follow, as unworthy of the democratic name. It is well known that in all communities, there are men whose impudence knows no bounds, and whose selfish political ambition has no parallel; but it remains for these boys—mere striplings in the work of public journalists—to manifest their unparalleled egotism by presuming to give direction to the political welfare of Oregon, and fully develop the extent which their self-conceit would carry them.
We have carefully watched their movements and endeavored to see one good reason assigned why the public good would be advanced by drawing party lines. We had supposed there were other interests at stake in Oregon, of more importance even than to decide who should go to the Legislature,—or that all laws passed should benefit certain localities or particular men,—or whether the capitol should be located at Salem or some other place,—or which should be the organ of the democratic party, the Times or the Statesman; and believe so yet....
What are the people to gain by drawing party lines at this time within the Territory? If the object is to secure the election of such men as have already disgraced the Territory by their party votes and regard for local interests, the people are not to be benefitted thereby.If it is to support the rickety and sinking prospects of the Statesman press, or to endorse and justify the despicable course pursued by the Chicopee stripling who conducts it, who has undertaken to teach the people their duty to his party, the country will not surely be benefitted by it.
A paper that gratuitously devotes at least one quarter of its columns to old patent medicines and periodical advertisements of agencies in St. Louis and Philadelphia, an... compelled to keep standing a column or more of advertised letters, week after week, and leads all its miscellaneous matter to fill up, must require at the hands of some political potentate or power, support as well as forbearance....
Such a paper, we repeat, requires something else besides its merits to sustain it; therefore, it becomes necessary that it
