The Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1869-1872, 1870-01-29
wiee.nd. Winter, and Iyn.h.

Conrad Wiegand's letter in the Enterprise,
an explanation of his recent encounter with
John b. Winters, is one of the most effective and
scathing articles ever published in the State.
1t Is the death-knell of John Il. Winters DO
litical aspirations. More than that, it is the
death-knen OF whatever reputation he may
have enjoyed as a man of courage, or Of even
ordinary Judgment. The assault upon Vie
gand is shown to be "A most dastartily. brutal
outrage If Winters had a valid defense to
the accusations of wiegand. in regard to the
management of the Yellow Jacket and other
mines, simple explanation would have been
a crusher. His assault upon a weak. defense
less man, locked up by treachery beyond the
reach of assistance, will be universally ac-
cepted as n tacit admission of the truth of the
changes Winters must not only bear the obi
um of this cowardly, brutal attack upon one
who is but a mere baby, in physical strength.
compared to himself, but also the stigma of
"iegand's charges Of corruption and fraud as
an officer.
As for the editor of the Gold Hill News.
who enticed Wiegand into his den under the
Pretense of obtaining a friendly interview.
the sacred salt of hospitality" proves him
self worse than an Arab. If Lynch knew of
Winters hostile intentions. he played the part
of decoy duck, backed by falsehood; if he
did not know what was coming, he was, by
all the laws of civilization, required to protect
his guest. Taken together, these confederates
have played part on the public stage which
will embalm their memories in twin infamv
1t is through scenes like this that the public
mind Is drawn TO the real character of the
forces which have long controlled society and
the State. This tragedy is only rude erup-
ton Of the evil influences which have been AT
work for years, concealed behind the curtain.
The brutal blow which struck down Conrad
Wiegand has, in other forms, struck down a
thousand before him. 1t was only n single
manifestation of that incorporated tyranny
which has held an entire community by the
throat ever since Washoe has been known.
Winters is only one (and perhaps not the
Worst) of n select coterie who have ruled Sto-
rey county and the State with rod of iron.
tramplng all law, and justice, and rights into
the mud, with the IMMUNITY Of Bohemian
serf-drver. Combining their tremendous
power, they have virtually owned the Radical
party, and through it have run the State
They have driven their workmen like sheep
to the polls, and voted them like dogs. They
have stung labor with the whip of scorpions,
and sile need the tongue of protest with starry
alton. These moneyed kings have lortled it
over every interest in the State with high
and mighty hand; but their time is coming.
The people, long bound down in humility, be-
gin TO look their oppressors in the face
John b. Winters, in his strength, is only
the impersonation of the gigantic associations
which, through Radical politicians. have ruled
the State for ten years. The editor of the
News is representative of the instruments
through which it has been done. by the pros
htution of the press to the suhvcrsion and
corruption ofpuhlic opinion. These bc your
Gods" oh, We Radical party of Nevada!