The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1873-12-12
LETTER FROM ALBANY.

Dear Mrs. DUnirdy:-After the ed
itorial scolding I received at the point
Of your caustic pen OH the occasion OF
the appearing Of my last (and first) let
ter IN print, had an attack Of timidity
from which did not readily recover.
remember that you complained because
l did not sign my own name to my let
ter "rather than some random letters in
it," Well, doctors will differ as to ex-
pediency, sometimes. Carelessly listen
ing TO the comments OF the curious,
among those who never suspected me OF
being the writer, learned what never
dreamed Of before; namely: that 1 was
a pretty clerer .JelLOW. Now, Mrs. D.,
might have never made this discovery
if had signed my name, for everybody
here thinks I'm little lacking in the
upper story, and when they know l DO
anything they don't appreciate 1t. /
desire that my writings-since am q
''clever fellowr-shall carry as much
weight as possible, so think I ought,
at the risk Of again incurring your dis
pleasure, TO remain inc0g. Besides, !
have been violent opponent Of Woman
Suffrage, and haven't the moral cour-
ago to come out as its open champion
yet awhile. In the post Office, one day,
when the identity of your Albany cor
respondent was being discussed in my
presence, found that was supposed to
be Powell, Finn, Gray, Hanan, Foster,
Elkins or Thompson. And learned,
too, that every man of brains in Albany
WAS suspected Of believing just as | now
do on the Woman Question, while all
the simpletons and whiskey men were
opposed to my position.
Democrats and Republicans alike
agreed that there was no political speak
ing here during the canvass that would
at all compare with yours in candor,
fairness, common sense, courtesy and
truth. And as TO eloquence-if was to
tell you half l heard, you'd get indig-
nant and say it was flattery.
Your judicious and timely rebuke OF
NJ. V. Browns coarse, ribald obscenity
was so kindly, and yet so severely exc
cuted that I was not surprised that he
attacked you as he did. It's the wounded
bird that flutters, always.
Why do you give place to j
VS. stupid metaphysics? He's as
mad as n March hare. You surely do
not know the man. Not that there's
anything bad about him, but he's sort
Of addle-brained. Don't mind him.
Your comments on the Glass -AIealy
ease were received, as are many other
bombs you throw, by great diversity OF
opinion. As usual, the lewd and
drunken who by necessity make show
Of virtue where none exists, gave you
fits for ''pandering to corruption The
timid, who longed 10 speak good word
for Charley, but had not the courage TO
do so for fear somebody would cry
WITCH" grew bright when they saw
that one newspaper dared TO speak its
Elind; while the better class Of honest,
upright citizens openly lauded your
fearless and sensible comments.
The general verdict here is that DIR.
Glass got less than half his deserts; that
George Mealy ought to be punished and
Charley honorsbly acquitted. Ny YER
diet Is: punish the guilty, but te very
careful not to. condemn the innocent,
and hold everybody innocent until
proven guilty.
You ought to see Mart Brown strut
since he got to be Mayor. I know you'd
enjoy it. II was fun to see the way he
worked for his election.
But this letter is as rambling and Cos
sippy as a wom--hold; Mrs. Editor, /
didn't quite say it.
l DO not not now positively remember
the letters chosen as q signature 10 my
last, but | believe they were
]. C. r.
ALBANY, Or, December 5, 1873.