The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1873-12-19
THOUGHTS AND FACTS.

is to come from with which TO liquidate
ever accumulating newspaper bills, and
pieturing to ourself the relief that would
come from the abolition OF all financial
obligations, thereby making us indeed
a member of a protected sex" whose
doubtful right it now is to be politically
irresponsible, we turn from personal
investigation that bothers TO public
investigation that amuses ms.
The political pot is bubbiing, seeth-
ing, boiling and running over at an
alarming rate. Men who are oat OF Of
fee, but who, in former times, held fat
positions long enough to learn the vari-
ious unmentionable mOnied manipula-
tions necessary to get in, have been
seized with spasms of virtue, and are de-
termined that if they can't hold position
longer tother fellows Shdn't; and the way
they are abusing each other is caution
to common sense. It is said that when
rouges fall ont honest people get their
dues; and We doubt not but this COM
motion will terminate in such a politi-
cal upheaval as will open the eyes of the
privileged, bat not wholly responsible
sex, as women's financial obligations so
often prove, to the realization Of the ex-
isting necessity that they should be just
to others if they would themselves enjoy
the reign of peace on earth and good will
to men and women.
Gov. Gibbs ought to have known that
his late action rs L. :. Attorney would
procure his dismissal; and we venture
the declaration that If he had consulted
with two or three worthy women in
stead of the faction OF malignant mall
contents who are out of office surely
against their will, and are therefore de-
termined TO ruin the party they can no
longer rule, he would have seen that
the course he was taking would result
in no good to his party and much harm
to himself.
There is no use in beginning at the
little end Of National corruption to re-
form politics. The man that does it
only gets his feet fast in the general
mire and loses his head for his pains.
Colonel Bellinger OF the Neics is tick
ling the wounded vanity of his historic
enemy OF the 'sinch" and "cheeseknife"
in peculialy refreshing manner. But
ii must be very CALLING 10 as sensitive
a man as Mr.. Gibbs to suddenly find
himself alternately fiattered, condoled
and cajoled by the Democratic party,
which at last has fellow feeling in
common with him in that il is headless,
but determined not to remain so.
We have quietly watched the contest
all along, and being situated as the old
lady was when her husband and the bear
were in q fight, we have had ample
opportunity TO watch the war between
outs and ins in the Republican ranks,
the former being backed by their Demo-
cratic allies, and the latter by the power
Of possession which comprises the nine
best points of law, and we have reached
this conclusion: The Republican Ring
which the OregOnida and other Demo-
cratic papers are so bitterly pitted
against, is the National Administra-
tion. This "Ring'i is so many thOus-
and degrees larger than the malcou-
tents imagined that the entering wedge
with which they have sought to "burst"
it, shoots through every time and
never once disturbs its center of gravity,
while the poor, unlucky wedge gets its
labor for its pains and loses its head for
its ardor.
Now, let no man accuse us of "pan-
dering to corruption" but this sdmo-
milton is unnecessary, as we we'll know
it will not be heeded). We endeavor to
view all things from philosophical
standpoint; and in looking over our
eountry's history we see that while the
governed is right in theory, tits wrong in
practice. 1t can only be half just at
best, because one-half OF the governed
are denied the right of consent 10 be
governed.
Again, the whole machinery Of
appointive Offices is bad. It places a
power in the hands of victorious party
that is calculated in its very nature to
breed corruption and tempt men TO
give and take bribes. Were all the Of
fees elective this patronage of Admin
istratiOns would cease, and the people,
without the aid OF secret inquiSitions,
misealled Grand Juries, could publicly
reach all officers who might be derelict
in duty by popular judicial impeach-
ment, if they should attempt TO force
unlawful issues upon the people.
We respectfully suggest to Messrs.
Gibbs and Deadly and their editorial
mouth-pieces that true reform will be-
gin at the basis instead of the apex of
corruption. 1t will open the doors OF
political equality and power and respon-
sibility to the purifying influences that
will alone suffice 10 keep home, or
church, or school, or society, within the
pale Of good morals, and that will alone
have power TO check the vices of the
body polite. 1t will bring 10 the front
a vast array OF clear-brained women OF
clean conscienees and pure morals,
whose deliberations are sadly needed in
the councils of Nations. IL will at
once raise a clamor for the abolition OF
appointive offices, and thus strip from
Administrations the prime cause Of cor
ruption. 1t will assist good men and
true to make straight the crooked paths
OF legislation that order may spring
from confusion and that all those who