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“DRAWING PARTY LINES”
The Oregonian, Portland, August 9, 1851
T. J. DRYER, EDITOR
“The Oregonian was founded by T. J. Dryer, who had been previously engaged upon the California Courier as city editor, and was a weekly journal. Dryer brought an old Ramage press from San Francisco, with some second-hand material, which answered his purpose for a few months, when a new Washington press and new material came out by sea from New York, ... Dryer conducted the Oregonian with energy for ten years, when the paper passed into the hands of H. L . Pittock, who first began work upon it as a printer in 1853.” “Dryer was a member of the Territorial Legislature, and also of the Constitutional Convention. On Lincoln's inauguration he became minister to the Sandwich Islands. Returning to Portland . . . he filled the office of justice of the peace for many years.....”
The self-constituted oracles of the democratic party—the Times and Statesman—have decreed that party lines must be drawn in Oregon. The Times has struck up the old party song, and the Statesman joins in the chorus, and they per form their parts to the mutual admiration of themselves and some of their party. In addition to this, the mandate was issued from Salem by the Solons of the party, for a convention of the “faithful” to meet at that place on the 4th of July, “armed and equipped as the law directs,” to organize, and to send out their edict to the “great unterrified party” throughout the Territory, to fall into the ranks, and learn and obey the special orders as they were issued from the “future capitol.” The convention assembled, and after deep research and profound investigation, respecting the origin of the principles of their party, issued their Ukase in the shape of an address and resolutions, which appeared in the par excellent democratic journals; while the aspirants to political renown are heard loudly calling upon all men, who profess democracy, to walk up to the work, and ask no questions,—and denounce those who dare question the authority of these pseudo democrats to mark out a course for the people to
