The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1895-04-13

natural growth, which builds and
strengthens as it progresses. The
friends of liberty the world over would
delight to see this old relic of feuda-
lism totter and fall to ruins. 1t will
come in time. but perhaps not during
the present generation.
The government should carefully
watch affairs in Nicaragua so that
Great Britain will do nothing to him
der the completion of the canal across
the isthmuS. This means OF water
transportation between the Atlantic
and Pacific is of the utmost Importance
to the entire country, and its early
completion is greatly desired. II the
British indemnity is not paid by this
little republic, no action should be per-
mitted that will impede the progress
of this great undertaking. The United
States is a commercial nation. and her
rights in that direction must be pro-
tected. In this line is the construction
of the canal connecting the Pacific
with the Gulf of Mexico, and the ad-
ministration should watch with great
jealousy the encroachment of any for
eign power in Nicaragua.
Cuban revolutionists are about to
proclaim the island free and independ-
ent from Spain, and ask for recogni-
tion in the family of nations. This
step may be premature, for Cuba can
not expect to be acknowledged as a
separate government until the patriots
have fully established the revolution:
but it will act as a stimulant to greater
efforts on the part of Cubans. and may
be the first step in the direction OF in
dependence. When the Declaration
of Independence was signed the future
appeared dark for the fathers of this
republic; but this united them more
firmly together, and impelled them to
many heroic acts for liberty. From
the 4th of July, 1916, affairs changed
in favor of the Americans, and victory
followed victory until the United
States was acknowledged by the fam
lily of nations. This may be true of
Cuba, and the friends of freedom will
hope it may be so.
The Oregonian says the suspicion
which has existed from the beginning
that the only effect, and perhaps the
only purpose, of the indiscriminate
prosecution of gamblers and bawdy
women was to increase the revenues of
greedy officialism has deepened to a
certainty" And the outside papers
which have been patting Portland on
the back on the steps she has taken to
purify the city of vice and social filth
must credit this spasmodic movement
to the ''eye for business" which her
sagacious municipal officials have cul-
tivated. If this same business tact
had actuated the merchants and trad
ers of that metropolis in years gone
by, in legitimate channels, there would
not be so much complaint about the
lack of enterprise in the state. But
Portland officials, if the charge can be
substantiated, should be afforded an
opportunity to exercise their faculties
in different walks of life from those
which they are pursuing. 1t is time
the people relegated such public pap
suckers to innocuous desuetude.
One encouraging indication of future
prosperity is the dying out of sectional
jealousy, that formerly arrayed the diff
ferent portions of the state against each
other, and all against Portland. 1t is
generally acknowledged now that
great city should exist at the mouth of
the Willamette, and that her growth
and prosperity is not inimical to the
development of the resources of the
entire state. Portland may increase
her population to 100000 or more, but
this will in no wise stop the advance
ment of Salem, Astoria, Albany or The
Dalles. Each is interested in the es-
tablishment of great commercial CEN
ter. which will furnish an available
market that will create a demand for
all products, and stimulate industries
of all kinds. This fact is generally ac-
knowledged, and the future develop
ment of the state will be inpelled by
united action. The press of the state
are to receive credit for the harmonius
feeling now prevailing, for they have
labored for years to destroy the bitter
animosity that formerly existed be-
tween Eastern and Western Oregon.