ,the Constitution itself will fall to pieces. through miere incompe-
tence for its duties." And Imperial Rome began when Republican Rome en- tered upon a career of conquest and re- fused to admit its dependencies to share in the Roman Constitution. That was imperialism, not expansion; and it (lif- fers in no essential respect from the pol- icy which Mr. McKinley's administration would now force upon the United States.
The United States Investor's Review, published at Boston, in its issue of July 26th, says :
Only a blind person can fail to see that transformations of one kind or another are in store for our race; hence the folly of as- serting that the policy of this country, which is destined to play such a leading part in human affairs of the future, shall be gov- erned for the most part by political maxims uttered more than a hundred years ago. The greatest evil which now confronts this re- public is the clamor raised by a certain fac- tion for a settlement of our problems of state by just such a method as we have been deprecating. Considerably more than a cen- tury ago a certain notable declaration was made in this country. to the effect that all men ought to be free and independent. This is merely a generalization of the French school of Voltaire and the encyclopedists. It is a dictum absolutely lacking foundation in history, and incapable of syllogistic justifica- tion. It was, however, a handy phrase for us to employ when asserting our right to break away from the mother country; it suited the exigencies of our situation in 1776 admirably, though in itself but a bit of sub- limated demagogism. The declaration was a serviceable means to the end that was at that time desired. To bring forward this declaration in the year 1900, in connection with our treatment of the Filipinos and the Cubans, is as gross an absurdity as ever was practiced. To do so is to offer an insult to the intelligence of the people who first sub- scribed to the declaration in question.
Gen. Foulke, a McKinley Republican of Indiana, is reported in the press as saying:
The statement that all governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed is not true, and never has been.
Or take the following from the Des Moines, (Ia.) Globe:
For a long time thinking people who have large commercial interests have felt unsafe with our present form of government from the fact that we are controlled by the little cheap-John politicians and ward heelers. A constitutional monarchy is probably the most desirable plan that we could now adopt.
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IMPERIALISM.
Everything is ripe for the change. We be- Heve that history anu experience have proved beyond cavil that a republican form of gov- ernment cannot subsist beyond a certain stage. Neither is the change to be dreaded or looked forward to with foreboding. While we are in fact largely under the conditions of a monarchy, we have the evils without the benefits of the same.
All this is bald and undisguised im- perialism; and that it is in line with the aim of the present ad- ministration, is
at length offici- ally recognized in the recent circular of the "United States Military Govern- ment in the Philippines" (April 30, 1900) which writes to American school super- intendents for aid and advice "in the civilization of this new part of our em- pire."
In the campaign of four years ago, Henry George spoke in New York a few hours before his death, as follows.
If the republic shall be saved! This is the doubt that determines my vote tomor- row; this is the question that has weighed on me ever since I reached intellectual ma- turity and began to strive to discover how all republics before our own had passed into monarchies and despotisms. and how, since freedom is the natural estate of men, the masses of mankind have everywhere been en- slaved. While we have been glorying in the mere forms of the republic and permitting the Hannas to wrap themselves in the Amer- Ican flag, and suffering patriotism to be used as what Dr. Johnson, in the first edition of his dictionary defined it be-"the last refuge of a scoundrel;" all that is worth pre- serving in the republic has been passing away under our eyes. and the American re- public is dying as the Roman republic died, but by steps as much quicker as the modern steamship and locomotive are quicker than the ancient galley and chariot.
In the light of the events of the past three years Mr. George's words sound like prophecy. And yet. there i's an all- sufficient salvation. The laboring man is a citizen and a voter, and the wage- earners, as a whole, are numerous enough to decide the election. Thus they have it in their power to remedy at the polls every injustice which can be remedied by government.
