The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-08-17
Telephone No. GO.
oREGoN's OPPORTUNITIES.


The East Oregonian says: more pop.
ulatlon is supposed TO be panacea for
hard times Oregon City wants more
population, Astoria wants more. port.
land wants more. San Francisco wants
more. why? Because 1t Will increase
prosperity, 1t Is supposed. But will ItY
No. II will simply increase land values.
make the few rich, but the mass of peo-
pls will be worse off, just because u0der
the present taxation system more popu-
latlon gives increased tribute 10 the few
who own and secure mortgages on the
soil TO the injury OF the many who have
10 gain access to this soil to live. Bur
under a just system Of taxation, a sys-
tim which would relieve industry and
enterprise OF the tax burden and pace IL
Where 1t belongs-on the ground rent
greater the population easier life would
be for all who did thAr share of work
either mental or physical"
This is the paper which last month,
after Mr.. Harrison r. Klncaid's remark
that Oregon had enough people now"
came out in silly column of argument"
supporting the remarkable statement OF
that gentleman. We went into that mat
ter at some length, but cannot pass by
the above and let the Democrats further
folly go unanswered. Whether the peo-
PIE who own and edit this Pendeton
pubiicatfon have made all the money
they want here and desire to clear out of
the state without any further care for its
future prosperity, or whether some grasp
ing landlord has lately raised their office
rent five dollars month, we cannot say,
but It seems reasonably certain that one
Of these two things is the cause of such
exhibitions of stupidity. When the Asto-
rian or the oregonian or any other paper
that has the interests Of Oregon at hear;
talks about the future progress Of the
state and the prospects that exist for
settlers and immigrants from other sec
tions OF the country thsy do not mean to
mint that they are opening their arms to
real estate sharks with bandbox offices, |
or to loafing shiftless vagabonds. Neith-
er do they desire to be understood as
welcoming with brass bands a motley col
iection OF people VINO will flood the cities,
swelling the population of central points |
and allowing the vast opportunities Of |
fered by the surrounding country to go |
untouched. What we want is more Or |
the pioneer method, more people VINO |
are ready and willing to hew out homes,
and literally carve their way to COM |
potency and perhaps wJllth, on the fruit
ful soil about us. Unhapply 1t is true |
that in these degenerate times the spirit |
OF our fathers, the hardy, fearfess ana
steady careers of the men who made the
West what It is today, who enabled us
to live in comfort where they lived in
penury and tol, seems to be dying out
In the land, but the toughest kind Oh
bacnwoods labor In this generation is
easy work when we compare It with that
out OF which thc last generation evolved
Our present prosperity.
New England has thousands of farm
ers today who are shaving from day
break to midnight on impoverished set
tlements with despair for their reward,
and ths drearlest prospect that man can
be confronted with surrounding them
Half of their thrift, half OF their earnest
hardworking methods. II transferred to
the soil of Oregon, would in hive years
place thsm on the way to prosperous
and comfortable livelihood, which In
comparison with their present condition
would seem ease and luxury.
This continual walling about ground
rents, the whole earth in the hands or
a Few sharks, this stlgmltizing of every
man who has few thousand dollars in
the bank as a "grasping Rothschlld," a
'blo0d-sucking corporationist, and ev-
cry kind Of a thief on the calendar, Is not
only vicious and a wicked attempt to
discount thrift and soil the honor OF
every man who betters his condition,
but 1t is an indications that the spirit
OF anarchy and communism still holds
sway in the minds of welklings who envy
the prosperity they cannot grasp. There
are millions OF acres within our bounda-
ries rich in soil, rich in possibilities, and
which can De obtained on more favorable
terms by settlers than land in any other
state in the Union. The chances are
here. The climate is here. the spirit OF
progress is here. Lei pluck, energy ana
muscle unlock the door that leads to
happiness and content.
Il Is time for these rabld newspapers
which while boasting Of their patriotism
and the good they do. really try to kill
the future prosperity Of their state. to
CEASE their dyspeptic wailings and not
act a. 4 the whole world and Its possI-
biiities were as dull and gloomy as their
own poor little souls.