Page:The Whitman Controversy.pdf/18

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as saying it was a secret motive. Dr. Eells says it was a cherished object, and never any where has said it was a secret motive. Mrs. Victor, quotes Dr. Eells as saying it was not mentioned. Dr. Eells, after thinking long what words he should use, says: "I have no recollection that it was named." Quite a difference, Mrs. Victor says: "No one has ever told us what that object was." Dr. Eells says it was to consult with Rev. D. Greene, Secretary of the Board at Boston, and the Missionary Herald for December, 1866, says he had missionary objects in view, and Dr. Eells, in my "History of Indian Missions," (page 163), says: "It was also expected that the opportunity would be improved for the transaction of missionary business." Yet, Mrs. Victor speculates that it was to get some government office. It was curious, if he wished to obtain some office under the United States, for him to go to Boston to consult with Rev. D. Greene on missionary business. At one time Mrs. Victor says there is no evidence that Dr. Whitman went to Washington, and at another time she thinks he went to get a government office.

Sixth—A hint is given by Mrs. Victor in the letter which I published in my pamphlet from Dr. Whitman about the secret service fund, something might be omitted about the fund. She says: "The letter, as published, has some omissions, therefore it is not quite clear how the fund was to be used." I will here say that nothing was omitted in that letter as published that had any reference to that fund. The omissions referred only to trivial matters, some of them private, or to subjects which did not relate to the subject under discussion and which would not pay for printing. If Mrs. Victor or any one else wishes to know what those omissions are I will inform them. All that I know about that secret service fund is what is stated in that letter of Dr. Whitman and the one by his brother-in-law, as published in that pamphlet.

Seventh—About the motives which induced Dr. Whitman to go East, she says: "Dr. Whitman entered into the deceit, pretending to McKinlay, his warm friend at Walla Walla, that he was going on this journey solely to prevent the breaking of the mission at Lapwai. He even solicited a letter on the subject from McKinlay, to be presented to the Board in Spalding's behalf. To the missionaries, he said he was going East to prevent Oregon from falling into the hands of the British. To the Board, he said he had come to try to induce a few Christian families to return with him and settle about the mission. To the Secretary of War and