The Chicago Record (Independent) recently said :
The explanation of Mr. Bryan's popularity must be sought in a cause which lies deeper than any particular political issue. That
cause is to be found in growing belief among the people that their government is slipping away from them into the control of powerful special interests. In their view, the tariff is the mother of the trusts; imperial- ism is a costly crusade for political and com- mercial spoils; the government itself is a citadel of special privilege. They see in the commercialism that has debauched our mu- nicipal, state and national governments, the sufficient cause of our political ills. Mr. Bryan peculiarly represents the forces that seek to overthrow those who have tried to turn the flag into a "commercial asset." His admirers wish to destroy the influences that stand between the people and their govern- ment. He represents a rising tide of democ- racy, in kind like those of 1800 and 182s. One need not regard without apprehension all that such a movement involves to see in it much that is good. Whether it is now to succeed or fail, this movement embodies the true democratic spirit. Herein lies the source of his popularity. In this he has found his inspiration.
Mr. Bryan has ranged himself and the great party behind him on the right side of the debate. He throws the whole or- ganized power of the Democracy into the fight against the imperialistic pro- gramme. From the standpoint of all men who are opposed to the revolution- ary departure of the present administra- tion, his course on this issue at least, is removed from censure. His agitation and his leadership, more than any other forces, have brought into this struggle for the Republic against the Em- pire, one of t the great organized parties of the people. Demur as some men may to the party's attitude on the financial question, its position on the crucial test of our democracy is right, and Mr. Bryan deserves the sui- frages of the American people for having set it squarely upon that footing.
If the wage-earners, who must pay the bills for glory, do not care, then imperial- ism is here to stay. The question is, Re- public or Empire! "Choose you this day whom ve will serve." Those who think the dollar more important than the rights of man, can vote for Mr. McKin- ley. I shall vote for Mr. Bryan.
Perhaps some will ask: How about Free Silver? I answer, the Republican platformi proclaims:
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We renew our allegiance to the principle of the gold standard, and declare our confidence in the wisdom of the legislation of the Fifty- sixth congress, by which the parity of all our money and the stability of our currency on a gold basis have been secured.
If they have not been secured, why not? Moreover, should Mr. Bryan be elected, a Republican House, Senate and President will have four months left in which to remedy any defects in the ex- isting legislation to fortify and sustain the gold standard.
In conclusion, I again quote from Senator Hoar:
I ask you to keep in the old channels, and to keep off the old rocks laid down in the old charts, and to follow the old sailing or-
ders that all the old captains of other days have obeyed; to take your bearings, as of old, from the north star,
"Of whose true fixed and resting quality There is no fellow in the firmament,"
and not from this meteoric light of empire.
To which I add these noble lines from Emerson:
United States! the ages plead. Present and Past in under-song;
Go put your creed into your deed. Nor speak with double tongue.
For sea and land don't understand, Nor skies without a frown See right, for which the one band fights By the other cloven down.
valentine
BURNTBRIDGE CREEK.
In regard to the creek north of Van- couver barracks, known as Marble or Burntbridge creek, concerning the true name of which inquiry was received from Marcus Barker, secretary of the Uni- ted States board of geographical names, the following facts are furnished by T. A. Wood: A bridge was built across this creek by the Hudson's Bay Com- pany in 1836, when the country around was covered with primeval forest. The creek was then known as Bridge creek. In 1840 a great fire swept over that sec- tion, consuming the forest and the bridge, leaving nothing but blackened stumps. The creek after that was called Burntbridge creek. Some distance down the creek a man named Marble took up a donation land claim and built a mill. This was known as Marble's mill, and
the section was known as Marble's. and the creek in that vicinity was called Mar- ble creek. The original name of the creek was Bridge creek; but. after the fire and the burning of the bridge, this was changed to Burntbridge creek. which has since continued to be its des- ignation. The most natural thing im- aginable in connection with the creek is the bridge; but in the early days of the footlog and the trail, bridges were not so common as now, and the fact that a bridge was built across this creek by the Hudson's Bay Company made it notori- ous, and entitled it to the name of Bridge creek, to distinguish it from the scores of other creeks in that section which had no bridges. To name a creek Bridge creek now would be about on a par with naming it Water creek.
