The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1899-07-14

A Master Editor
Harvey Scott, editor of the Oregon
ian, gave the editors of the National
taste of the editorial quality that
rules on the Pacific coast, in his ad-
dress of welcome. The editorial page
OF the Portland paber is the best on
these shores, but undoubtedly only
known by reputation to scores adj
dressed by Mr.. Scott on Wednesday.
When Mr.. Scott finished his address
they were certain that his reputation
was not as great as the man. Only a
few very editors in the United States
could have written as good an address.
McLelway of the of the Brooklyn
Eagle, Smith of the Philadelphia Press,
Watterson of the Courier-Journal, and
Wheelock of the st. Paul Pioneer
Press are four of them. Not many
more. Not one on this coast. He is
the primate of editorial writing west
OF the Mississippi. We would not be
surprised to learn that the editors re-
port Scott the most interesting per-
sonality they met in their journey to
and from the Pacific. Certainly they
will recognize in him their master
when it come to writing English and
conveying thought. This was Scott's
attractive opening:
"The west greets the east today-if
distinction can be made between east
and west, anywhere, or even here upon
the American shores of the Pacific.
As geographical expression the west
has ever been indeterminate. The
east has been treading upon the heels
of the west, yet never has overtaken it..
Latterly the west has taken ship on
the Pacific, and, through one of the
movements OF history, has overtaken
the east. America has put new CIR
die around the earth; and the west
has moved on, till it has reached the
gateway of the morning, over by the
Orient, where the men of the United
States are planting the banners of a
free civilization. West and east, there
fore, never quite defined, are being
made one for us very rapidly by the
march of great events, compelling the
substitution and use of specific geo.
graphical terms for u general and vague
nomenclature The men of Oregon,
OF Washington, of California, of Idaho,
of Montana, Of Utah, of Colorado, re-
spending to the call OF. the country,
have carried it on over the seas.
"Why did we come to Oregon" he
asked himself. And the answer that
he gave fits us all-all the new state
builders. 1t was:
Because we had the instincts of the
pioneer. TWAS the same instinct that
sent Saxon and Dane and Norman to
England; the same instinct that peo-
pied the new world from the old and
gave the ascendency to the northern
races; the same instinct that has pro-
jected the race to which we belong
from time that ante-dates the begin
ming of history along the lines of west
ern migration. Why have we stayed?
Because, Notwithstanding certain linn
itations-and every country has its
own--this is the. best place to live
our Oregon that we have ever known.
And We, who have come hither from
every state in the union and from every
part of the world have had an exper-
fence that proves to us that Oregon in
these features that characterize her
has not an equal"
Yet the above paragraphs are not
the cream of his address. 1t was in
the flow of philosophical thought that
followed. 1t was in what he said of
our nation, our character, our dead
masters, our race and its ideals, the
news papers broadcast function and
the visions of new era in our nation
al history. Realizing what we face to
the west. new epoch in the annals of
the world dates from today.-Olymp-
ian.
Harvey Scott was once "rail-split-
ter" living with his parents on SCOTS
prairie, near Shelton. He is pioneer
and is one Of the self-made men, who
has done successful job.-ED.