The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1886-08-25

uoIAl pOilCC, Ac5bidAhlhE WAhAoue 1eNeSA
or arms, the evils that would spring up
in the community.
would, before closing, add my voice
to the timely and sensible advice given
in the excellent address Of last year, on
the subject of personal quarrels between
rival editors. We cannot afford to make
of ourselves bnffoons for the amusement
and deIectation of only the very lowest
tastes in the community. For in the
more refined of our readers such exhi-
billions of rancor, ill-will, and the handy.
ing back and forth of scurr:iity and vul- |
gar epithets. excite only disgust and
WEAKNESS. An editor has an implied !
contract with his readers to furnish them
with news, and it is violation OF that
contract to fill his paper with matters
that concern only himself and his griev'
ances The attacking of another editors
character or personal appearance Is bad
enough, but when the attack is carried
on against his ancestors near and remote,
and his relatives lineal and collateral, 80
that he is made answerable, IN the Ian
guage of the late Artemus Ward, for the
physical defects of "a ba,d-headed aunt
or a one-eyed sister sall," surely this is
carrying personal journalism to an ex-
treme.
Such monstrous conducts is common
enough in some communities, but l think
1 may state here (my illness has pre-
vented me from reading the exchanges
lately) that Montana journals are entirely
free from these coarse personalities.
If such be the case it is much to be de-
sired that it continue, and that we treat
one another as gentlemen, honestly and
vigorously combating erroneous views
where they exist; but doing it with eotir-
testy, attacking not the author but the
doctrines he enunciates. Then shall we
retain the respect Of our readers and the
good will of one another, and dwell to-
gether in unity"
The high character Of journalism in
Montana is noticeable. Take any Mon
tana newspaper, l care not which one
your select, and compare 1t with any
paper in the east, published in town OF
the same population, and without any
prejudice you must pronounce the Mon
tana paper the superior of the two. Our
communities demand this superiority.
Our readers are more intelligent than the
ordinary rural populations of the east,
and they require stronger mental food.
This high standard is admitted by all,
who have given though to the subject,
and while it is a source of satisfaction
and of pride To us, who WELD the press,
it should incite us to raise still higher
the character and tone of our respective
journals. and to maintain the dignity
of the profession.
| have written of these matters neces-
sarily in a hurried manner, for the reasons
l have already stated; but l trust that
my efforts to carry out even at the ele-
venth hour my promise to our president
will in some measure atone for the cru
dity and lack of preparation with which
l have presented these few observations,
and that the charity which the brethren
of the press exercise towards one
another, will not all to cover my short
cor ings.
This Was followed by VIII Kennedy S
exhaustive continuation of tine History
the Montana Press. The bioerdphi-
cal portion, referring to Capt Mills,
BIOGRAPHICAL.
As historical sketches hereafter will
necessarily be short, perhaps it will be
a good plan to inaugurate series OF bio
graphical sketches of the leading news
paper men, past and present, of the ter
ritory, and in iurtherance of this idea, it
will be the unanimous choice Of the
members of this association tFat these
biographical sketches should begin with
our worthy President,
CAPT. JAMES H. MILLS,
who stands at the head of the profession
in our territory. He was born at New
Lisbon, Ohio, December, IL, 1887, and
consequent; lacks but little over year
to complete his half-century of life.
When he was about five years old his
parents moved to PIttsburg, Pa, enabling
him to secure common school and
commercial education. Here he saw
the horrors of cholera epidemic, in
which he showed the principles of
bravery. and faithfulness to duty, which
later distinguished his career as soldier.
While yet a minor he was public
school teacher, and he was also engaged
for time in the pine timber and lumber
business. The breaking out of the re-
bellion found him ready to take up arms
in defense of ais country, and enlist
ment followed in a local company,
which ultimately became Co. G of the
18th regiment of the Pennsylvania
Reserves, a corps which was the first to
reach Washington City in its defense
after the disastrous defeat at Bull Run,
and which thereafter made a record in
the army that confers distinction upon
each individual member of the corps.
That Capt. Mills was among the bravest
and best of the grand corps is proved by
his promotion from the ranks to be first
lieutenant CT his company in 1852 his
promotion to the captaincy IN 1858, and
his being bre veted major and lieutenant
colonel for gallant and meritorious ser
vices. He can tell many a tale of war
which will thrill the hearts of all old
soldiers who listen to him and want to
make Them throw high their hats in air
and yell as they have done in time or
battle a. sight Of an heroic deed.
But pea u at last came to the land, and
then, like many Of the voting soldiers OF
the R public, Capt. Mills found life in
the older states TOO narrow Tor his bg2 adj
ened views. too .ircuniscribed for grow til
and he pushed out to the west and be-
came one Of the pioneers to conquer an
empire. Montana was his destination.
which lie reached in the early spmmer
Of 1866 and after brief experience in
mining in Emiarant Gulch, not 50 very
Ear fran where this meeting is held, he
proceeded to Virginia City, where in De-
aa,,lav r. tJ,s ,,.,s,. he ,.saai,af sdifarialIkr