The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1867-12-28

Lebanon, Dec. IA. 1867

and signing himself "Pro Bono Publ
CO." alias "Dashaway," has been ven
tilating the characters of the good
people of Lebanon, their "walk aud
conversations" their "goings out and
comings in" before the readers Of the
"DEMocRAT" with good deal of mi
nutia and animadversion.
We are represented rs communi-
ty of busy-bodies, scandal-mongers,
oflice-scelcrs, with virtue easy and
purses tight, without enterprise or
good principles.
Not that all this is charged openly
in plain language, but covertly, by
sly innucndo and quiet sarcasm, which
means all this while pretending to say
something else.
AS self defence is the first law of
nature, | propose, with your permis-
sion, to reply through the columns OF
the "DEMocRAT" and rcbut the innu-
endoes and sophistries of your cores
pondent. And while doing so | shall
seek no quarrel with +. b. L. He is
SO far rs know n scholar and gen.
tleman, appearing perfectly so in his
demcanor, which makes his written
sentiments the more inexplicablc. lie
does not look like man who takes
delight i'll maligning his ncighbors, or
in searching out and contemplating
their defect of character.
Nor can it be imagined how he
can consider it "Pro Bono Publico :"
to show up to the world all the moral
deficiencies and dclinquencies of the
community in which he lives, and from
which he expects to derive his sup
port. Nor does it appear consistent
with the principles of " Dashaway "
to "drink when lac is sick or when he
wants to-" or to oppose temperance
organizations. But though We can
not fathom his motives We do not i'm
pngn them. lie may be honest in his
views but mistaken in his impressions
and wrong in his expressions.
The people of Lebanon, Ike all 9th
or communities, are mixed assort-
ment; having their good, bad, aud
Indifferent. They are guilty of griev.
Gus sins, no'doubt, both of omission
and commission; but that this com
munity is worse than other communi-
ties is a hypothesis not demonstrated
by any evidence that has yet appear.
ed. On the contrary, a community
more iuclined to stay at home and
mind its own business, Is seldom met
with. And no better evidence Of their
forbearance and hatred of scandal
can be required, than the fact that IN
spite of the proyocation given by the
writings Of I" Pro Bono Publieo," nc
word of recrimination or abuse has
ever been applied to him, in my hear
ing, by any citizen ofLebanon. True
an honest feeling Of resentment has
been exhibited, on account of the
hint offered against the reputation oi
our ladies. The ladies of Lebanon
are equally as yirtuous, rs talented
and as amiable, no doubt, rs the Ia
dies of any other community. And
should one of them fall prey to some
designing villain, it by no means ar
cues that all the rest are of easy vir
tue, or lacking in modcsty aud every
feminine qualification OF mind and
heart. 1t is a matter of serious re
gret, that the ladies of this vicinity
innocently and thoughtlessly nc
doubt, should have "laid themselves
open" TO his censurc; or that he could
have found no other foe more worthy
of his steel. As to the want of enter
prise here, there are certain laws oi
trade which govern the growth ot
towns, and those laws are not favora
BILE to the rapid growth of Lebanon
Her sister city Of Albany, but four
teen miles distant, has facilities fol
both manufactures and trade, with
which it is useless for Lebanon to try
to compete. 1t keeps up with the
wants Of the surrounding country
1t can do no more. 1t contains ar
excellent school in a fine building
two churches, steam saw-mill, (and
it is under consideration to add &
Touring mill also J three stores, two
harness shops, blacksmith's shop, {
wagon shop, cabinet shop, carpen
ter shop, three Dr's Offices, an excel
lent dentist, and not one aoISisltey shop
This certainly does not speak i'll fol
the industry and morality of the peo
pie here. They may have been slow
in finishing the Academy. Thar
can have injured no one. If i
did, anyone parading his grievance
through the newspapers can not hell
the matter. His proper recourse is il
court of law where he will doubt
less be awarded all damages proven