, 1881-02-26

That the SrArEsMAS has always had the
best interests Of this section Of the country
at heart u well known, and now, when
there arises a sycophant amongst US who
willingly sells his birthnght for a mess Of
pottage, we are again forced to raise our
voice in virtuous indignation That the
people Of this great inland empire are inter
estcd in the opening Of the Columbia river
was manifest by the outbreaks Of rescntrnen:
expressed on the rcceip. of tine Ore7o.iaH
tcrmins any future appropriations for TIN.
purpose virtual waste Of money" Whiir
our people fully understand why that paper
opposes any move towards giving US an IT.
dependent route TO tide water, they were
nevertheless at sea TO understand the motive.
prompting the Union, q sheet owing its very
existence to the mercantile and producing
interests of this country, that arc now suffer
ing for want Of chesp transportation. to 9
thoroughly coincide with paper that has
ever labored against the best interests OF sh'-
upper country. which would in any way he
detrimental to Portland. That if did so con
cur, the issue Of Feb. 10Th clearly Shows.
Abiding to the article published in the Ore
goHidn, and one that appeared previously II
that paper, the Union says:
THE Orsgomian of the 7th Of February,
however, contained an article giving = g."
reason for its opposition to the further ex
pcnditure Of money on the proposed Casc..d;
canal and locks 1t claims that If even cum-
pleted the canal would be of very little OF
no benefit TO the upper coahtry, because it !
fact that at stage GGf the water, Witnessed
only during limited time each year, will
even Grtt class boat be able TO reach the
ent;;a..nce to the lower end Of the canal"
II then quotes an extract from the O'tgo-
p;an, wherein it states that boat named
the Fa'amene Ch;;ef, with Il barge in tow
loaded with a cargo OF railroad iron, could
not at the low state OF water at thu. time in
the river, resch a much higher destination
than had before been attempted BY steamers.
Again it aims blow at the interests Of the
country that conceived it and suckled it from
infancy with its products and the results o.
the toll Of the brawny arms Of its sons, by
the following paragraph:
Taking this statement a. true. and we
have no reason for doubling its accuracy, the
opposition Of the Oregonian to the further
prosecution Of the Cascade canal, on the
present plan ia we'll founded. II canal can
not be built which will be easily accessible
by ordinary steamboats,, the money expended
upon it had as well he expended upon the
construction of ship railway between Wala
Walla and Wallula."
When Judas Iscariot betrayed our Savior
be 70 deeply regretted his treachery that he
went out and hanged himself. Benedict
Arnold attempted to sell his country in the
hour Of its greatest need, and as a conse'
quence the miserable wretch was like unto
pestiferous epidemic-a thing to be Stunned
by all-cren the lowest and meanest Of his
fellow creatures. 1t is thus with the Onion.
Il has proved itself traitor to the country,
ani.the damage it has accomplished by its
comments and endorsements Of paper that
is in arms against this section, has lost it the
confidence and respect of every class VIII o
make their home and earn their bread in this
fertile land. Wespeak more in sorrow than
in anger. From the time Of the first settle
ment Of our golden grain yielding valleys, all
Of our people have looked forward anxiously
and eIpectantly, and with that hoP-IulHv.,
that is born of true wish for the welfare of
our country, to the day when the govern
meht would take into consideration our iso- |
lated condition and SRsn s s4R VI tn Asest1ttsa n 1ttsa
Cascades and other ohstructed portions Of
tary the Snake, to that free access could be |
had to tide water and thus preclude the pos.
sibility of our being left for eternity at the
mercy of any grinding corporation or monop-
oily that might choose to ha.g the yoke Of
slavery around our necks. Much ~ the Ore
gonian and its ally in Walla Walla may
think that Portland IS entitled to a tt.
butte from the country east Of the Cascades,
they alone are Of that opinion. The people
Of this section with one voice are against
being robbed by . city that has been built
with the life blood of our settlers. for the
past quarter century. The cry Of distress
goes ont for free and unobstructed river.
and railroad through the country of our
birth and adoption. to our own tide water
front on Puget Sound. We care not whether
the future city Of the northwest be Seattle
or Tacoma-either will do-bnt to longer
toll for an ungrateful city, assisted by
traitor in our community who has stung the
breast from which he drew his milk, has
passed that stage Of human endurance that
made us martyrs.