The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1874-03-13
POLITICAL sUeGEsT1oxs.
HAnnlspupe, March 8. 1874.


the sentiments Of the people, that
there is a settled determination to Sc
lect good men and true, to fill the
various Offices, county and State, in
the approaching contest. There is
to be observed, also, in connection
with this popular movement, kind
of spasmodic manifestation, that fire.
quently presages the dissolution Of
organized bodies, accompanied with
the expiring agony of the "Tax-Pay-
ers' Ticket" This desperate cry may
and should excite pity, but no alarm,
for they cannot and will not disturb
the live and healthy functions of the
body polite. The reflections Of
"Old Obediah," together with your
comments in the last issue of the
DEMOCRAT, exhibits in clear light
"The Taxpayers Ticket, SO that all
true Democrats may see and shun
contact or affiliation with this cast-off
political excrescence.
Whilst the people are entertaining
the present anxious and deliberate So
licitude to procure honest and capa-
BILE men to execute official trust, it
may be that the relative importance
attached to each may not be correct
ly appreciated. It is a gratifying fact
that all the aspirants for Office in
Linn county identified with the De-
mocracy are distinguished for their
competency and integrity. Hence
the people are not likely to suffer for
the unftness of their official selec-
tions SO far as the county is concern
ed. But grave errors might be com
mitted in choosing our State officers.
For some of the most important
measures that have ever touched the
interests of the people of Oregon
will likely be in issue before our next
Legislature and subjected to some
decisive action of that body, also,
ono measure at least is likely to claim
the attention and demand some ac-
ton of our National Legislature.
l alude to the improvement of the
Willamette river. The people of
this State have far greater interests
at stake in this project than any
other that is before them or likely to
be in the next century.
1t is the uniform opinion of all
competent judges, that the VILLAIN
cite river is susceptible Of improve
ment to that degree that will render
it nayigable to Springfield. nearly,
or quite the year round. But osuc-
cessfully accomplish this great enter
prise it must be presented to the
people, its feasibility and ultimate
advantage made apparent. Thus
much obtained, provision must be
made to prosecute the work. A con-
siderable sum of money will be need
ed, and the people are abundAntly
able to provide it without involving
themselves in any pecuniary embar-
rassment. But we are entitled to
aid from the general Government,
and believe if the magnitude of our
interests in all its relations we're cor
rectly presented to Congress some
substantial assistance might be had.
Liberal appropriations have been
made upon insignificant water courses
in the Atlantic States not assessing
one tithe the commercial Importance
of our Great Willamette. How ex-
ceeding careful the people should be
in choosing man to represent them
at Washington. He should be aman
of acknowledged ability and estab-
lished integrity, thoroughly acquaint-
cd with the wants of the people and
directly identified with their interests.
But notwithstanding the merit of
our claim upon Congress to aid us
in the improvement Of the William
cite, we need not certainly expect
any material assistance from that
quarter. Then the question comes
up, how and from whence must we !
look for q positive assurance to raise
the requisite funds to do the work.
Various methods on suggestion,
The preferable one that now occurs
to the writer is for the next Legisla-
ture, by and with the consent Of the
people in the several river counties,
to enact a law to levy tax on the
assossable property of these counties,
Before this is attempted to be done,
many preliminary steps should be
taken TO get the matter well in hand
with the people. The cost of the
contemplated improvement of the
river would probably approximate
two hundred and fifty thousand dol
lars certainly quite large sum of
money, but trihing compared with
the vast interests that would ul6-
mately ensue, II judiciously taken
and applied the people can pay it
and never feel it. The citizens of
Albany, Harrisburgand Eugene made
a present to Ben, Holladay of one
hundred and ten thousand dollars
for his courteous condcscension to