The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1893-02-12
REVENGE AT ANY PRICE.

The oregonian is dazed. Its senses are
stunned by the horrible fact that 1t is no
longer the God Of Oregon, or the Moses
OF its people. Listen to It's heartrendlng
denunciation as the scales OF false pride
fall away from its eyes:
, Two OF the pilot commissioners are
again given to Astoria. and independent
pllotage' on the river is made compul-
sorry at high rates. This means that
everything possible will be done TO bur
den with heavy charges, and with various
difficulties, vessels that would come to
Portland. Somehow 1t is supposed by the
legislature that obstruction Of commerce
to and from Portland viii benefit the
state; or. II that is not possible. at least
It win injure Portland, and that is reason
enough. BY this act, an additional charge
Of $4,000 "a year is loaded upon the COM
merce OF the Columbia river, and the
legislature, persuaded by emissaries from
Astoria, where this money extorted from
commerce is to be absorbed Is led to be-
lieve II proper thing. There Is no won
der that oregon is a difficult state to do
business in; there Is no wonder that its
progress is slower than that OF any other
state with equal or half its resources
Business is burdened in every possible
way by law below the intelligence OF
three centuries ago, and oregon, so han
dicapped. 80 loaded down by stupidity
so cursed with an indolent and ignorant
and unenterprising population, led by
cheap demigogues. inevitably falls below
the other states in development and prog
ress. This is meant to be plain speech
II is necessary. The whole efforts of tn
state, through its legislation and other
wise. for twenty-five years, has been
to burden business that business coul,
not be done here with advantage an
profit. The consequence Is seen in tn
way that other states leave Oregon be
hind. In the course of fiftee
or twenty years. It may occur to til,
willamette Valley or Eastern Oregon far
mer to ask why the price OF his whea
should be cut down that few NOR
alleged" pilot schooner arrived in harbo
Astoria saloons"
Let us dlgress. Yesterday morning ou
alleged pilot schooner arrived In habol
after three weeks battling with tn
flercest storms that ever blew. For four
teen days OF that time the pilots were Ii
momentary fear Of death. sleepless yIgi
lance. and perfect navigation Of the frai
craft through the trough OF every sea
were oil that kept her from going to ths
bottom. Night after night, tired out to
exhaustion, these ''ioafers," "drunkards'
and ''boozers'' kept anxious watch, pac-
ing thu deck in the bitter cold and snoY
through the long continued hurricane
They reached home yesterday, thoroughly
weakened and unstrung'
We all know these men. Hardy. bright
sailors who mission Is to risk all that life
holds dear. day after day, Off the rough
est coast in the world. in order that ships |
that come into unknown seas may be
brought safely into port Maddened into
stupidity the oregonian, with its grand
name, It's countless chances for doing
good. it's power and its wealth dares to lie
IN this cruel and heartless manner,
md cali them drunkards ana detestable
ramps. Have these men who write so
.lIbly ever smelt salt waterg Have they
'ver seen the seas Would they step
lown and out from their monumental
lock tower and risk their lives every
lay in the week that their fellow beings
night see their homes agains
shame on the organ that seeks Its puny
cvenge for defeat all along the line by