Oregon Historical Quarterly/Volume 7/Jason Lee memorial address by T. G. Hailey
ADDRESS
By Judge T. G. Hailey.
In the absence of His Excellency, Governor Chamberlain, who has been called to Eastern Oregon on official business, the pleasure and honor is mine to represent him and our great mother State of Oregon on this memorable occasion. Other lips more eloquent than mine, and other minds better stored with the historic events of the great Northwest, have this day retold to you the splendid story of the life of Jason Lee, the great missionary, founder of schools, of churches, and of States. When we lay to rest in the land where labored the moldering tenement that once possessed his mighty soul, we mark an epoch in the history of the Emerald State of Oregon and her daughters, the splendid and progressive States of Washington and Idaho. Such an event should lift us up to higher planes and inspire to nobler thoughts and better deeds.
The young women and young men here present tonight from Chemawa represent the latest and best results of the early work of Jason Lee among their forefathers, who once held dominion over this Northwest land. Your forefathers, clad in scanty garb of skins of wild beasts, listened to his lessons of love and labor preached under the boughs of the primeval forest; while you, my Indian friends, now clothed in all comforts, harken to the same lessons of love and labor from his successors, taught to you under the sheltering domes of modern churches and schools. I doubt not that from his everlasting home beyond the skies that great missionary looks down with satisfaction and blessings upon you and all those who have carried forward the noble work for you and your people which he began so many years ago. I here and now invoke in behalf of this remaining fragment of the original owners of the Oregon Country the sympathy and aid of all who have the love of humanity in their hearts. When our ancestors and predecessors in this fair land were few and theirs were many, the red man was for many years the white man's friend, and now that they are few and we are many, let us remember only the deeds of kindness of their race and aid them to fulfill the purpose for which they are created.
At this time when we do honor to a great pioneer in particular, and by so doing do honor to all pioneers in general, a few lines from the pioneer poet, Joaquin Miller, addressed to the New Oregon, seems to be appropriate:
Young men, strong men, there is work to be done;
Faith to be cherished, battles to fight;
Victories won were never well won
Save fearlessly won for God and the right.
Have faith, such faith as your fathers knew,
All else must follow if you have but faith,
Be true to their faith, and you must be true.
Let me say in closing to all dwelling within the old Oregon Country that whene'er you tread within the limits where now rests the body of Jason Lee, remember that by his deeds he honored the Oregon Country, and by his sacred remains he now hallows it.