The Montana post., 1869-04-16
CATEGORICAL.

Light on the Subject" and which rs
about as eight on the subject" as any
thing could well be imagined, propounds
series of questions to us, and requires
answers yea and nay. without equivo-
cation or evasion" The editor. with all
the dignified and absolute authority
that so becomes him, informs us they
are plain and palpa6le, admit of no
evasion, and may be answered categori-
cally." 1t must be yes" or mo- with
out Iii, f" "ap, but" or therefore, and
IS about as fair a proposition as high
waymen ordering traveller TO throw
up your hands, or we'll blow out your
brains" In fact were not the reputation
of the editor of the Gazette for honesty.
integrity, and peaceful inclinations so
well established by his record. and the
seal of benignant good will set in such
broad lines upon his countenance, his
questions would be sufficient TO cause
his arrest, on well founded suspicion,
for Road Agent. Be it understood we
do not assert that he was or is one. Ap
pearances are deceptive, it is true, but
then a man who has the reckless hardi~
hood to float his name as the editor of
democratic paper in these days. would
have no motive TO conceal the fact if
he was the other.
We do not like to give these absolute,
direct answers. and above all things un~
der compulsion. 1t is not adapted TO
our constitution or that of the United
States, being contrary to "a republican
form of government" 1t impinges on
our independence and also the Declara-
tion OF Independence. whereby the self
evident right of liberty" was guaran-
teed by the Republican members and
mentally reserved their assent, wherever
il affected any one whom they make
believe was happier and better as a
slave than a freeman. In fact there is
only one condition of a citizen under
which categorical questions are rec. g.
nized as legal-the interrogatory "Guil-
ty or Not Guilty" We hope our neigh
Dor has not by criminal familiarity with
such proceedings, and compulsory ex-
clusion from other associations, fallen
into the illusion that it is the customa>
~ and established usage OF the country
in all interrogations. Again, il we may
be allowed to discuss the point, our co..
temporary will observe he makes an
unjust requirement., although he may
be like the Milesian, who being assured
by the Judge "he should have justice
done him." replied, Faith an that's
just what Pm ateard of" For instance,
il n correspondent of the Gazette should
write, iDquiring why the moon was
made OF green cheese instead of Linn
burgerI" even Wilkinson couldn't well
answer it yes" or no" Or, should
another inquire, lis Bourbon whiskey
good if dilated with castor oil - our
amiable cro~s>questioninC, cooperating
CO o-temporary in the dissemination of
useful and entertaining knowledge,
couldn't very well put himself on re-
cord in favor OF the greasy catharlic IN
that combination, nor could he very
well do violence to his integrity by say
ing No"
Some of the interrogatories of the
GdzettC are of the same character.
They embody an assumption we would
be 10th to admit, SO long as we believe
in facts. Therefore, while To others we
would cheerfully give answer. as direct
as rec uired, and are now on record, we
must await the reconsideration ot the
Gazette before answering those which
we beg leave 20 suggest are partly un-
true in what is assumed, partly absurd
in what is asked. and altogether asking
more information than the dyspeptic
soul of the Gazette could digest at one
repast