Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1873-02-21
LYNCH Law In BOZEM.N.
NEAR STKRsISG, Feb. n, 1873.

LYNCH Law IN BOZEM.N.
NEAR STIRRING, Feb. II, 1873.
Edifo- Arant Courier.
Under The above caption read IN your
paper u the TIL inst, All article that pleased
me we'll Not because Iagrte wihit altogcth-
er III opinion, but because it is dignified,
gcntlemanly. wcll-written, argnlnentative
article; tarrying with it the convection that
the writer Is earnestly expressing bis honest
opinions, and faithlully endeayoring u cor
rect whit he believes TO be . wrong. It Is
because Il tile ability Of this article, and It's
'candid manner, apparently inviting argu-
,aeat, that I ask room in your columns to
give expression to few thoughts in defense
Of the action of the Committee Three Hum
drcl d.. z i
It may not be amiss In the outset to say
that 1 never have belonged to vigilance
committee or have taken part In their doings;
but own that have often felt that some de-
termined action was needed on the part OF
the good citizens of Bozeman to prevent q
reign Of terror, and have frequently heard
many OF the steady, industrious, thinking,
substantial citizens express themselves in the
same manner. It is true that having been
nearly two months from home | cannot
claim to understand fully what has been
done; but will say that was not greatly
surprise TO learn that the murderer Of the
Chinawoman had SO promptly met his re-
-rs.Sa. xa.~.. ~ sl.s sss,ao-
/ DO not believe the actors In this tragedy
are thoughtless or irresponsible persons.
believe they have carefully considered the
situation, impartially tried the accused, judi
ciously condemned and justly punished the
guilty. believe that their action was infiu-
eneed by the memory of that terrible time to
which you alIude in words which cannot
do better than quote, when .:many vile men
and blood-thirsty wretches. carrying crime
within their breasts, stalked our streets,
peered into the sanctity Of our homes, rob-
bed orr persons and flung defiance in our
teeth when, as we believed, we were bask-
ing in the sunshine of peace ard prosperity,
and. SO believing, were too often lnlted into
fatal delusioA.' The italics are my own, but
they form the bridge upon which crime
stalked detiantly over law and order. Too
often lulled into fatal delusion!
e First we had law and order. The most
reckless desperadocs quietly subnitted to the
DEGREES Of the courts, and all was well. But
ere long Crime lifted his grizzled head. For
a time he howlcd in the dark hours of night,
and fourIshed and fired his deadly weapons.
As terrible diseases have their prem onitions,
SO have terrible disorders of society their
warnings; and this was the warning that the
peop.e Of Montana should have needed, and,
taking time by the forelock, have prevented
the reign of terror that followed. But yet.
In the retirement of their own homes there
was peace, and in its sunshine they Rugged
their fatal delusion." Soon the unguarded
treasure was plundered. There. in the dark
corner. the stranger was hunted down and
butchered, and Grille, gorged with the pro-
ceeds, sialked more boldly ont into the night,
which he made hideous with his howlings
md villanies. Still the quiet citizen ..basked
III the sunshine of peace and prosperity"
md Rugged more closely his fatal delu-
''~'' Da1 ny" Sf'''e, hlshcd with his
'onIucs's ose' -" a"u 9'ueisr "a'Ns '''e
'.'ee.s Dolu'y ~ NY p.oau uas' pa.c.'efs anu
'nc pcaS.'ui .,.i1ch anu ','s l"'e'
aonle' =, ~ sciius nun '.'u.lR anu sAu'h.aS
.''o"e my sun.y .'n''"'i. is u.o
NECESSITY. mat jealous ana ihexorable
agency which knows not, and will noC hear,
i . m.aninolcss excuscs nd ,n4f,ac,naI
-.
WHihesoi P'aus'D''i'y, w TUG Sss'i 1888 ieia-
Die voice Of sympathy with crime In time
0 When vice prevailed
And impious mer bore sway.,
lhd issued her mahaates IN the interest 81
life, law and order.n God forbid that Galla-
in county should ever await this extremity
Already M. crime made n;v,,t ,,;deo,s
viii, his fearful howlines. his swaoy.r ] a
roast. his flourish of glistening steel and his
ring of deadly weanons. already has hc
rustinp. thonohtless STRANGER. Theso arr. the
ERNIE r-emenitions. the unm;stal,ble
varn,nos shall We AGAIN nestle r. o,r a,,;a,
,on,es nnt;, ~. ind a,rsa,vas conf,o,.od -
l,at dire necessitrp sha,l ~ aoa;r trns. -
ha dilatorv onorat;on of ia lac ,,,t,,
!. ......-, H. -