This ride, often called "Whitman's Ride for Oregon," is one of the poetical events of American history.

He went to Washington, was treated cavalierly by the State Department, but secured a delay of the treaties, which proved the means of saving Oregon and Washington to the United States.
So his missionary efforts gave to our country an empire that seems destined to become ultimate America, and a power in the Asian world.
III.
GOVERNOR STEVENS.
In the long line of brave American soldiers, General Isaac Ingalls Stevens deserves a noble rank in the march of history.

He was born at Andover, Mass., and was educated at West Point, where he was graduated from the Military Academy in 1839 with the highest honors.

He was on the military staff of General Scott in Mexico, and held other honorable positions in the Government service in his early life.
But the great period of his life was his survey of the Northern route to the Pacific, since largely followed by the Northern Pacific Railroad, and his development of Washington Territory as a pioneer Governor.

He saw the road to China by the way of the Puget Sea, and realized that Washington stood for the East of the Eastern Continent and the Western.