46 Marie Merriman Bradley. quit the employ of the company, were transported out of the country before they were given their discharge. A despotic regime was the result. Dr. John McLoughlin played the role of despot, but the despot was humane.^ As chief factor of the Hudson's Bay Company, McLough- lin 's rule was absolute. He virtually held the power of life and death over the Indians and the British subjects could re- main only on sufferance by him. Of course, theoretically, he had no power over the American settlers, but they were so dependent upon the factor at Vancouver that his power over them was almost unlimited. Frederick V. Holman says of him: Nature seems to have used an especial mould for the making of Dr. McLoughlin. Physically he was a superb spec- imen of man; six feet four inches in height, he was beauti- fully, almost perfectly proportioned. Mentally he was en- dowed to match his magnificent physical proportions. He was brave and fearless ; he was true and just ; he was truthful and he scorned to lie. The Indians, as well as his subordi- nates, soon came to know that if he threatened punishment for an offense, it was as certain as the offense occurred."^ McLoughlin was absolute master of himself and of those under him. He allowed none of his subordinates to question or disobey. This was necessary in order to conduct the busi- ness of the company, and preserve peace in the vast Oregon country. He was facile princeps, there was no second, yet with all these dominant qualities, he had the greatest kindness, sympathy and humanity.^ By 1820 ,the problem of extending the American jurisdic- tion over the Northwest territory was discussed, but few thought seriously of it. Webster and many of his contem- poraries ridiculed the idea. The immigrants of the thirties 2 See "McLoughlin Document," found among Dr. McLoughlin' s pri- vate papers after his death. Published in the proceedings of the Oregon Pioneer Association, 1880, pp. 46-55. 3 F. V. Holman, McLoughlin, The Father of Oregon. Address de- livered on McLoughlin Day at the Lewis and Clark Exposition. Published in Oregonian, October 8, 1905. 4 Mrs. E. E. Dye, McLoughlin and Old Oregon, p. 12.
