The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-07-18
FouLY,s TOP LIMIT.

We notice with a good deal OF surprise
the foIlywlng editorial ttem in the PEN
dleton East oregonian Of Monday:
''The secretary of state, Mr.. Harrison
r. Kinca.d, Is reported to have said that
Oregon has enough people now There
Is some wisdom in this remark, when Il
Is taken inl5o consideration with the fact
that, II more are brought here, the mass
OF ptl)ple WIN be worse off then they are
now, while the good in connection with
their coming will go In the form of trib-
ute to ttI)se who have gotten possession
OF Oreg1n's soil and natural wealth,
and propose 10 make stake out of 1t
by holding on. II we had a system OF
taxation which would take the increas-
ing value of land, due to an increasing
population, for governmental purposes,
thereby removing the taxation burden
from industry and enterprise, the more
people there are in Oregon the greater
the prosperity would be to all. Under
the present system of taxation, more peo-
pie means good times and wealth to the
few and hard times and poverty to the
many. One has TO get beneath the sur
face of social conditions to observe this
fact, but when one does, there VIII be no
longer doubt OF the truth Of IT."
The vicious and unaccountable argu-
ment underlying this statement is the
same old cry that has brought about
stagnation and dearth of progress among
us for Hie past twenty years. Oregon
for Oregonians." Other states IN the
Wes.-Waslington, California and Mon
aSna. for instance, have fastened the
latchstaLng on the outside, and told the
whole world about It, welcoming every
honest man and woman VIII chose to re-
know In no uncertain manner that their
coming was move for The mutual good
Of al parties. Year after year Oregon
has double-!ycked Its gates and fouted
In the face Of every stranger the placard,
who the devil are you, and what do
you want here, anyhow"
Oregon has enough people nowl" Or
egon, with It's untrodden valleys OF black
loan, aLd climate mequalled IN the
woRd Oregon with It's vast acreage OF
country waiting for the settler width
brains and pluck and muscle; Oregon
with its GLORIOUS future, land of plenty
and happiness, has enough people now."
Oregon, wLeh every square mile within
its boundaries a Paradise In comparison
wbJA the teening and congested New
England states, With resources ten times
as great and a population a Thousand
Iia, thaap ,nf Ia
Eastern sisters, has enough people now"
What stupid ana appalling folly.
II Is not In this way that our destiny Is
to be fulhlled; It IS not in this way that
our true position in the Union VIII be
brought about. Is this state OF ours
vast Indian reservation, inhabited by
white aborlgines standing ready to repel
the ruthless white invader WHO comes
with the spirit of progress and hope In
his breast to carve out his future on Its
soil? Or IS 1t land peopied by a COM
munFty OF Intelligent men who know that
population brings wealth, and who keep
before them the shining truth that where
citizens live ami strive together is sown
the seed OF advancement and prosperity
for them and Thor country? The East
Oregonlan talks about men who have
gotten POSSESSION OF oregon's soil and
wealth and who propose to make a
stake by hoGdlng ON TO IT," but u for
gets that. though there are instances OF
such spirit here, as in every land under
The sun, the only remedy for the evil
is the aggression OF large and ener-
gstic community bound Ito sweep away
and overcome such small obstacles as
these moss-grown snags imbedded in the
stream OF civilization.
A dozen papers throughout the stale,
soms az our own doors, unfortunately,
have been guilty. OF this childish folly OF
crying keep back" for many years,
They are known and marked, however,
ard nobody expects anything better from
their mouths. Blu. we are indeed sur
prised to see the East oregonian, a
Journal deservedly holding the good will
Of residents in is section by reason OF MS
excellent and manly tone, taking such a
stand on eris question. We do not be-
lleve thar Secretary OF State K,ncaid has
been foolish enough to have uttered the
stz'semerii attributed ~ him, but, whether
this is ihe case or rot, we DON'T like to
see newspaper OF the standing and
reputation OF the East oregonian back
Ing up such vicious and un.ruthfu
azrrrron.