The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1882-09-08
TIE LEGISLATURE.

Before another issue of this paper ap-
pears the Oregon. Legislature of 1882 will
have convened and questions momentous to
us all, and some of interest to the United
States at large will arise for determination
and settlement. Flom the tone of the press
generally for the past few weeks it would
seem that the chief question deemed of i'm
portance is the election of U. S. Senator.
We do not disguise our own feeling in this
matter, namely, that the choice Of the Ore
gon Legislature should fall on one combin--
ing many requisites. First, he should be a
Republican of undoubted consistency. We
name the Republicanism first, because many
a man can be found, we are thankful to say,
possessing other needful qualities, so the
Republican majority has the right, and
duty, of selecting one in full sympathy with
the principles of the great party to which
we are proud to own allegiance. Next, his
character for pure and honorable conduct in
all departments of life, public and private,
must be above reproach. Our Legislators
owe it to themselves and to their constitu-
ents, that none shall represent Oregon
in Congress whose doubtful antecedents
need sapology and explanation before the
noblest and best of the Senators there can
shake him cordially by the hand. More
over, his previous life must have proved his
fitness to manage and govern men and af-
fairs with honesty, wisdom and success He
must be independent in every sense, his in
spiration must come from a. real sense OF
duty to our State at large and not from a
public or private retainer for any man,
clique, ring, city or corporation. This in
dependence too, must be so true and com
plete that the people may rely on the new
Senator's influence on the filing Of offices
and appointments in the future being based
on the fitness of the appointee for the Office
to be filed and not in payment Of debts OF
gratitude for .favors in the canvass now in
ull blast, and the public record of the man
chosen as Senator must faithfully agree with
the professions he now makes. We put no
truth in sudden conversions here. We have
no faith that the election to the o. s. Senate
works a deep and abiding change in the in
ner nature, and life long conduct of man.
If man be clever, plausible, insincere, ac-
cessible to influences, favorable to certain
individual interests, and enterprises and to
the general neglect of duty to the state
at large, corrupt or impure In life or man.
ner, or recreant to political principles, that
character, that history, he will carry with
him to Washington if Salem lightning
strikes him. The lives and characters of
the candidates prominently before the peo-
pie are all pretty well known. Newspaper
praise and newspaper abuse would alike
pass very lightly by the Legislator who So
berly and earnestly determined to do his
duty by his country and by the State. Deeds
not words should be the record to be con-
suited. If in the application Of the princi-
pies here laid down it shall be found that
]. N. Dolph, Geo. FL. Williams, j. H.
w. Lair, Hill, r. P. Boise or any
other candidates prominently spoken of
or who may hereafter be brought before the
Legislature for that important position,
cannot stand the test, or if it is thought any
VI thSAl II SlSCseu Will nOG perform Gne
duties of United States Senator with equal
Justice to each and every portion of the
State alike, most assuredly pass them by
and seek some other material better adapted
to perform the peoples will. Let, at any
rate, the Benton county members know and
feel that for a bold and honest performance
OF their duty their constituents will hold
them to strict account, and will accept no
apology on the ground of Portland or ring
influence. The Valley members have got to
stand together, and quit themselves like
men. The Valley has reason to-day to be
proud of the members she is sending, for
they are at least the equals in character,
ability and education of any whom they ex-
pect to meet. Let them insist in plain,
thorough, courteous terms on their rightful
share OF power in the Legislature, and they
will get it this time, if they have never be-
fore attained it.