The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1866-03-17
THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

FANbA1@S A1S4AN Va a. NFFA~S lO
cal campaign can be already formed from
the movements and manifestations of the
two great c~ontending parties. The Abo-
htionists have taken the initiative in the
preliminary steps to the actual canvass,
and this enables Democrats to gather a
much clearer and more certain knowledge
of their aims aud designs. Whether it
vas downright stupidity, a lack of ordi-
nary discretion, or a bit of hap-hazard
braggadocia which actuated the Abolition
managers in their State Committee in the
selection Of the time for their State Con-
w~ention, We are unable to learn, but GER
tainly no set of men ever before in this
State undertook to engineer the conduct
Of any party who displayed such inexcus-
able and incomprehensible v~erdancy as
the present Abolition Committee have in
appointing their Convention on a day pri-
or to that already known by them to have
been selected by their political adversaries.
The AbolitiOnists, having thus opened
their campaigning by a blunder, have
done little else than to blunder or wran-
gle through each succeeding preliminary
step 50 far And as If TO inextrieably in
volve them in the labyrinth Of misfortune.
the difficulty between the President aud
Congress was precipitated in their midst
just as they had barely patched up, not
healed, some of their local discomfort
ments. The serious effects of this last
great trouble is visible in their ranks and
q ttheir meetings everywhere. Their lead
rs wage a Ectious, eliminating, acrimo-
4nious. personal warfare; their organs oc-
cupy more space in ireful and malicious
csunter-exchanges than they devote to
Democratic organs or henderson principles ;
AID in their private conclaves and pre-
cinct gatherings, there is exhibited as
much aseerbity Of temper, ~raneorous an-
ssgOnism, and malignant accusation, as
they have IN the late past displayed and
charged against Democrats.
This division in the ranks of the Abo-
htion party in this State has progressed
70 such IN extent that a perfect reconcile
alton between johnson and Congress can
not compose the strife nor restore unity
among the warning factions. On either
side. men aspiring for high places and
low HAVEN the heat Of passion, in the
hope Of thereby placing themselves be.
tore rival aspirants BY a hold declaration
of sentiment in the desire to vent som,
long reserved spleen, or from some othei
motive-given expression to language
which cannot be recalled, and will not b
forgiven By those against whom these at
tacks we're aimed. And many of the vim
dictive competitors now aware that then
chances for promotion or ~aggrandize
ment are dissipated, viii in sheer malic'
prefer to see defeat overtake all. It is ii
that party the great majority of the spoils
men are; and that class most freauentl,
labor a. hard to pull down when they ar,
set grati6ed As they do to build up wher
theg are e reap the profit They vii
make = dirision so serious IN the Adolf
ten party that al the efforts Of its wises
or caapingest leaders cannot remedy it
And tie conviction which is now prett,
strong upon the great mass Of the party
that their cause in Oregon is hopeless, d
what they may-wi1l SO thoroughly de
moraIize their active, working forces, a
to cause them TO grow lukewarm and ap
athletic Just at the time vixen the hardest
sharpest blows must be instantly struck
On the other hand, the Democrat
have never been better prepared for
vigorous, steadfast progressive, enthusi
astic sampaign- The confidence Of Gel
tain victory aninates, and the conscious
ness Of The high duty they are called ~
OF to perform iulpels them to the gloriou
work. The State is to be redeemed fror
the clutches Of It's direst enemies and cor
fded again to the guardianship of its mo.
devoted friends; great, ancient, usdyin
principles are to be INDICATED; a reel
less desperate, Inscriptions, fanatic.
party IS to be overcome and the savin.
life-restoring, ~rejuyenating influences
which ever flow from Democratic rule an
Democratic measures, are to be difuse
throughout the whole State There
concord in our councils, nnbroken harm
ny IN our ranks, and unity ofpurpose fro
one end Of the State to the other. II
shall succeed because we possess With
III organization all the elements of 81
cess, and because our whole, undivide
compact. resistless strength will be diree
ed against the weak points of the enemy
walls, and there win not be any diversit
Of this massed attack BY reason Of int
nal wranglings. lukeRarmness or disco
tent within our organization. Our tick
vii soon be made up IN the State Co
ventian, ear platform vii be given for
6r Al 70 study and scan, and upon fhs
With ON selected champions for the co
tesk,- Re shah surely, steadily, grand
maEch 70 victory IN the great engagemei