Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 17.djvu/193

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ESTABLISHMENT OF PACIFIC COAST REPUBLIC 185

States government. . . . We were led to this belief then from certain unmistakable evidences apparent in every act of those who then controlled, and now govern the Democratic Party of Oregon. The recklessness of their conduct, the utter disregard of law, order, or precedent, was then a subject of alarm, and has continued to increase to this hour. Whatever may be said of those who are constantly prating about their love of country, their devotion to the interests of the American Republic, . . . the facts are upon record that these men have been constantly laying their plans for a revolutionary movement, as the sequel will show. Although the party in power in this territory have had everything in their hands for the last three years, and although the leaders have been able, under their hypocritical cry of Democracy, to create, deceive, and gull the majority to sustain their measures, and to elevate an unprincipled set of demagogues to office and power; al- though their pensioned newspapers and party hacks have de- nounced for years the great fundamental principles of Ameri- canism, yet we are not prepared to see them at this early hour throw off the mask, and declare in favor of a Revolution, and a separate government here, but nevertheless they have done so. ... It will be remembered that upon two occasions this same party have endeavored to fasten a state government upon the people. These same men have always been the warmest advocates of a state government. The people have as often pronounced against their favorite measure. Now, in view of a strong probability, reduced almost to a certainty, of a radical change in the administration of the general govern- ment these men and their party come out in favor of a separa- tion from the United States and the formation of a new gov- ernment. Men, and particularly unprincipled men, never act without a motive. These filibusterers have a motive in view which will not fail to present itself to the mind. Their object is apparent. The time, place and occasion which has called forth this first published evidence of disaffection, will not fail to convince the honest mind of every American in the land.