The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1879-01-10
THE Committees REPORT.


The O,egonia,,, the sclfappointed
organ of the "organized" committee,
secs fit to state that few of the Dem
ocratic organs are attempting TO cover
up the report of that papers pet COM
mittee. This is an imputation which
the DEMOCRAT at least denies and we
believe the other Democratic papers Of
the State feel the same way. Az an
instance of the fairness of the Oregon
Democratic journals we make the fol-
lowing extracts. The first is from the
Salem Mercayy.
We have given the report Of the in
vestigating committee in full this week.
1t is long, but no longer than the vari-
GUS subjects demanded, and should be
read by every voter in the State. The
charges made against our State officials
of the past eight years are serious
ones, and, If true, those persons are
deserving of punishment, and should
be compelled to make restitution to the
State of all moneys thus illegally
spent. But we want every voter TO
read this report carefully for another
reason, and that is to fully understand
the objects Of this investigation. That
its effects viii be good, we have no
doubt, but that it was not with any dc
sire to benefit the taxpayers Of Oregon,
this committee has been prosecuting
the investigation, is apparent in moro
than one part of the report. Investi-
CATION can harm no honest official, and
we have and always shall approve
of fair and and impartial inquiry. into
the acts of all public officers. We de-
sired this investigation and encouraged
it, feeling that the people should know
the truth of the charges made that our
State officials have been extravagant
and dishonest. Ii the report of the
committee can be substantiated, those
charges were not without foundation.
The matter is now in such position
that the charges can be judicially in
vestigated, and this should be and
doubtless will be done. But there is II
vein of malice and partiality, a mani
fest desire to expose some and not TO
expose others, an evident disposition to
report the acts of some in a manner
which places them in the light of Grim
inality, when the facts disclosed will
not warrant such conclusions. There
is too much of spirit of persecution
against certain individuals, which must
BE- apparent to every reader Of the re-
port, TO be entirely consistent with an
impartial investigations We have no
intention of screening any of the per
sons investigated and reported upon by
the committee; they must defend them
selves in the courts-the only proper
place for defense from charges of this
nature. We believe the committee
has made the worst possible showing
against some of the individuals, and
that u judicial investigation will show
that many acts reported by it as Illegal
will be found otherwise. There are
some charges which require explana-
tion at the hands Of the parties impli-
Gated some which appear dark, and
which, if true, are dainning to the ac-
cused, but there are others which we
have reason To believe are not founded
upon fact, which have been magniiisd
by the committee, for a purpose, and
not for laudable purpose either. We
think this investigation has been con-
Quoted mere for the purpose Of break
ing down certain persons than with the
object Of getting at the truth Of the
Ill. l..
tired than 20 benefit the people; more
to build sort Of popularity as reform
ers than to expose wrong doers. We
don't believe one mans face can really
be made winter by backing anotbers,
though it may appear 80 10y contrast.
: Bat the report is before the public,
and we presume legal proceedings viii
be instituted soon, and then We may
know whether the accusations are true
or false, whether they have been col
ored and mAgnifed or not We want
! the whole truth, and we don't think we
{ have it in the report. We have not
space to give our reasons for so think
ing at present, but shall do so in the
future unless the whole matter is to be
investigated judicially, in which case
: there can be no necessity for further
, remarks.
/ The Eugene Guard also says:
| The Democratic'party has taken u
front stand in this investigation of Off.
cials that were elected by that party,
and while the onus OF these disclosures
4 will fall heavily upon it, it should not
: be deferred by party considerations
from meeting out full justice to all
those who are financially proven to
have betrayed the trust repOsed in
them. No party can afford TO cover
o rascality and interpose a shield between
the offender and justice. The report,
: however, in some parts is not worthy
e of the committee, as they have evident
: Iy allowed personal feeling and preju
0 dices to creep in and tincture it with q
color, as it were, OF revenge and spite
, They should have confined themselves
to the facts and allowed the public t.
a draw their own inferences and point
g their own suspicious as to the motives
g of parties accused.
/ @..-.--.@--
! QUESTION OF HUMANITY.