The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1881-02-18
We still WAIT FOR ANSWERS.

We SIyll WAIT fUk ANSWERS
The Oregonian of the 1lth inst. has
paid the Corvallis GAZETTE the COM
pliment of using the questions it put
in its leading article OF the 4th inst.
as the text for long article on the
Oregonian side Of the Mitchell.Scott
controversy.
Onr readers will forgive. ms if we
recur once again to this matter We
do so on the same simple ground that
the public characters of the public
men of the State rightly concern us
all.
And we hold farther that real
service is done them, by affording
cause for explanation in matters
which, if left untouched, would re-
main as festcring sores on their rep,-
tations.
In the article of the 4th instant we
commented on the strange fact that
Mr.. Mitchell's earnest and enthusi-
lastic " support of the Northern Pacif
ic Railroad, Should have caused at
tie time an impression TO prevail that
he was the secret opponent of the
road, and that it was to his influence
and efforts that the delay in its COM
pletion was attributable. And we
noticed that this conviction continues
to exist in the mind of Mr.. Billings,
the president of the road, who may
be supposed to be as good witness
as could be summoned to testify.
We found further that this state of
feeling and action on the part of MIR.
Mitchell was perfectly consistent
w..h the Congressional Records,
which that gentleman cited TO prove
his innocence. We desire information,
also, on the plain question, whether
Ms. Mitchell, whilst sitting as U.
S. Senator from Oregon, held the re-
taincr, direct or indirect, of roads or
capitalists supporting interests antag-
onistic to the Northern Pacific.
These questions are forced on the
public by the whole run and sense oi
Mr.. Mitchell's open letter to Mr..
: Scott.
But the editor Of the Oregonian in
his reply to the ex-U. S. Senator,
gave such character of that gentle.
man that to him in return it seemed
essential to put questions vital to his
own position esa public writer, and
one protesting to guide public opir-
ion IN this State.
A man is known by his friends.
True he may be taken in by impost-
ure IN private as well as public char.
acter. And il, in righteous indigna.
tion, he cleanses himself from the con-
tinuance of connection with those
proved to be unworthy and despica-
BILE in soul and action. SO soon as he
arrives a's, the unwelcome conviction
of the ;rutH, no one is entitled to cast
a stone at him.
Our questions to the editor of the
Oregonian were strictly addressed to
the point of time.
Assuming the Hon. J. III. Mitchell
to be what you. the Hon. Fl. w.
Scott, describe him, and assuming
that at some special period you gain
ed this knowledge of what he was,
did you, or when did you, denounce
him as the imposfure you now tell us
he was proved to be-? You say that
you admit that you adhered to him
TOO long-ths question is, how long,
and how far did this support of yours
last ? To what lengths did you go
in his favor? Was or was not what
you now tell US you knew about him
consistent with apparent anxiety on
your part to retain his friendship
and support, long after the disclosures
to which you refer.
The Oregonian in another article
on Feb. l4th says in so many words
that Mr.. Mitchell is. and has been
for two years past, the salaried agent
of the Q. R. 81 N. Company, serving
in that capacity both before the leg
islature of Oregon and the Congress
of the United States. This being so,
people should know it. We suppose
this is what Mr.. Mitchell means by
the quiet exercise of his profession. .
In acceptance of proposition
-~nIr L., H, Dn;J 1,.x ..1 ~