Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1903-12-22
EDITORIAL COMMENT.

In the death OF Herbert Spen-
Ger the world loses one of its
greatest thinkers, authors and
educators. A man of thorough
culture, though uot university
trained, man of real genius and
thirst for thought, the foremost
scholar of our day, honest and
fearless in expression, and neces-
sarily an agnostic, he has be-
queathed to posterity priceless
heritage. Darwin's genius gave
to our age the grand, divine truth
of evolution. Spencer confirm
ed it and from 1t evolved, not the
fall, but the ascent of man. All
honor to the grand old philoso-
pher-the world is better for his
having lived.
- - -
Senator Mitchell has fired his
first gun for the Lewis & Clark
Fair, in a grand speech in the
Senate that occupied two hours
in delivering. It was listened to
by some of the most prominent
senators, the most influential
men of that body. Every Ore
genian in Washington occupied
a seat in the gallery. Among
other good things he said: "Let
us, therefore, have an Exposition
worthy the name of the illus
trious men, and their grand
achievements, in whose COM
memoration 1t is to be held; an
Exposition worthy of the patri-
otic pioneers who established the
foundations of a mighty empire
of political and commercial power
in the Far West; an Exposition
worthy of the present generation
of intelligent, stalwart and enter
prising people now occupying
the Oregon Country ,; but
above all, an Exposition worthy
the cordial recognition and liberal
aid of the National Government
an Exposition that will disclose
not 1only to every one of the
people of the United States,
both of the mainland and islands,
but also to the people OF the
Orient and of Europe, something
of our present and rapidly in
creasing greatness as a people,
and the present status politically,
commercially and otherwise OF
one of the most interesting, virile
and enterprising sections of the
American Union.
France has made the amende
honorable in the restitution oi
rank and honor to Albert Drey-
fus-and the rankest piece of in
justice, the greatest infamy OF
the nineteenth century has been
atoned for. Dreyfus will be re-
stored to the army, with the rank
of lieutenant-colonel, and the
regiment he will command has
been chosen. Not only this, but
the government has determined
to deal vigorously with any Off
GERS who express disapproval of
this reinstatement. But let us
remember that out of this degra-
dation of Dreyfus has come the
greatest blessing that a country
can receive-the rescue of the
educational interests OF the re-
public from the hands of the
church. France has been a re-
public for many years. 1t could
not have been permanent con-
dition as long as the education of
her children was in the hands it
was. Today her schools are free
from the blighting ban Of ecclesi-
asticism that has always worked
for the degradation of the people.
The fight has been long and Bit
ter, against the strongest foe a
nation ever met and conquered.
All honor to the grand heroes
that rule France in this epoch of
her history. Vive la Republique.
D - -
The proper officers of the gov-
ernment have given their report
to the state authorities regarding
the right of way necessary to be
acquired before the government
can proceed with the building of
of the Cello canal.
The governor in reply to Major