The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1894-03-23
Lebanon Express.
H. Y. KIRKPATRICK.
EDITOR and Proprietor
MERIT NOT REWARDED,

wounds there received have not
healed, though there were doctors
in abundance. But physicians who
cannot heal themselves are but
poor surgeons for the people. We
are not Of the Populist persuasion,
but have always treated that party
fairly. The mistakes of Moses
have been criticized by Ingersoll
and the mistakes Of the party that
seeks to lead the children Of men
through the wilderness of corrup-
tion, may likewise be criticized.
But Moses was inspired by voice
from on high, while these latter
day saints are inspired from a
voice within-selfshness. The first
succeeded because the motive was
good, the latter will fail for the
motive is bad. But enough of
generalities, particulars we will
have. The Populists of the coun-
try in general and of this county
in particular, have proclaimed, and
the people have believed, that no
populist would seek an office, that
no job would be put up and that
no midnight caucus would be tol-
erated. Never was confidence so
freely given or SO shamefully be-
trayed. Never before did the peo-
pie Of Linn county 30 blindly
follow SO selfish a god. Oregon
hasmsny populists, Linn county
bas not few; Lebanon is full of
them. There is not an ADLER or
better populist in this state than
our Mayor, Hon. C. B. Montague.
We freely admit his good qualities,
politically opposed to us though
he be. When it was known that
he would not decline the political
honors that, by nature and educa-
tion, he seemed so well to merit,
the people Of this county, regardless
Of party and with unanimity,
named him for Secretary of State.
When it became known through
out the state who and what he was,
it seemed to be tacitly understood
that Montague was the coming
man-the peoples choice. By a
deep laid scheme, conceived in sell
hshness and born in treachery.
(as we are informed) the leaders of
bis party in this county contrived
to fix the state delegation from
this county. This was necessary;
for the noble presence, the CON
rincing eloquence and the pleasing
manner Of this gentleman would
carry, as by storm, the, state con-
vention-and Montague would be
secretary of state; and well--the
others would be left to suck their
thumbs instead Of drawing the
sustaining fluid from the public
pap. Thus rightly reasoned the
bosses Of the county. They sue
ceeded in defeating Montague, but
werethemselyes completely ignored.
The governorship slipped by our
Albany friend without even a
friendly nod. The office of secre.
tary Of state, to fill which Monta-
que had been tacitly selected but
which was stolen from him by the
treachery Of his county bosses, did
not deign to seriously consider any
other Linn county man, but went
elsewhere. Even then, had not
Montague's manliness prompted
him to refuse to let his name be
mentioned, he could easily have
secured the prize. Politically
speaking, it is well for the other
parties that Montague was not
nominated,io ,ior the democrats would
have elected him. But enough.
Let the bosses of Linn county ex-
plain their conduct to the people
andtell the people why their favorite
and most talented son did not even
get what bis political enemies we're
ready ia bestow.