Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1885-02-13
WOOD RIVERS RECORD.
HONOR TO WHOM HONOR IS DUE.


The Legislature having adjourned,
and his task being completed, the Hon.
j. X. w atson has returned to his con.
stituency, ready to answer for his acts
while acting as their delegate in the
House of Representatives at Boise.
lie has nothing to answer for, because
his course has been such as to win
general admiration, and 20 wrench,
even from his political enemies, the
seldom deserved verdict: "Well done,
chou good and faithful servant -
From the moment when he took his !
seat in the House until lis final adj
journment, Mr.. Watson made an ac-
tive, vigi!ant, able fight for Alturas
county and for the best interests of
the Territory at large. He opposed
the capital buildings seal, the Alturas
county spoliatioa schemes, the public
school text book job, and all unjust or
extreme legislation. In brief, he was
impartial, just and broad minded. On
one question he sided with the tx
tremists, but it is for that very stand
that he will be lauded the most. Cap
tain Watson was born and reared IA
Democrat, he has been a Democrat all
his life; but when the most gigantic
rebellion which the world ever saw
organized an armed conflict against
the best government on the globe, he
at once volunteered for the defense of
his country, Of freedom, and of right
But he remained staunch Democrat
So, when the Mormon question forced
itself upon the attention of the Ieeis-
lature fer solution, he did not hest
tate, but at once sought the thckest
Of the fight and remained there unit!
victory crowned his efforts. 1t mat
tered not to him what was thought,
what done; he knew he WAS right,
and never llinched Even the threat
to drive him from his party had no ter
rors for him, but quite the reverse, it
emboldened him in the right, and led
him to exclair, substantially 81 have
been life long Democrat, bat my
Democracy is Of that kind that will
not brook treason to our free institu-
tons, or resistance to the laws under
which we 1--we. These Mormons are
openly engaged in violations Of our
laws, and are therefore standing
menace to the Republic. propose
that they shall be restrained, that they
shall be compelled to obey the laws
which were framed for all alike. That
is the kind Of u Democrat that | ami"
And Mr.. Watson had the satisfaction
OF seeing the entire majority in the
House, as we'll as the most innue ntial
of his party frienls, follow his lead
until the difficult problem was finally
solved to the satisfaction OF all liberty
loving citizens.
In order to appreciate Captain Wat
sons services in Boise, and to obtain
fair idea of the mans unflinching
devotion to the interests which he as
sumed to defend, it is necessary tina,
the means used t. cause him TO dew
ate from his course should be partl,
known. The Mormons were there il
force, with their trollops and then
gold, eager to barter both for votes
schemers without number, with uE
counted thousands of dollars, wcr,
there, ready to trade even for "digni
fed silence" when unable 20 purchas,
active cooperation; they were will
ing to hold ont any inducements
make the most brilliant offers. Ye
through all this Alturas's chosen rep
resentatve remained unmoved. Ant
from the first days Of the session hi
unyielding integrity became so wei
known that no corrupt scheplers dare,
10 approach him. and az once set hin
down as opposed TO them! This wa
distinction which no other membe
Of that large assomhlage enjoyed, an
this honor WAS taritly conferred il
forced recognition OF the mans incor
5uptibilitv.
Communi,ies-and especially youn
ohes-aFe proverbiaily ungrateiu.. Blu