The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-09-04
A RAB1D PHILOSOPHERS.

n INADlD
Yesterdays Oregonian, after presuma-
by serious meditation, departs from the
proposition that Mr.. Clark has been a
victim OF "sour mash" and switches
around to new theory. Mr.. Clark 1t ap-
pears, has little private nest egg at
this end Of the Columbia, and all his
talk about the river and its improve
ments is based on the desire to boom
his newly acquired property. The incl
dental fact that Mr. Clark never has been
privately interested and Is not at the
present time so interested in a foot OF
land or anything e.se in the state OF
Oregon, is littre matter which of course
does not bother the editor Of the Ore
gonian. That individual first deliberately
lies about the Missouri congressman,
then proceeds to appeal to Heaven to
witness what a grossly bad person this
congressman is, and finally comes to the
conclusion that these "betrayals" really
unfit Mr. Clark for the society Of any
strictly honorable individual, and partic-
ularly cut him off from any consldera-
tion at the merclless and rlghteously
c.enched hands Of the Portland editor.
The Oregonlan in the course of its shame
ful TRADE against man of honor, says:
1--WE submit that his personal interest
In private schemes of commercial devel-
opment, merely collateral to the general
scheme Of federal Improvement of water
ways, SO far as they touch 1t at all, does
not constitute qualification for member
ship In the committee on river and har-
bors but the reverse. Mr.. Clark has
been prematurely frank In the announce
ment that he would be a member OF
that committee. He has been more in
discreetly candid In his discovery Of his
motives Of personal Interest for wishing
to become a member of the committee.
He has been stlll more imprudent in be-
traying a hostile animus to plans OF
waterway Improvement which have been
a careful charge Of that committee for
years, In order to advance secondary
II not doubtful projects, in whose success
he has collateral private interest"
or course Senator Mitchell, man who
himself has been bounded down for years
and been accused of half the crimes IN
the calendar by this same Oregonlan,
has already FASTENED to dispatch several
copies Of the above article to his friends
In the East" with the idea of instllllng
into Their minds the belief that Mr..
Clark is "out for the money" This was
the object with which the edltoraa was
written, and no lie however base, no
accusation however shallow, viii be pass
ed over that can in any way hep to keep
Mr.. Clark from obtaining a position on
the River and Harbor Committee in the
money and write letters with the fire.
quency OF Cleveland; the Oregonian
Mill continue to fi.l its columns with any
kind of insldlous falsehoods on this sub
ject; but to what end? Even II Mr. Clark
Is not made a member OF the river and
haIbor committee and II Is worthy OF
note that he has never Gained that he
would occupy such a posltlom he stlll
has voice on the floor OF the hall OF
representatives, and that Is an arena
where intellect, honesty, and ability win
penetrate and make their influence felt
beyond even the CLOSED doors of commit
tee rooms.
The oregonlan Of yesterday, side by
side with It's yell of rage and stupid un-
truth, says Portland does not worry"
but we note that the possession of his
peculiarly placid spirit is hardly proved
by the astounding collection of abuse
which takes up no less than three odito-
rid columns of that Issue, The orego-
nian can see nothing wrong in deliberate
ly lying about the motives of an honest
and conscientious public servant, with
out the shadow of an attempt to prove
one OF its statements, but shrlels with
outraged feelings at an article in the AS
torlan which not only accused Senator
Mitchell OF certain shadowy methods, bur
substantlated It's statements with facts
and figures which are public property.