New-York tribune., 1870-05-23
OREGON.
PROSPECT OF A REPUBLICAN YICTORY-POLITICAL
HISTORY OF THE STATE.

PROSPECT OF A REPUBLICAN NyICTORY-POLITICAL
HISTORY OF THE STATE.
SALEM, Oregon, May 4.-Our State election
Monday, the 9th proximo. The names OF the
candidates the opposing tickets and the platforms or
the substance of hem have already doubtless been pub
hed in THE TRIBUNE that it's readersw have marked
the difference between the clear and terse enunciaon OF
living principles by Republican State Convention and
the miserable abortion" is characterized by their
own organs, of the Democracy. AS with the Platforms
so with the men. The Republican candidates are i'm
measuraby superior TO their opponents in nearly all
spccts. Judge Nelson, candidate for Congress- is
man Of education and talent who has already achieved
enyiable distinction, while Slater, his opponent spoiled
good blacksmith to make poor lawyer Of himself Tho
sterling worth and dignity Of Cen Palmer stand in bril-
liant contrast to the sycophancy and subseryiencyto to
party discipline OF the amable but spneess Grover. Of
whom of his partsans said some time ago, that
he was a sexual mistake he ought to have been born
woman" To particularize further, the Republican
ticket is strong and popular one while that Of the
Democrats, like their platform, s to use current Ore
goniansm, "powerful weak" well as highly objec-
tionable, personally, to many members OF the party
of whom have repudiacd the Reputation plank
in their party PLATFORM and supporting our ticket
Ex-senator Nesmith who occupied anomalous politi-
cal position during the war; still sits on the fence with
favorable leaning toward the Republican side. Whether
his native force Of character will ever enable him to
shake off the old Democratic shackles which impaired
his usefulness and checked him promising career, is
q conundrum which gave up a long while ago.
The Republicans hopeful and enthusiastic, the
Democrats generally spiress and respondent, though
their leaders bcsrrng themselves and their news
paper organs have revived the bitter unscrupulous and
vulgar style Of Journalism which gave the Oregan
press an unenyiable notoriety some years ago.
All the signs point to a Republican victory this year.
The political capital Of the Democracy Is reduced to re-
pudiation hostility to the Chinese, and personal
questions There be but little doubt that the State
will set herself right upon the main points.
Perhaps portions Of the past political history OF
Oregon may be worth preserving in your columns. At
our State election, in 1853 the Democrats were large
y In the ascendancy triumphng over the combined Re-
pubcans and Independent Democrats by large MAORI
ty and eectng by majority Of about 400 candidate
whose personal unpopulaity in his own party was so
great that his nomination seemed to have been made
through reckless bravado Lafayette Grover the present
Democratic candidate for Governor elected to Con-
gres and the first State Legislature convened in Sep
tembcr 1885, elected Gov Jo Lane and the Hon. Deazon
Smith to the United States Senate. During the Winter
Oregon was admitted into the Union State, and in
the drawing for Senatorial TERMS the long term, expiring
1861 fell to Lane and the short one expiring In 1852 to
his colleague. Growers Congressional term also expired
in 1852 Previous to this time the politics OF Oregon had
been controlled by the "salem Clique" composed Of
Asahel Bush editor OF The Statesman; j. W. Nesmth, b.
f. Harding L. f. Grover, and others, OF whom Bush was
The Statesman, were conclusive. This coterie
had raised 10. Lane TO such hight
that he thought himself able to manage the political
affairs Of State himself and began to snub his patrons
in the matter OF appointments and otherwise, and to
create for himself u personal party within the Demo
cratic organization The clique" however, nominated
the entire State ticket including Grover for Congress-
and sent Smith to the United States Senate anti
Lane man. Smiths reckless and improvdent habits,
however placed him In Lanes power, and ho returned
10 the State warm supporter Of his colleague After his
election TO the Senate Lane thinking himself secure In
his position, assumed arrogant tone toward tho
cque" who had elevated him, and his return to the
State after the adjournment Of Congress In March, 1859,
ouarreled violently with Eesmth who had been one OF
Ills stanchest supporters threatening him with dismissal
from the Office Of Superintendent OF Indian Anars when
n then held Eesmth replied: "General have done
s much as any other toward placing you where you
are and promise myself tho pleasure of soon ramplng
upon your political grave"
In June Gov Whitaker convened the Legislature for
the purpose Of Senatorial election The reelection OF
smith seemed Inevitable. IL was only defeated by tho
reading m the State Senate OF paper relating some ais
closures made by Grover Of Smiths personal misconduct
Am Washington. After the reading of the document
embers found exGuscs for g0lng home unt e Souate