Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 11.djvu/383

 Political Parties in Oregon 353 reckon with the hardy freemen who are rapidly settling Ore- gon and who are as independent as the air they breathe. As a parting shot he voices the 'hope that the next legislature will have nothing to do further than to be convened and to receive the valedictory of the present governor of Oregon and the inaugural of Gov. Atchison or some other good democrat sent by President Polk. Exit T'Vault. The new editor, H. A. G. Lee, named the subjects which could be discussed in the Spectator, including politics, but ex- plained — "Politics, as we understand the term, means the science of government and not the effervescence of fermenting partyism or the noisy froth of spouting demagogues." 1 Lee withdrew in August and in indicating the reason the Spectator show k s another factor in the situation to have been the English element. "Our paper will yet be edited to the satisfaction of at least a majority of the subscribers — that it will give satis- faction to certain individuals and their friends who are sub- scribers we do not flatter ourselves. But one thing we do venture to affirm, that, let it sink or swim, the columns of the Spectator shall be open for the publication of all matter that shall have for its object the advocating of American interests in this country and their right to the soil, in preference to any other nation on the globe — even to John Bull himself. That a paper published by Americans in Oregon and that paper too the only channel through which the interests and feelings of the Americans in Oregon can be made known to the world, should be restricted in its publications and so conducted as to meet the approbation and sav<* the feelings of some whose principles and views are to all intents and purposes anti-Am- erican, is preposterous in the extreme and not to be thought for a moment." 2 Editor number three was Geo. L. Curry; his announced policy: "It will be our aim to give this journal a firm and consistent American tone." 3 When Nesmith, in the legisla- ilbid., April 16, '46. 2 Spectator, August 20, '46. 3lbid., October 1, '46.