Oregon

a State of the American Union, was acquired by treaty with England in 1846. It was visited by Drake in 1558 and, it is said, by Juan de Fuca in 1592. In 1792 Vancouver, an English officer, surveyed the coast from 30° to 60° north latitude. Robert Gray, of Boston, had previously discovered the Columbia River. It was claimed by the United States that the ‘‘ Oregon country,” included between 42° and 54° 40’, formed a part of the Louisiana ce ion, but England refused to recognize the claim. Lewis and Clark surveyed the country in 1804- 1806. In 1818 the United States and England agreed upon a treaty of joint occupancy, which was renewed in 1827. Ru ia had claims to the Oregon country south of 54° 40’, which she finally withdrew. Emigration from the United States into the region was stimulated by the reports of Dr. Whitman, a mi ionary, who made a perilous journey on horseback to Washington in the winter of 1842-43, and urged the government at Washington to a ert the claims of the United States to that region. The people of Oregon formed a provisional government in 1843. In the Presidential campaign of 1844 the Democratic platform demanded the reoccupation of Oregon. The cry “‘fifty-four-forty or fight’ threatened war with England, which was averted by the treaty of 1846, whereby the northern boundary of the United States at 49° north latitude was extended to the Fuca Strait. In 1848 the territory of Oregon was organized and made to include the present States of Washington and Idaho. A State Constitution was adopted in 1857, which forbade slavery and the immigration of negroes. The ‘‘anti-negro"’ provision prevented the admi ion of Oregon until 1859, February 14. In politics the State was at first Democratic, but in 1860 the Republicans secured the electoral vote of the State for Lincoln bya plurality. From 1860 to 1868 the State was Republican in all elections. In 1868 the Democrats carried the State, and again in 1870, 1874, 1878. At other elections the Republicans have been succe ful, except in 1892, when the electoral votes were cast for the fusion candidate. The population of Oregon in 1860 was 52,465; in 1890, 313,767. Histories by Bancroft and Barrows. “‘ Oregon,’’ the most powerful battleship ever built for the American navy up to January 19. Her keel was laid in San Francisco 1891. When war between Spain and America became imminent by the destruction of the ‘‘ Maine” the ‘‘ Oregon ’? was at Mare’s Island Navy Yard, San Francisco, which she left March 14, 1898, reached the Straits of Magellan, April 17, and put into Rio Janeiro for coal April 30, Her voyage was completed when she sighted Jupiter Light, Florida, May 24, sixtysix days from the time she left San Francisco, the most remarkable run ever made by any steam ve el. The ‘‘ Oregon” participated in the destruction of Cervera’s fleet off Santiago, July 3, 1898. O'Reilly, John B. (1844-1890), born in Ireland, transported for treason in 1866, escaped from Australia to the United States in 1869. He was editor of the Pilot from 1874 to 1890, and was noted as a poet. 56