The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1879-08-16
IT MEANS LIBERTY.


There is in independeEtism Free
dom. 1t is the embodiment OF
all there is IN the word liberty.
It means nothing more and is
nothing less than that a citizen
shall do as he pleases, and that he
shall work for his own interests
and the promotion OF those pnn>
clples of government which to-
day allows the American TO boast
that he is permitted by the laws
of his own creation to govern
himself, to foster his own inter-
ests,and to protect himself against
the dishonest ofiicesseekar and
the intriguing politician. 1t is The
carrying ont OF the ideas which
first found a home in the minds
OF jefferson, Adams and those
others whose wisdom and disre-
gard of personal aggrandlsement
gave to Us the grand and glorie
Gus republic which to-day is ours
by right of heritage, and to whose
far-reaching thought provided
that which will never be other
wise than the wonder of all man
kind so long as the people assert
their freedom, and by honest
work try TO maintain it as handed
down by them who gave II ex>
isience..
To prove this it is not neces-
saly TO call attention to the fact
that those who were IN the be-
ginning did not allow party ties
to prevent them from opposing
dishonesty IN Office. He who was
a thief was named as such, and
he who committed another wrong
was called by his right name
and speedily punished,
Tut time has changed parties
saud the leaders of parties. The
question is no longer rs he
capabIe-is he honest?" The
point aimed at by party leaders is
10 secure Office, and even in our
own State do we find it true that
an official thief escapes for fear
the exposure of his misdeeds
will lead to aninjury of the party.
The success of The party is above
all other considerations, and if a
man has money, and has a will
TO spend ii he Is more likely to be
placed at the head OF a State or
county ticket than a poor man;
for the reason he will use mis-
money to secure election, and
through HE money-without a
single other recommendation In
his behalf-he will ride into Of
flee to make more money. And
the same wealthy man Is often,
too often, an aspirant for Office.
Bringing the subject home to
those of Southern Oregon who
are more directly interested, we
would ask how many times has
each voter known men of means
to work and forestall the &c tion
Of primary meetings, and after
wards not only control the
county and SIate conventions for
the benefit for themselves but for
the election of their friends ? A
hundred times perhaps has this
Teen the case In Southern Oregon,
and that many times have the
rank and file OF the members Of
the parties went to the polls to
ratify by an election nominations
which money and wire-pulling
had secured contrary to the pops
ular wish. Better proof of this
fact cannot be furnished than is
.tonnd IN the frequent lnderend>
ent movements OF the country,
and the restless spirit eylnced by
the taxspaying classes which finds
utetrance through independent
nominations. That spirit is an
ontburst OF feeling from those
who ask apd~desire nothing more
than honest. economical and capa-
BILE government, and by the citl-
zens who think for themselves
and will not be driven, contrary
to the intentions. OF those who
founded the American republic,
to the polls as so many cattle to
the slaughter to vote for the elec>
ton of those nominated by rings
and cliques bred in political par
ties having for their guidance
the convenient though questiona-
bic motto of ''principles, moi
men," With Independents it has
come to them through sed expe-
rience that the motto should be
men, not principles, and they
have found out that to elect hon>s
est men 10 Office is 70 trust rrin>
.cipIes in safe hands ard to vote
for the best man is to work for