Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1905-12-15


from the position Of his constituency
at this time and cause him to take the
stump so vigorously and effectively
as stand patter and whipper-in.
Having been defeated by such sinister
tactics before the legislature Of 1897
his disappointment must have been Sc
we're. because by position and services
he was certainly entitled to the cleo.
tion. His party showed him base in
I gratitude, yet he returned TO his law
practice. with serenity and composcdly
waited his time. While not thrusting
himself forward or displaying any
eaceruess he never lost tactical OPP
portunity to right himself and walk
with firm dignity, confident and un-
wavorinp. he remained ready when
called upon to again pick up the banner
Of his party and his state. His move
ments we're firm, tactful, thorough and
masterful The equipoise and calibre
Of this man were at this period won
derfully displayed At a time when
men expected to find respite from the
fierce struggles Of earlier life and be
sustained by established position, when
age begins to sap the resolution Of most
men and weaken their activity, he bore
his defeat with equanamity and won
| later his most notable victory. And
this at a most treacherous and exact.
ing period In Oregon politics, during
which Dolph and Pennoyer succumbed
under similar defeats. In national
politics. the withdrawal Of the public
confidence and the sting Of defeat
have had such notable victims as
Greedy. Conklin. Harrison, Blaine, Reed
and Admiral sampsan.
So Oregon has a right 10 be proud
Of the achievements Of this man AMI
20 deal tondcrly with his faults.
OF these latter. little need be said,
thcy have been fully exploited. We all
know what they were and tho extent
Of them. AZ has been said his dying
20 poor a man Il evidence that ho was
not essentially corrupt; for his op.
poriunities In that line must have been
great. Tho stress of circumstances
tho precedent Of custom, and tho motor
ious iooscncss Of political morals may
have thrown him or bis guard, and IN
his old days caused him 10 rely too
much on his reputation, his good intcn-
tlons and his political and business
associates. The whole subject IL ono
too delicate 20 handle In an article
like this. Tho Oregon public should
no, expect Il. FOR he was made a vicar.
ioua sacrifice Tor a whole series of sins
which II they were equitably punished,
several thousand Of Oregon = prominent
citizens would not have cause as they
now have 10 shed grateful tears over
tho grave Of senator Mitchell for
standing before tho bar 20 receive the
punishment Of justly offended govern
ment. That the government Is exact,
ing enough 30 demand a more rigid adj
heFenee 20 honest duty than has hith
eFto prevailed and rigorous enough 10
punish tFansgressoFs In such high plae'
e, and who would be expected TO have
tho support OF a host Of friends and
ample means Of defence Il a matter
that We an should have the philosophy
20 congratulate ourselves upon. Yet
that under a dormant publie conscience
illegal practice OF long years standing
the machinery Of the law should be set
10 work suddenly. and with such IS,
peeial vigor against these particular
offenders (Aiitehel and williamson
while the principle ones are yet unpun-
ished does not agree altogether with
the palate OF Ingenious FefoFmeTs.
They suspect that, nice as the dose APP
pears, some nauseous pin OF faetional
politics is hidden in il. While not
questioning the motives OF the national
government they suspect that faction
al state politics and personal malice
have something 20 do with the instiga-
tion and direction OF the prosecutions,
III such is the ease, the Oregon public
should look we'll TO il, that there is no
Juggling with justice, that the laws
shall not be administered as a trap set
by one faction in the path OF another
Let us make a virtue Of necessity;
and while Tom and Dick are after Har-
ry's scalp, see to il that said Tom and
Dick are judged with the same judg-
ment.
The humblest citizen in the land is
entitled TO the same protection as is
the government, and no man should
feel a greater safety in committing an
illegal act against such citizen than
aOafnak tha poVernment itaalf