It is not even yet wiped from the surface of the earth.
It still remains in part, marked now no longer by the rotting head-boards of its graves, by the bones of the perished ones which once traveled it; but now by its ribands cut through the turf, and lined by nodding prairie flowers.
The old trail to Oregon was laid out by no government, arranged by no engineer, planned by no surveyor, supported by no appropriation.

It sprang, a road already created, from the earth itself, covering two thousand miles of our country.

Why?
Because there was need for that country to be covered by such a trail at such a time.

Because we needed Oregon.

Because a stalwart and clear-eyed democracy needs America and will have it.