The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1883-10-12
.xsErKsDEsr seuRsAlssa.

the fact that whlte tnat J0ukuAA
processes very strong opposition to our
present protective tariff system, yet 1t
uniformly supports that party whese
are pledged to maintain and
uphold that systea. In our artless way |
Of thinking we looked upon The course
of the 0regOaian "a inconsistent and
dishonest, and We 80 charged IL. The
defense, and only defense, which the
Oreooaiiam makes is that the DsMocRAT
Is an ''organ," while Il is an 'indspen.
dent" Newspaper. Now, from eur
unsophisticated nature, We are unable
to tell what the oregoniaa means when
IL saws we are an ''organ," and We are
unequally able to grasp its profound
meaning whea it calls itself ''indspen-
dent" If il means to say, that because
We arc In harmony generally with the
Democratic party its policy and its
principles, We are an "organ," then We
plead guilty as charged In the Oregonsa"
indictment. If it means TO say that
because We support for congress candi-
dates whose views On the tariff question
are in harmony with our own, We are
an "organ," then do We again enter
plea of guilty. If it means to say, that
our profession and political action with
reference to political questions are in
harmony with each other, and that tAis
fact constitutes as an "organ," then
We have no defeAss to make nor desire
or inclination to make enc, but are
glad to be an "organ."
Now, If the 0rsgonian's "indepen-
dence" consists in utterly denouneing
the tariff as . robber system, one to bs
despised by every citizen and lover OF
fair-dealing, and then with brazen
Iimpunily supporting for Office the very
men who are openly and notoriously
pledged to maintaiA that robber system,
then do We rejeics that We are not
''iadependent." The truth Is that the
OregOnian yearns to be N "organ" in
the Republican party, bat 1t has, for
years, had factienal fight With GER
tain members and leaders Of its own
party, and has said and doAe 90 many
Questionable things in keeping up that
fight, that it would Be impossible for
it to be recognized as in harmony With
that party or its leaders
Was it Mr. Scott's "independeacs"
that enabled and induced him to de-
nounce Deady, Gibbs, and others, As
''aeshIy incubuses," for attempting to
ferret out and punish the violators Of
the election law in 1872 when Ben.
Holiday was running the elections for
the Republican partyi Was it Mr..
Sce.t's Independence" that led him to
come 70 the Albany convention and
Iinduce that convention TO pass resolu-
ticns indorsing Mr. Mitchell after his
"youthful indiseretiOns" had been
brought to light Was i. Mr.. scOst'i
undergraduates" that led him afterwards
70 wage against Mr.. Mitchell one Oi
the most bitter personal fights ever
carried on in Oregon, ostsnsibly on
account Of the very youthful indis-
crstions" which he had been 50 willing
to condons and forgive at Albany
We have no objection to the oreJonian
criticising the shortcomings of the
Democratic party. In fast criticism
of the shortcomings Of all parties is q
duty of the public press, and which
will result in public good. But the
0regon;Gn makes . false charge against
the Democratic party and then con.
demns them upon that charge, while it,
itself, is notorieusly and openly guilty
of the very fault for which it 50 swiftly
condemns the Democrats. The Orego
lqsiGn asks what Democratic candidate
for Congress would 90 among the wosl
growers Of Eastern Oregon and tel
them that the duties on wool and
woolens are too high and should be re.
Guced to free trade basis. IL the
Oregonian is noted for one thing above
another, it is fer its lack Of candor.
The Oregonian knows that no revenue
reformer would ask for q reduction oi
the duty on wool while il remains the
same as now on everything else. The
reduction must be all along the line.
We would never consent TO reduction
of the duty on wool while il was kept
up on everything else upon which it
has been placed. In other words, fair
dealing, as we'll as the organic Law, re-
quires that taxation should b equal.
Hence if one industry is protected,
then another has an equal right 10
demand it, and . government would be
unjust If it refused. The 0regonia,s
should remember that We did not
criticise the pose OF the Republican
party on the tariff question, FOR we
think if that party is honestly in favor
of any principle which it promulgatss,
it is that of protection of the highest
sort. But ir was the notoriously In
consistent and uncandid psss Of the
fn.1~1..s<na aa fraA tradav whsoh ~ve