, 1875-05-27
9uget Sorna dispatch.

SNyEt 0uNNM ISFaICM.
OREooN POLITICS. Salem States
man says: 'It is fact indisputed
among we'll informed politicians that
Oregon is Republican in sentiment.
The Democratic party is considerably
in the minority, and for various reasons,
it is steadily on the Decline" The
Eugene Guard, q Bourbon Democrat
Of the ''Brick Pomeroy" stripe, replies
to this: Among the multitude of SIAN
derous observations that emanated from
the brain of Mcdonald, of the States~
man, this is the most notoriously false
and silly" The question in dispute
between these editors is an impractica-
BILE abstraction, having no application
to Oregon politics as at present consti-
tuted by political parties, and hence no
means Of testing or determining which
is right. According to the ancient tests
Of Democracy. Oregon was, and is.
indisputably Democratic in sentiment.
in common with all the Western States
and Territories. According to the
principles upon which the Republican
party was formed. and as long as those
principles had any vitality in the gov
ernment of the country. Oregon was
indubitably Republican in sentiment.
According to the present organization of
political parties in Oregon, it would
defy human wisdom to determine which
is Republican and which is Democratic
in sentiment. The Republican party is
in the main oficered, drilled and di.
reoted by old Democrats. many of whom
adhered to the Democratic party until
after every issue upon which the Re-
publican party formed had been finally
determined, and that determination had
been accepted and concurred in by
almost unanimous consent; and the
party is at present based upon no de-
claration of distinctive principles or
platform in conflict with Democratic
sentiments, except in the single case of
professions of party fidelity to the
National Administration. Tbs Demo-
cratic party of Oregon has no single
feature, save in name. by which it can
be identified With the old Democratic
party. Its organization, management
and direction is solely in view of per-
sonal ends and interests combination
Of leaders and managers for the appor-
tio1ment of offices and division of spoils.
Every caucus of the party is managed
exclusively upon personal issues; every
convention an exchange of political
brokers for the purchase and sale OF
nominations, in which political consis-
tency or personal qualifications for the
proper discharge of public duty, have
no consideration; as witness the rejec-
tiou of Nesnith and the nomination Of
La Dow at the last State Convention.
The exceptions to this rule are the
Bourbon Democrats, as represented by
the Eugene Guard, who insist upon ad-
herring to the dead issues of the past
and steadily refuse to cooperate in any
measure of reform with any who do
not recognize unswerving fidelity to the
Democratic party as the infallible test
of political wisdom and virtue. II is
undoubtedly true that the Democratic
party as thus represented. "is consider
ably in the minority. and for various
reasons. is steadily on the decline,
The facts Of record sre, that the Dezl-
ocratic party Of Oregon holds its pres
ent power on a plurality representing
but little over one-third of the popu.
lar vote. and the Republican party has
still less adherents, while an Independ-
ent party in the State numbers nearly
as many voters as either of the old
parties. The conclusion is, that neither
can safely anticipate party triumph in
the future upon the sole merit Of party
management.
Party politics in Washington Terrific
ry are in the main identical with those
of Oregon, and as for that matter. the
same characteristics pertain to the poll
tics of most of the States and Terrific
ries. The time has past when bad men
can ride into power over the shoulders
of the people through caucus manage
ment and convention combinations.
The tyranny of party is broken and
hereafter no party can claim domination
but through the honesty and ability of
its representative men.