, 1881-04-16

The .rouh,e that has been brewing for souae
time past. between DR.. Baker and the settlers
ON Mn Creek. eliminated Tuesday in the
forc,ble eiectment Of those building the Hume
Fortunately for both parties there was M
h,oei -hed. as the Baker party withdrew
iron, the S-,d: Ia. had they resisted the Gay
vo,.ii have e..s-. otherwise, probably dlsa''
tr,;isly h the fune builders, fU the settlers
feel .ha. they are the masters Of the homes
th-r .srestei from the wilderness. Ids
tr,,,ble Is bus 4 repetition in miniature ct the
f-bt made by our fJrefathers, involving as Il
does the same principle, and TO guard against
which our c1rst tuition vas especially framed
These reop,e having taken and improved
land. a. t-,n-a-tide settlers, have those same
rights inherent in every american citizen
and prnperty holder Have they 70 night 20
defend their property from the encraachments
Of soulless CORPORATION, We think that they
no. only have right but in justice to their
families they ale bound 20 defend their rights
We think that in the present trouble the Mil
Creek settlers are both morally and legally
ri-ht. Article 5th of the Constitution Of the
United States says: Nor shall private pro-
perty be taken for public use without just
COMPENSATION" This compensation Is hrst
10 h ascer4ai4seH Gld pad before the property
Of any citizen can be taken for public use.
TIE question of compensation in these cases
has not yet been ascertained, nor n any way
fixed, nor can the question be settled until
passed upon BY the court OF las: resort is
private property to be appropriated by wealthy
corporations, and the legal owners to he turned
over 10 the courts to wranyle for years TO oo'
tain redress, while they enjoy the benefits of
the property they have never paid for, and
never may pay for: Does this provision OF |
the constitution mean this; II so no man Is
safe in his possessions. And again. when this !
CORPORATION takes the ground Of Its being of a /
general public beneit, we may answer by say
inc that anv enterprise tending 10 develop the I
country i public ilsit. Is then properly
subject to general condemnation ".riif ~
\ DR. Baker wishes In launch out in seif-
sacrificing investment. There is no doubt but
What this tlume will be OF benefit TO Waila
Walla. but At the same time the principle in
yolyei il IL too m0mentous Importance U
override. The rights Of the poorest and lowest
in the land should he respected as well as those
Of the richest, they having the same consti'
.utional guarantees of protection that Is even
offered % Dr. Baker. Nor do We consider
that the appraise,nent Of L justice OF the peace
should bind these settlers % surrender their
ri ,h.s 10 all or any portion of their homes; no
more than we would be bound by any OF their
decisions long as a higher court existed IN
the land. We believe that in the above We have
echoed the sentiments Of every sound thinking
man in the community, and We only hope
that they, ai,le1 by the people at large, will
maintain thi. principle, to which the ENTER
prises - Of rublic benefactors should be sub
seryient.
The right Of eminent domain, that is the
right 20 take private property for pakic use for
iust CONDENSATION is undisputed. But, can
Dr. Baker associate himself with his SONS, his
aunts and his cousins, and DO, under the name
,f corporation, what he certainly would not
undertake in an individual capacity.
There is pretence that the taking IN this
case is for 4 public Use. but it is the weakest
,nrt of 4 fiction, and cannot and ought not to
b., sustained in the courts
MONEY and the intricacies of the law may
enable him to accomplish his purposes, but he
cannot make it RIGHT.