Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1909-08-06
SECESSION AND TRADITION.

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SECESSION AND TRADITION
"The Rogue River Courier, alone
among the papers Of Southern Ore
gon, opposes secession and the crea-
ton Of a new state 1t says; We
hope that the name of the Rogue
River valley, which means Grants
Pass, is not claimed by the seces-
sionlsts. This valley is loyal to the
whole state, and its glorious tradi-
tions.
"The Rogue River valley is GER
tainly claimed by the secessionists,
and if put to vote tomorrow there
would be an overwhelming majority
for secession, not only outside Of
Josephine county, containing three
quarters of the valleys inhabitants,
but in Josephine, and also in the
city of Grants Pass.
From Ashland to Wedderburn
there Is a widespread disgust with
barnacle rule, with taxation without
representation, with the narrow sell
fish, hoggish, apathetic character OF
the Willamette Valley dictation.
"What have the glorious tradi-
tions' Of Oregon done for Southern
Oregon? What have they done for
Grants Pass? Has Grants Pass ever
been recognized in the slightest de-
gree, ever been helped in any man
ner, no matter how small? Has a
cent of the taxes Josephine county
has been paying into the treasury
since its creation ever been spent
in the county? Has It ever received
recognition OF any kind? NO.
when 1t comes to glorious tradi-
tlons,' the Rogue River valley furn-
ishes more than all the rest of Ore
gon. Here hunted the French and
Hudson Bay trappers. Here were
fought the Indian battles, and the
aborigines of the Rogue were worth
while-they were fighters and killed
more of the invading whites than all
other Indians of the Coast in their
struggle for liberty that ended only
In determination. Here came the
argonauts and washed out twenty
millions OF gold-many times more
than all the rest of Oregon ever pro-
duced, Here the sturdy pioneers
laborlously oX-teamed their way
across the continent to fiji blood
stained graves. AAd here, in later
days, came the pioneer commercial
.orchardlsts--to show the world how
to grow perfect fruit while the or
chards of the rest of the state grew
moss to match that on the inhablt-
ants.
"But glorious traditions butter
no parsnips. 1t Is not what grand
pa did, but what we ourselves do,
that counts, Grandpa was fine
old man, hut he went to bed with
candle and our achievements should
as far outshino his as the electric
light We use does the candle of his
time.
Grants Pass interests are idcnu-
.cal with Medtord's Both seek fun
est opportunity to develop resources
that mpas those of any section of
the world and DO not want their
path of progress continually blocked
II by secession and the creation Of
a new state, the recognition and att
tontion necessary can be secured.
both cities viii vote as a unit for
secession, the Courier included and
to make another glorious tradition
to point moral and adorn tale d"
Modtord Daily Tribune.
Our esteemed contemporary OF the
Bear Creek valley grows eloquent
to degree that entities it to words
OF praise The argument is uuau-
swerablo and the matter is now
practically settled Along about
Solomon's time there was rugged
school of philosophers who were
harsh In their treatment of mind dis
orders aud were, in our opinion,
brutal iu their advice given ON such
occasions. For instance. Answer a
fool according to his folly" 4 later
school has better success by tcmpor-
i3ing In fact, agreeing with the pa.
tent In an his vagarIes and thus be
able to turn the current Of the sick
mind IN healthier channels WHOM
convinced OF the presence OF the dis.