The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1873-09-19
THE SITUATION.

The letter from Lafayette, which ap-
pears elsewhere, is a repetition of the
ideas Of other writers who have by
scores addressed US upon the propriety
Of running an independent Woman Suf-
frage candidate. There is a very widely
circulated receipt for cooking hare"
which says, "First catch your hare"
Now, where is the candidate? Can we
catch him ? Is there prominent pub
lie man who will take the stump and
create furore in this direction that
will be irresistible? ? II so, who is he
Where is he?
Republicans and Democrats, the mass
of them, will walk up to the polls on
election day and vote their straight
party ticket just like so many sheep at
the bidding Of their masters crook.
Men lack backbone. True, there are
many who, did they know beyond the
possibility OF a doubt, that victory
would crown their efforts, would thus
come forward, but foresight isn'tso good
as hindsight, and they won't risk it.
Hiram Smith may be relied upon TO
vote for our interests and faithfully rep
resent us in Congress. We know
whereof we speak. He was the only
man who had sufficient bravery to bear
the Republican party's banner aloft
when schism and scheming got the bet
ter OF judgment and common sense in
its Convention. We honor him for
this act. The Israelites consoled them
selves under trial in olden time with
the reflection that the "Ark Of God was
not taken" Hiram bears the ark. Let
us assist him. Gathering wisdom from
the past years experience we have in
quired into his private history. Adding
TO our personal acquaintance Of many
years the testimony of host of his
Democratic friends Of Linn, who, being
moral men, will not vote for tother
Smith, we learn that his bitterest enemy
can bring no charge against his personal
reputation, business integrity and finan-
eial shrewdness. All these are needed
in a member Of Congress. Especially
does Oregon need such a member now.
Hiram Smith, having no children Of his
own, has reared a large family OF
adopted orphans, all of whom are much
attached to him and his estimable wife.
Only two weeks ago he adopted little
girl from Eastern Oregon, relative OF
one whom he had formerly reared, and
advanced the money to pay her fare
from Canyon City to Harrisburg. We
do not know that he would thank us
for telling this, but when a man is up
for Congress he must take the conse-
quences.
We are disgusted with the Republi-
can party. It's sins OF omission are as
bad as its sins Of commission, and, did
we not know that in Hiram Smith the
Woman Movement will have a friend
in Congress, We should incline to our
correspondents propositions and be
constrained to risk them. But every
vote Of temperance men and Woman
Suffragists for an Independent candidate
will be half a vote for rother Smith,
the libertine with an alias.
Now, friends, one and all, let us unite
to put to route the faction ofPharisaicaI
ranters, who, under a very thin and
tattered cloak Of purity, are striving to
raise a stop-thief cry that shall permit
an enemy to truth, and worth, and de-
cency, to enter in and possess the COW
eted Congressional prize. Denounce
the Mitchell resolution all you can, but
don't let Indignation outtun discretion.
Two choices are before you for Congress
man, good and evil one. Which will
you have?