Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1878-02-21
WHY DOES NOT THE CONVENIENT
MEET ITS OBLIGATIONS

= y
citizens owe true allegiance and fidelity +
= the Government. it als~ fellows that Il,
;. Government caves to Its citizens. not Onl
: protection. to life and property. but ais
!. tine go0aP anI wholesome example and in
fience Of justice. business integrity an,
common honesty. In other words tn
duty and allegiance OF the citizen arise
mainly; if not wholly from sense of dig
nifty and impartial justice, on the part o
the Government to I'LL its subjects. unitet
with feeling Of personal obligation fo1
privileges and benefits conferred. We re
gard the benefits and obligations, on either
side. as simply interchangeable and recip
rocal. 1t is not enough either that the
Government should extend its protection
and patronage Unfortunately, or to each
community or individual alike. without
regard to condition or external circuml-
stances. 1t should take into acc,l-
rate account the diversified. and in many
respects the dissimilar needs and condi-
tons of the whole people collectively and
individually. We have been led to these
remarks from heariug the sentiment SO Of
ten expressed that the citizens of Montana
Territory are under special obligations to
the General Government for its military
protection and liberal patronage. That
we are largely if not wholly indebted to ii
tor our prosperity, if not our existence
even. Now what is the true state Of the
case. and wl,erci are we as 4 community
the recipiants of special favors to which
we are not justly entitled? Is it in the fact
that a few temporary military posts with a
! few hundreds of L. 5. troops have been To-
Gated amongst us and on our borders dur
ing our infancy. and while we are not only
furnishing these same troops with all ne
cessary supplies at lower prices than the
same can be obtained elsewhere, but ut the
same time are digging out and contribut-
ing to the nations wealth millions Of gold
and silver every year. besides carving ont
and building up rich and prosperous
commonwealth. and all this under the
most adverse and discouaging circum-
stances?
The life of the frontiersman IL one of
sclt-sacriice. exposure. hardships, isola-
ton. personal bravery and, too often, un-
requitted toll; but these are matters so
generally overlooked and unappreciated
by the masses that we hardly have patien'
to call attention to the subject. much less
to urge their just claims to the grateful APP
probation of all patriotic citizens, and the
prompt protection and patronage of the
Federal Government The history of the
Great West will never be fully written up,
especially that portion Of it within the
bounds of Montana Territory. The past
fifteen years have been SO many long years
Of unceasing strife and perpetual warfare
between handful of brave and enterpris-
ing citizens of Montana and the lawless
hortles of savages who have ignored every
sentiment of humanity. every mode of civ
iizcd warfare and who. of late years. have
set at defiance the whole power and au-
thority of the Government. When We
think Of the unceasing warfare, the une-
quail contest, the dangers past, the remark
able endurance and personal bravery so Of
ten manifested. the hundreds of brave
lives that have been sacrificed. the money
expended and the property destroyed in
Eastern Montana alone. in order to main
tain a foothold and develope its ineXhaust-
lble resources for the nation and for future
surely we are not required to
ook upon the action Of the General Gov
in placing few troops and ex-
ending partial protection over these ex-
'o<ed and struggling settlements at the
,lcven&ia hour. as one Of unparalleled kind
less and undeserving generosity. If Mon A..
ana is not jastly entitled to the fostering ,
are. protection and patronage of the Gov =
then ne frontier settlement ever =
vas.
1.-THE foregoing be correct statement +
r intimatioa of existing relations and +
acts. why is it that we are SO often re- r
uced to the very humble and pitable ex- |,
edient of petitioning the General Govern 9
lent and the War Department for the q
strengthening of some military post or the
etentiOn of L. S. troops in some we'll =
nown exposed and threatened locality:
nd. why is it that We have to beg as sup 4.
lients for the privilege Diminishing these =
,me posts and troops with the necessary =
rage and supplies at unremunerative . .
ric,s? And why is it that alter such sup y
les. &c. have been furnished at such low :
yures and in accordance 18th every pro- :. =:
sion Of the contracts, the parties are una :. =
e, in 40 many instances, to get pay for ;"
e same within any reasonable time :" =,
hese are questions that suggest them
Ives to us and are such. we think, as r
pply interest the people Of Montana. =,
We have in our minels at the present !,
Iiting more than dozen parties in our ~
who have be.n seriously EN- -
rassetl-almOst financially rilined-by -
e hardness or refusal of the Government -
pay its just obligations. Looking at it -.
business aspect. one would naturally =,
include that a receipt or voucher issuetl a.,
properly authorized agent Of the =.
,vernment for transportation. forage. ~.
pplies or services furnished or rendered =,
accordance with the provisions of law. ="
Dnld he. at least. us good as an order on ".
ordinary business man. or check on a w
lvent bank; but such is very far from be- a.
, the case as many business men in Mon vs.
~. who have paid dearly for their ex- -. ="
rience. can testify. There is 20 much ''e
rd tape" nowadays to be united. so
my unnecessary delays. SO many friyo-
Is excuses and objections to be met. ex-
'inesi and overcome. that a imam may con-
Ter himself in luck if he gets paid at