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HOW CAPTAIN DOBBINS WAS PROMOTED. .
- a
A SCRAP OF IDAHO HISTORY.
(Copyright 1900, by G. A. Waggoner. )
The spring of 1863 found me possess- ed of only the small capital of a moun- tain prospector, digging away industri- ously in a little gulch, one mile from Placerville, Idaho. I had found a fair prospect, and for some time had great hopes of filling a good-sized wallet be- fore the season closed; but when I had gotten my claim open ready for work, the rain ceased, and my supply of water failed rapidly and was not sufficient to run the sluices. This was a sore disap- pointment. There were strong reasons why I wished to make money enough to return to the Willamette valley and purchase a little farm, which. all in- known to the owner, I had been for the last two years converting into a modern farm of my own. In my imagination I had purchased this farm many times, al- ways cash down, for I was resolved nev- er to be in debt. In the same pleasing and easy way, every acre of it had been vastly improved. The spring beyond the garden had been coaxed through a pipe and bubbled from a polished faucet in the kitchen. The struggling grapevines in the yard were trained into an arbor leading from the gate to the front door; fine blooded horses and cattle sported in the pastures, and flowers shed sweet per- fume all about. I had also drained the marsh beyond the barn and erected a neat little woodshed, with hopvines clust- ering about the eaves. These pleasing fancies were generally indulged in as I sat alone in my cabin, when my da:'s work was done, and I had nothing else to do. My designs on this farm were kept strictly private. Only once, before leaving home. had they been told in a burst of confidence .to one who I trusted would sympathize with my hopes and en- courage my daring ambition. I did not mistake her, as it seemed an easy thing
to her, for me to dig a little gold from the ground, return, buy as much land as I wanted, and make all improvements we might think necessary. Her trusting nature could not think it possible for me to fail in any undertaking, and she im- mediately began to straighten up the lit- tle farm herself. Her first work was to pull down the rickety fence and burn the rickety wood-shed. It was wonderful how much better everything looked after she had talked five minutes.
But that is another story than the one which I set out to tell. It has not been mentioned by accident. nor because it this late date it is still uppermost in my mind, but for the purpose of offering to the reader a paliation, if not an excuse, for the part which I afterwards took in the promotion of Captain Dobbins.
One day, about the first of June, I went up town for some provisions, scarcely knowing whether to return to work my claim or not.
Placerville is laid out with a plaza in the center. This plaza was about two hundred feet square, and was a favorite place to exhibit horses, as well as to dis- play horsemanship. When I arrived a vicious Mexican broncho had just thrown its rider on the square, and an- other plucky fellow was preparing to mount. He had scarcely touched the saddle until he was sprawling on the ground, and the victorious horse ran back to the stable. He was again brought out. and a Mexican, a celebrat- ed "vaquero," placed his foot in the stir- rup and swung himself gracefully into the saddle. This was a hard contest. It was Mexico against Mexico, and rider and horse played their parts well for some time. The Mexican rode for con- quest, but the horse struggled for libert :. At last liberty won and the Mexican lay
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OREGON NATIVE SON.
on the ground. A roar of laughter from the by-standers followed his fall, and no one seemed inclined to further contest supremacy with the wiry steed. I had been deeply interested in this struggle, and my blood was warmed in witnessing the courage and skill displayed by the Mexican, and did not feel like laughing at his fall. being a horseman. I knew how well he rode, and had noted the pe- culiar trick by which he had been thrown. When he arose with a badly sprained ankle, and was unable to mount again, I assisted him to the sidewalk and said, "If it will not offend you, I will ride that horse."
A shout of derision greeted me from all sides. That settled it. I sprang into the saddle. The horse seemed to know that I was his master the moment I. touched the reins, and would have be- haved quietly enough had I wished him to; but it was not my intention to ride quietly around while a hundred miners were looking on, not one of whom be- lieved I could ride a horse which had thrown that Mexican. I therefore bul- lied the horse into rebellion and forced him to do his best, using every trick to make him jump, and jump he did. until he was thoroughly tired. The admira- tion of the crowd was won at last. Even the much discomfited Spaniard, standing on one foot, swung his white "sombrero' and cried "Much a wano, Senor!" A leather "rieta" was done up in a neat coil, and fastened to the croup of the saddle. This I undone and gave some exhibit of my skill with a lasso.
