The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1884-04-09

Now that Walter Cooper has been reg
ularly nominated for public ofice-an
Office without salary or profit, for he is
not of the class who seek Offices for the
money there is in them-I trust none will
impute to me the slightest partisan feel
ing in bearing testimony to his worth AZ
q citizen and friend. am free from po-
litical prejudices, and think those who
know me will attest that the contempt
ible quality of toadyism is not in my ma
ture. I honor and respect man for i'll
dependence of thought, l care not how
wide the divergence between his own
views and mine, politically, religiously
or otherwise and ] view a mans mere
worldly success as it should be viewed
as trifing incident in human expert
ence-the momentary splendor of a fit
ting rainbow formed in the mingling
storms of life. Character can only be
fairly analysed and its value estimated
by first divesting it of all those meretri-
cious considerations which tend to warp
or bias the judgment; and thus would
present my friend Cooper-as he is in his
gerry nature. My high estimate of him is
the result of well on to twenty years
acquaintance, during most of which time
fortune has made shuttle-cocks of us both;
and through all these vicissitudes have
ever. found HIM the same-true, gener-
GUS, hopeful, energetic and determined
whether at the bottom of mining
shaft or in the most laborious position
in drain-race, ''he has been there, or
gathering in the fruits Of successful bu-
siness venture, he has never wavered in
the best qualities of manhood. We were
mining partners when the youngest vot-
ers of Bozeman were still in babyhood-
when our joint-fortunes did not exceed
the means to purchase the bare necessa-
ries of life-and l know him as few
know each other. A selfish, repressive
life is impossible to one of his nature. I
have ever found him ready to share his
last crust with a friend-or stranger,
when he believed him to be square" &C
-cording to our Western standard of judg-
ing character. I had predicted that he
would never achieve. financial success,
that his public-spirited liberality would
prevent it; but long experience at last
proves that integrity, energy and enter
prise are invincible. When he came to
'Bozeman the only building south Of Main
street was a log school-house; and his
entire stock in trade consiste of little
kit Of tools carried in a handkerchief.
He had just failed in the first attempt to
open coal mines in Montana, involving
him in an Indebtedness of several thous-
and dollars-every cent of which he has
honestly paid. Since then has he not
ever been in the lead, giving time and
money freely, in all public enterprises?
hope the solid merits in Mr. Cooper's
character have touched upon, and his
invaluable public services, voluntarily
given, will not be lost sight of in the lit
tie storm of prejudice and inharmony
which, regret to see, Is embittering the
municipal contest that will be decided by
MONDAYS election. Himself one of the
leading taxpayers of Bozeman, and the
Office for which he has been nominated
carving no profit with it, all may rest
assured that the city's best interests will
he promoted by his election. =