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POLITICAL PARTIES IN OREGON 55 for his imprudence in trailing the robes of office in the filth of brutal crowds," it declared itself to despise above all things "that party whose bosom is a shield to such infamous outlawry and whose banner is the protection of swaggering vagabond- ism." Thus did the, Statesman hurl final defiance at the Re- publican element which now wholly dominated the Union party. In the following month, December, 1866, the paper was sold to the owners of the Unionist with which it was merged, the name of the Statesman being dropped. The Oregonian., in announc- ing the demise of its old rival, granted that it had one time absolutely controlled the politics of the state but observed that its final plunge into the depths of Johnson "conservatism" had been too much for it. 77 Within a few years the old name was re-adopted but the days of the Statesman as an important factor in the political history of Oregon, were over. The Oregonian was the true exponent of the Union party as now constituted. The spirit of the party is exemplified in an editorial, December 15, 1866, on "Radical Reconstruction," which hailed with satisfaction the fact that Congress "is push- ing forward fearlessly." "The work of reconstruction is now to begin from the foundation and will go back to where it stood on the surrender of the rebel armies. . . . The ac- tion of the South has made it necessary. Traitors will take back seats. Loyal men will govern. Reconstruction, radical, thorough and complete., is to begin." Democratic support of President Johnson in Oregon was brief and fleeting. For the expediency of the, hour, the Demo- crats championed him in the spring campaign of 1866 as a flank movement against the Unionists. But their support was never hearty and sincere and the June election was hardly over before this became evident. On July 18, Deady wrote to Nesmith, "The Democratic papers here, are beginning to show their teeth at Johnson and Seward and I am quite sure that they will do the same towards you when it comes to the pinch." The Oregon Herald, now edited by Beriah Brown, formerly editor of the San Francisco Democratic Press/ 73 was 77 Oregonian, Jan. 5, 1867. 77-a In which Brown had act led to the gutting of the establishment on April 15, 1865. 77-a In which Brown had unsparingly criticised President Lincoln, which led to