The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1884-02-27

The Pioneer Press has this to say edl-
torially of the recent Constitutional Com
vention and its work, also in the same
article says, the two principal questions
which agitated the Convention were the
giving and receiving Of railroad passes
and the taxation of the mines. Upon
the latter question they incline to think
We have made mistake, reasoning how
ever from the wrong stand point, i.e.,
that it was concession to attract capital.
This is not the idea at all, mines will be
taxed for all they are worth. The spec
ulative value will not be taxed. This
question will be discussed at greater
length at some other time.
"For more than three weeks an assem-
bly, of delegates from the several coun-
ties of the Territory of Montana have
been quietly perfecting an instrument Of
government, and thereby preparing
themselves to ask at the hands of the ma
ton admission to the roll of states. They
have inspired admiration by their earn
estness, and created in advance favor
able impression for their work by their
moderate and businessl like way of set
ting about what they intended to do.
Whatever they attempted was evidently
designed not for outside effect, but was
carefully studied and intended with a
view to the present and future welfare of
the people As consequence, their
completed work, though it has not been
noisily heralded, will be received with
respect everywhere, and will be consider
ed with that respect which is due to
manifest honesty of purpose. The new
constitution in itself requires no voiumi-
nous comment. 1t il about on. q, par
with the documents framed sn, most of
the newer states, which hike. had the
experiences of the older az directive in
fluences. 1t copies many Of the best
features of the other constitutions with
one or two Of their wost; while, in GER
tain directions, where the people Of the
territory felt their personal interests to
pe peculiarly involved, it strikes out
with boldness and originality. The bill |
of rights is not remarkable for anything |
except the wise, just and cautious provi- |!
sion that the immunity granted all foraas
of religious belief shall not be extspded
to cover bigamy or polygamy, taking re-
fuge under the spurious claim Of religious |
tenets
1.-THE location of the territory, remote
from the national seat Of government,
makes it particularly desirable that it
should be given charge of its own affairs
at the earliest possible moment, while its
people have given abundant evidence
not the least Of which is the orderly
Of the present constitution-of
their capacity for self-rule. 1t is not less
than infamous that the admission of ter
ritories should be made question of
party politics. Since, however, such is
the lamentable fact, why may not the
evil be at least made to nuliify itself in
The present instance by the admission of
Montana simultaneously with the divi-
zion of Dakota and the admission of the
southern half? Tho one will be as reli-
IDLY Democratic as the other is Republi-
an, and thus the party politicians can
compose their righteous fears. 1t is hard
70 see why determined effort in this
direction should not succeed, if there
we're energetic men to take up the issue
md push it in congress. There will
never be better opportunity to do JUS
ice without injury toeither party's pros
,ects. Give US the two Northwestern
'tates of Dakota and Montana.