, 1874-05-30
OREGON.
Tho Independent Political
Movement.
Speculations as to tho Result Of tho
Approaching Election.


Some Information About the State.
Correspondence " The Chteaao Tribune.
BatEM Oregon, atny 10, 1874.
Tho Interest," The TRIBUNE Heo1na to taKo IN
the coming Oregon oloction, a'7d IN tue progacse M
of independent Bontimopt In rotation 10 polis'es
wherovor It is displayed, induces mo- o. 70 s'Vo you
Bomo information concerning out o'ato' anu III
regard to its political status .... ..-
it III not to be supposed that your roaders
hayo very definite itlea OF tho Iaclio Norsh-
yost.-a region vast enough FOR hu Empiro, but
consisting in 80 great dogroo OF moantain-
rnnres aud high tablc-lands, and, to tho cast
ward. OF sugo-brugh plains, that is ia being
pooplcl hut slowly; aud tho dilioultios In tho
wnv of transportation rctnrd tho settlement Of
tint portion Of o1lr country which possesses i'll
vting fcatures
Tho Willamette Valley may DO considered as
Oregon, for its pyoluots arc nunt abroad, aud its
delightful urea, consisting of about 1900, Goo
acros, IL occupied by about 81, 600 population;
and offers as ma,,y advantages for social enjoy
mont mud agricultural prosperity Nh any oshor
eoction of equal extent OIL the Pacific Coast.
Willie there nro other beautiful valleys in our
State, tAoy arc not rs extensive, as reliably for
tile, or as accessible from the sea. So their
products aro not as valuable, aud thoir lands not
60 desirable. Wo need moro railroasl-facllities
to bring uB immigration, and open oyery section
of our Grcat StAto Tor occupancy, md Hoolro tho
development Of all olr RESOURCES. The railronda
that are now constructed ~haye aceurod great al-
yantagee Tor tho Willamette Valley, but do not
cjyo III connection with tho ross OF the world
onEdoE poI,ITICs,
During tho Civil War, the Republican, party
had no difficulty in maintaining ts aacelldelcy III
largely Democratic; but the aonimont OF loyal
~ nrcvnileI. nnd mn1o Oregon truo 70 tho
Union, After lilo ,Wnr-issuos passed away,
1I1,choll-our ,uoso,it Honator-grow iuto groat
oonni foIiowi,1e that finally s11coeoded in ruling
t1,n nartv. IL 1iG(. matterg wcro smut up to
oIect iIn to tho Unitoa States Senate but ho
was not then quite etroug enough to succeed.
Inc Inc w Woods. now Governor Of Utah, for
GGyernor. and . yory unpopular Administration
of four years followed. tint left the Republican
purty ycry nearly bankrupt, aud Democratic
Naturalization succeeded 1t in 1870.
About 1868, railroad. .inlluouce came In. and
ot,doayorod to control Oregon politics. Money
waa paid to corrupt the Legislature TINT year,
md oycry election since then 1as seen frae uao
Of money, both ut tho polls md during the ses-
thnt @ We 70 l,avo W suffered as inuch from corr Corruption
M any ether Northern State. Ben Halliday ON
poyed Mitchell as his attorney, and tho railroads
Influence became tho prcdouliuating feature Of
tho Republican party. Tho career Of Bon Hula
dayin Oregon has hcen ono OF unblushlng fraud III
connection with our politics. for no has oponly
cspouacd tile Republican side, and acruplad at
notling within Ills power that could secure lle-
publican HuccoEs. Ao established as hia por-
claims te bo tho ehiof Republican journal; 10
operated with aud through Mitchell to sccuro lia
cnds; and, two years ago, Alitchelas election to
tho United statos senato was secured by tho
moat unbiuBhlng bribery aud corruption, owl
dence Of which is now on tilo With tue sonate.
I4o people were not Tor aiitchelli but ine!n1ors
WHO worc elected with an understanding that
they did not faYor hiH promotion to tho Senate
elootion, ..-,,, .-. =.
a yenr ago ca1ne tho terrible disclosures Of
hltchelrs private history, sud Of bis antoce1onts
nj lllpplo, which astonlshed aud disYustcd tho
world. While tue world was full Of this matter,
convention vas called, last August to nouli-
nato d eandidata for Congress, aud Mitchall wRs
present there in person. demanding an indorse-
mont from his party., The Convention waa made
UP Of material suited to tho Mitchell interest,
aud, against ovory plea and proLontatiou from the
honest mon Of the party, the whitowashing ros-
oiuliou WAS forced through, mud tho consequence
WIS deinoralizaton mud utter defcat at. the elec-
tion. Moro than ono-lalf tho purity refused to
vote as all, and THAT too, when full yoto was
cortainty Of SUCCESS. The Ring candidate waH
defeated terribly, md g. dcfont this spring will
follow III result Of the Decentralization that still
exists.
a oLEIpsE AT THE PRESENT.
A great change has como over the people OF
Oregon ainco last year, caused by tho introduc-
ton Of tue Order Of Patrons OF uusbandry,.in in
this State. Whilo that Ordor does not Interfere
in politics at all, it has produced wonderful ro-
suits by bringing tho collntry-people together i'll
common interest should control the farming
community. Before this apread OF genial foeling
mud mutual confidence, political prejudico has
hHensby decreased, and feeling Of indopeld-
past, but which aoems to prevail wherover tho
Grange bocomes established. This has resulted
IN tho spontaneous ontsrowth OF an lndepend-
cut movement which has spread until
It, now Includes almost every county
,nga Of our State Convention, which vas nsattondcd
bythe very best eians Of substantial cltiZons, who
piaceu tnll atato ticket N tAs held. Ihe nom
lnatlonH made are genar9!ly good, but arc not in