The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1883-12-11
ASTORIA, OREGON:
"A FREE RIVER OR 4 FREE FIGHT"

The Wasco Sun and other jour
nails east OF the Cascades are making
4 free fight for the completion of the
locks at the Cascades and the open
ing up of the Columbia river TO free
and unrestricted commerce. This,
says the Albany Herald, is a move in
the right direction. and every journal
in the state, free from the influence
of corporate power, will join cause
with these journals and labor for the
consummation of this great work.
Water transportation is the only COM
petition that can hold in check the
greed of railroad power The Colum-
bia river is the natural outlet for the
commerce of a vast empire It's navi-
cation is of prime commercial neces-
sity. The instinct Of corporate power
Is IN antagOnism to the free use of
natural commercial channels. A bond
cd syndicate OF corporate power in
Oregon is opposed TO the opening up
OF the Columbia river for CONNER
cial purposes. On one side are the
people and the development of q
broad country, demanding free and
unrestricted commercial privileges;
on the other side a bonded syndicate
OF bloated capitalists. who, through
the mal-administration of legislative
measures, granting them subsidies
and franchises, without proper legis-
lative restrictions, have opened up
commercial channels, and when so
completed at the expense of the pub
lie lands that of right belong to the
people, usurp all commercial privi-
leges and use the power vested in
them by the people to take away the
peoples rights, and to maintain the
supremacy of opposition to further
improvement for the benefit of
commercial development. The direc-
tors of the Union Pacific railroad
boasted after the completion of that
road, that they had built il out of
the government subsidy of lands and
had a surplus of S30,0O0000 III the
treasury. The Northern Pacific,
from its vast land grant, viii realize
hundreds of millions of dollars, and
Vet, when the people call for aid to
clear the Columbia river of obstruc-
tions, making If available for COM
mercial purposes. This syndicate of
power plants itse;i squarely in the
way and uses Its vast patronage Of
power 10 defeat the will of the people.
The completion of the locks at the
Cascades will be defeated IL possible,
10y corporate capital, as in this free
channel of commerce they see dan
gerous rival, whose use viii restrict
oppressive freight charges and duh
the edge of profit The people of
Oregon, Idaho and Montana. l.cenly
alive TO their interests, are determin-
ed that this great waterway 10 the
sea shall be opened, and that the
locks at the Cascades shall be finish
ed and the river utilized for CONNER
cial purposes. The struggle is vet in
its incipiency. The people yet hard
ly realize the colossal power that
stands in the way of the successful
termination of this enterprise. The
near future viii unfold facts and fig
ures bearing upon this important
matter. The people to obtain a free
river have got to wage a free fight.
stern, relentless and aggressive. The
resources of the enemy are vast and
their courage undaunted They will
influence judges, control senators.
and carry the battle through the
portals OF congressional doors and
shake the forum OF state. Only
one thing can defeat them. a
united, unanimous and determined
people. The people are sovereign
and their power irresistible when
they come together like the rivulets
and rills after q cloud-burst on the
mountain sides. Let the good peo-
pie of Oregon shout with one voice
The Columbia river shall be open
ed" and the detonation of this echo
will stun the ears OF corporate
power, and put them to fight and
confusion.