The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1868-04-18

CORVALLIS. Arn1L ID. 1868.


Editor State Rights Democrat.
On Saturday, the 18th inst, Messrs. Smith
md Logan addressed tho citizens Of Benton
county upon the political issues of the day, in
this city. The Court House is the largest and
most available public building we have for
such occasions and long before the hour for
discussion arrived, oil the seats, bar, and cv.
cry place where a person could stand, were
occupied. There were still large numbers
Of persons on the outside who were unable to
get near enough TO even hear the speakers.
never saw IN audience more deeply in.
terested every eye was turned to the speak.
ers, and their every movement was clearly
noted. Mr.. Logan had tho opening of one
hour and n half, Mr.. Smith to occupy the
same time in u reply, and Logan then to oc.
cupy fifteen minutes in arejoinder.
When Mr.. Logan was introduced, the look
Of satisfaction upon the countenanccs OF some
Of the more thorough Radicals was apparent;
while doubt and evident uneasiness was dc.
picted upon the elongated visages OF some Of
our local Radical place hunters, either rs TO
the positions tho speaker would assume, or
as TO his ability to cope successfully with tho
Democratic candidate.
As his line of argument began 10 be dc.
yeloped, and rs objections and difficulties in.
Vulnerable, almost, rose up in his way, re.
curing continual evasions, and upon some
very important subjects, entire silence, il be.
come entirely manifest that he had fallen far
below the expectations of his friends, and
hnd not in the least disturbed the equanimity
of the Democrats. The Radicals here expect
cd him to undertake n prove that negro suf.
fragc was right and proper, and that il ought
10 be accepted by the people everywhere,
but That he Individually was opposed To it.
But instead Of putting it upon broad and
comprehensive principles which all could un-
derstand, Mr.. Logan confined il, to some ex.
tent, 10 the mean aud selfish purposes OF
Radicalism-that is 10 say, whenever and
wherever, in Mr.. Logan's opinion, il may
be necessary TO enfranchise d few negroes,
or one million, or more, for the purpose Of
overcoming the white vote Of the country,
for p%artizan purposes, then Mr.. Logan fayors
and ~justiics it. While clearly committing
himself to this negro infamy. thus FAR aud
for these purposes, hc did not tell us lao was
opposed to it under all other circumstances
lie did not tell us he was opposed TO il IN
Oregon, or in the Territories, or in the Dis.
trict Of Columbia but he did inform us that
he justified il in the latter place because sun.
dry crimes and offences, "a he aycrred, had
been committed there.
Upon the great question Of finance Mr..
Logan was rs dumb as the harp which is
supposed To be hanging on Tarais walls.
Not n word Of promise to the weary and over.
taxed laborcr Of the country fell from his lips!
lie could promise no hope in the future for
lighter taxation or better times financially.
According 10 Mr.. Logan the laboEing men OF
the country have nothing TO hope for in the
future but to labor and pay taxes, and pay
taxes and labor, and TO beqneath the same
legacy to their chiidren's children, even Ia
the fourth generation. This il not a pleasant
picture tn look upon, but il il all that Mr..
Logan had to offer. Aud taxation To be in
creased from year 10 year n maintain n large
standing army i'm the South, whose business
IL is to drive the whites from the polls ut the
point Of the bayonet, and 10 maintain the
rights Of the wards OF the nation, - to gov
cTn.
These were substantially Mr.. Lpgau's pc.
sitious on logical &c lucnces clearly dedacible
thercsrom, and no wonder Radicalism began
10 be restless and uneasy when he bad con.
eiRded. THIS was not manifested hy an &c.
tual demonstration, but By the dissatisfied
look depicted in the c0untcnance oT every
Radical present. They were not perhaps
dis2leased entirely with all Of Mr.. Logan's
positions, but with the fact that their cause
bad been presented TO the people by their
chosen champion, and lost. Mr. Logan sat
down amidst a labored effort ne enthusiasm
amongst "A few Radical Office holders up in one
corner.
When Mr.. Smith arose 10 reply, tho Radi.
cal candidate for District Attorney, from
your county, who occupied "A seat inside the
bar, seemed tn be covering like he expected
a thunderbolt would DO launched ut him di.
rectly but as Mr. Smith paid no attention
whatever to him, nor did not recognize his
presence, the aspiring attorney seemed To
feel better.
Mr.. Smith then proceeded to discuss the
political issues Of the day for his allotted
time, in the most mastery and eloquent
manner. By n few pointed and pithY allu.
si0ns to well known historical facts, he let
the wind out of the Radical bubble. lie then
proceeded 20 state succinctly the Radical fal-
lacies and the objections to them with such
distinetness and power that | feel convinced
that Mr.. Logan himself must have realized
the fret. that the monstrosities and absurd
ties of R~adicalism, even in his hands, and
with his acknowledged ability, are totally
indefensible. Whether he realized this or
not, a very large majority Of the audience
did, and such will be their verdict at the polls.
Mr.. Smith discussed the financial question
with an ability that evinced a thorough nc.
quaintance with the whole subject and a
Willingness and determination on his part to
bring to the notice Of the country prop osi.
tons which, If adopted, would greatly de.
crease the public burdens, gradually Blu,
surely lessen the interest on the public debt
and in a short time result in its entire ex.
t%inction. On this point the people must hear
him to realize the power of his arguments.
During the entire time Mr.. Smith was
speaking the audience listened with almost
breathless attention. So profound was the
attention that you could have heard a pin
drop on the floor almost Mt any time during
his address, while above the breathless ST.
lence was the clear, clarion notes Of the
speaker, ringing out the doom of Radicalism.
Such speeches as Smith delivered here will
tell upon the questions at issue at the polls.
BENTON,
"THE SHovEL."-Upon the "break.