Darting towards any object which of- fered me a mark, I threw my rope upon it and performed various feats until the crowd gave me cheers to my heart's con- tent. When I dismounted a stranger inquired where I had learned to ride.
"In Oregon," I answered.
"Can all the boys ride that way in Oregon?"
"Probably not, but all the young men can ride well, and are not afraid of a wild colt."
"Can you shoot a rifle and pistol?"
With some pride I answered. "I have never been beaten with either."
"What are you doing?"
"Mining.'
"Have you a good claim?"
"A good claim but no water."
"Ah! What are you going to do? You don't look like a man who would sit in his cabin and wait for it to rain."
"I don't know; I may go prospect- ing."
After a moment's scrutiny, in which he looked me over thoroughly, he said, "I should like to see your claim. May I go with you to your cabin."
As we walked along I had an oppor- tunity to observe my strange companion. He was about twenty-eight or thirty years of age, five feet ten inches in height and weighed, as I afterwards learned, one hundred and sixty-five pounds. His hair and eyes were black and he was badly sunburned, which gave him a red- dish-brown color, nearly as dark as an Indian. He was decidedly a handsome fellow, the frank, open countenance. but there was a dare-devil look about him which made me wonder who he was.
When we were seated in my cabin, he said, "Now, I have asked a great many questions, and, of course. you want to know why I have sought your acquaint- ance. I learned from one of the miners while you were riding that your name is David Snell. My name is Bob Fitzhugh. I have been on the plains since I was a boy, and have sometimes acted as a scout for Uncle Sam. You may have heard of me. I have gone to scouting for my own command and like it much better than under orders, especially as the troops recently sent to Idaho know nothing about Indian warfare, and could not tell a war trail from a beaver slide. I am now hunting a partner. I can offer such inducements that there is no diffi- culty in finding a man who is willing to become my partner, but the kind of man I want is not found every day. For the last ten days I have been quietly ob- serving the manners and habits of the men about Placerville and have found some objection to all. Most of them
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HOW CAPTAIN DOBBINS WAS PROMOTED.
chew tobacco, all of them carry jack- knives, and three out of every four of them are whittling whenever they are idle."
I looked at my strange companion in surprise. What could he mean by this? What earthly difference could it make to him whether a man whittled or not in his idle moments? He continued:
"I don't want a man who chews to)- bacco or carries a jack-knife and who cannot walk without his toes pointing straight ahead."
I opened my eyes wide in astonish- ment. Was it posisble this handsome fellow was a lunatic?
"My partner." he continued, "must be an extraordinary man. He must be a crack shot with rifle or pistol; must ride like a Comanchee and throw a rope like a Mexican vaquero; he must not have a habit of talking loud, halloaing or sing- ing: must be able to dive or swim like a duck; to endure cold, heat and fatigue; to exert himself three or four days with- out food and be able at all times to whip his weight in wildcats. I knew the mo- ment you mounted that horse, you were the very man I was looking for. If you will go with me we will make some mon- ey, and not have any hard work to do."
"What kind of business do you intend to engage in?" I asked.
"Well, horse stealing." he laughed.
"You have made a mistake. I am not a horse thief."
"Hold on until I explain. You know the Snake Indians are on the war trail; they have been raiding the border for several years, and have stolen several thousand head of horses. They have never let an opportunity slip to murder or steal. It is no robbery to re-take stolen horses or capture ponies belong- ing to the Indians, when they are on the war trail.
