The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1879-07-22

the other opposing, the exemption bill; and
50 much a~crirnony, somuch personal feeling,
has already been engendsred that . further
discussion Of the merits Of the subject at Is
sue wouad merely be a waste Of time.d' The
a~xemptionists understand the value 81 rail-
way communication; perceive that the legis-
lation proposed inthe exemption bill imposes
not even the burden ofone dollars indebted
ness on the people, and sec very clearly that
the bill, ifpassed, only amoan to atempor-
airy abandonment ofa trifiing privilege in re-
turn for the early possession ola benefit~to be
enjoyed for all time, and whose enjoyment
will in NO manner prevent q rcinvestment of
the privilege which they propose for q time to
lay aside. They understand the benefit Of
railway communication /; and that the want
of it has long retarded the Development Of
our magnificent Territory, and now that the
~long-needed blessing seems almost within
their grasp, they will spare no honorable
effort in the endeavor to secure it. As for
the anti-exemptionists, it is difficult to say
what they understand Or what they believe,
since they never take the trouble to enlighten
any one as to their peculiar views. 1t is plain
enough that by dwelling upon their pet hob
by, by acting and reacting on III another,
they have worked, themselves iato the pitch
where their opposition to the bill assumes
fully the nature of a religious duty. They
have become absolute fanatics, and as such
have reached the point where men are no
longer amenable to reason-the point at
which, in other fields of belief, men have
marched cheerfully to martyrdom-have laid
down their lives rather than turn from what
all the world knew to be wretched %delusions.
At this moment, and within a few hundred
miles of us, there are men. who would face
death in defense of that most pitiful Of all
religious Observation-Disclosures does hat
intensity Of fanaticism give rise in our minds
to ever so faint a suspicion that they may
possibly be rightin their belief, or indeed to
any other, feeling than pity at the deluded
dupes whose closed minds doom them VIC
Tins of their own ignoranceA? So is IL with
our anti-exemptionists. If the matter were
one Of life and death, there are members of
that little ~anti-railroad clique who would
consider themselves martyrs in the cause of
honesty, principle and every other sentiment
to make the ultimate sacrifice in defense of
their prejudices. Of what use is it to attempt
discussion with such men? ~. ,&tl.
d To prove that matters have reached this
pass, let us consider the course of one of our
Democratic members from this county. If
there is all article in the party creed to which
more than to any other the genuine Demo-
crat acknowledges faithful adherence, it is
the one which ~enjoins upon the representa-
tive the obligation of obedience to the wili:of
his constituents when clearly expressed. 1t
is acceptance of this doctrine that makes the
right Of petition SO important an instrument
atty in Democratic communities; it is
through its practical application that the peo-
e~lecting a sort Of temporary oligarchy to rule
over them for u set period. Obedience to the
popular will is the broad foundation upon
which is reared the Democratic party-the
party Of the people; and yet what is the spec
tacle with which we are just now RECALLED?
Why, nothing less than that of a Democratic
representative from this county, a gentleman
who has been a lifelong Democrat, who re-
ceived his nomination in a regular party con-
v~ention, was elected by a strict party vote
and who yet does not scruple to declare that
if ssevery man, woman and child of neer
Lodge county were to petition him personally
in favor of the exemption bill, he still ,1ould
not vote for it," This is his individual plat
neutrality-suspicious.. Now will any one
at all conversant with the principles of our
party undertake to assert hat the Democratic
representative who delivered himself as above
is not a little off his balance OH his particular
hobby? Will anyone undertake to say that he
is in a proper state of mind calmly to reflect
and deliberate upon conflicting statements or
to arrange in true perspective sets Of facts at
seeming variance with one another in a
word, that is fit to take an intelligent part in
legislating on that subject? a
Or take the disgraceful proceeding, the de-
sertion from their post of five members of the
Council, some ten days ago. Was that the
action Of responsible persons? The Legisla-
ture was in legal session. Business was being
transacted by ordinary methods. No trick, or
sharp practice of any kind had been attempted
by their opponents, and yet in the face Of their
official oath, five members of the Council de-
sert their post, taking their way out of town
on foot, a party of tramps, and all for the sake
Of defeating a measure which the great body
of intelligent business men of the Territory
declare to be for the peoples good.
Discussion Of the exemption bill then may
very well cease. According to the present sit
uation the fate of the bill depends upon the