"At the present moment Uncle Sam is confiscating property belonging to the rebels whenever he can lay hands on it. Captain Dobbins, who is located at Fort Boise, has worn his cavalry horses out racing after the Snakes without taking a horse or killing an Indian. The citizens,
thinking they could beat the regulars, have been out several times with no bet- ter success. Now, I can do just what the others have failed to do. I can capture those horses."
"But how do you expect to do this without any army at your back?"
"I could never get a horse if an army was anywhere near me. I propose to go into the Indian country. Looking and acting just like an Indian, steal all the horses I can and then rush for the settle- ments.
"I can well understand how you would rush for the settlements if those Snake Indians were after you, but do not un- derstand how you are to make a white man look like an Indian."
"O, that's easy enough. I have made two trips and brought back horses both times. I have gone right among them without being detected. As for you, with a few strips of buckskin, some feathers and paint, I can make as good a looking young Indian as ever stepped in moccasins. I know every man can- not do what I can, no more than every man can ride a horse or throw a rope like you do. I know just what I am about, and if you will go with me and strictly obey my instructions, we can make a lot of money. We will deliver the horses we take to the whites from whom they were stolen by the Indians. but we will charge them a round sum for re-taking them. I will furnish the entire outfit, and we will divide all we make."
The litle farm, with all its new im- provements, spread itself before my de- lighted eyes, and I decided to go before he had ceased speaking.
"All right," I answered, "when shall we start?"
"I will return to Placerville," he an- swered, "to purchase supplies, and will meet you on the public square tomorrow at noon."
At the appointed time we started, mounted on good horses, and leading a third which carried our camp outfit. My mount was a splendid bay, whose natural beauty was enhanced by a silver-mount- ed saddle and bridle. The cantenas held
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OREGON NATIVE SON.
a pair of ivory-handled navy Colt's pistols, and a Henery rifle, in a leathern case, hung from the pomel of the saddle. Once on our way, we traveled along at a swinging gait, taking the road toward Boise City, via. Bannock. After travel- ing about twenty miles, we struck a trail leading south toward Salmon Falls on Snake river. Following this trail, the second day out. we came to a sage-brush plain. Here was nothing but sage, sand and alkali. Not a living thing crossed our path. We traveled for miles without even seeing a bird. Toward evening we came to the foothills. reaching down from our left. Here was plenty of grass, and now and then a small pine trec. Suddenly a young antelope crossed our trail, going at full speed, though evident- ly fatigued, for its head was bent low and its tongue was protruding from its mouth. A single glance was sufficient to show'that it was being hotly pursued by something.
"Get ready to fight," said Bob, in a low, determined voice, as he drew his rifle from its scabbard. Our rifles were carried in such a manner as to be of little inconvenience. A loop held the breech to the pommel of the saddle, while the barrel lay along the side of the horse, the muzzle pointing downward near tis flank. The rider's left leg held the gun securely against the horse's side, and it need not be touched with his hands, unless when it was to be drawn from the scabbard.
As I laid my hand on my gun to obey Bob's order, I looked in the direction from whence the antelope came. At that moment a large grey wolf. as large as a Newfoundland dog, bounded in sight, with his long, strong muzzle close to the ground. He was following the antelope with the unerring instinct of a trained hound, moving swiftly in "that long, low gallop which can tire. the hound's deep hate, the hunter's fire."
"Don't shoot; but try your horse on that fellow," said Bob.
I had been trailing my rope on the ground to make it more pliable and easy to handle. My horse was eager for the chase. I gave him the rein, coiling the
rope as I went. Before the wolf had gone half a mile I was within a hundred feet of him, holding my horse under tight rein until we came to an open piece of ground where there was no sage-brush to interfere, when I slackened my rein and swung my rope. With a noble burst of speed my bay sprung forward. The wolf could not respond, and the rope coiled round his neck with a snap. He plunged like a salmon on a hook, snapping his jaws viciously. Knowing his teeth would cut like a knife, I finish- ed him with a shot from my pistol to save my rope.
"That was well done," said Bob, when I had overtaken him, "it is not often one of those fellows is taken in that manner. How do you like your horse?"
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