Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1889-09-28
4 STRONG
The Republican Methods of Conducting
the Campaign.

The Republican Methods of Conducting
the Campaign.
ANACONDA, September "a, 1ss9.-[Edito,
Miner. lit is characteristic OF the Repub.
lican papers OF the territory in the present
campaign, that instead OF devoting them.
selves to a discussion OF the legitimate is
sues involved, they have beat the devil
around the stump by venting their spleen
upon some individuals who are merely ex.
ercising the right incumbent upon all good
citizens OF the land by manifestinc an inter-
est in public affairs. Editorials note.
worthy only for their length and
scurrilous character have daily been hurled
against a lew eminent c~itizens. because,
forsootb, they have in a legitimate way at.
tanned financial success and are Demo-
cratic in politics. The big Four" as the
Republican press terms them. and others
whom the Inter Mountain rails at in that
papers issue of the goth, are mainly men
who anne to this territory when it was in
s%waddlihg clothes, with O capital consist.
ing OF principle, brain and Drawn. Be.
cause by q constant exercise of these ad-
mirable qualities they have achieved for.
tunes, they are now made the
butt of a horde of libelous scribblers,
who by comparison are scarce fit to wipe
the dust of the shoes Of the men they ira
luce. The objects of their onslaughts
made their money in Montana and they
have invested it in Montana, thereby en-
riching every foot of ground within it's con
fines and adding to the wealth OF every
-zz!l4-A nl-@-l kLs- La
ing faith and unexampled enterprise the
t. yield up abundantly OF their buried
treasure, and homes and completeness were
made possible to thousands OF work
ing men Wage workers OF Mon.
tana, cast about you and note on
every side the splendid industrial monu-
ments to the energy and enterprise OF the
"Big Four'' and others whom the Republi-
can press Of the territory are decrying-
monuments that have assisted in your
maintenance during the past, and are q
guarantee OF your future prosperity. These
men have assisted largely in making Mon
tana the grand commonwealth she is, q
cynosure in the bright constellation that
will soon be added to the northwestern
galaxy of stars. And yet, when they u
dertake to exercise a right that t~hepoorest
among us prize as an unquestionable one,
their motives are impugned and they are
charged with Icing little less than criminal.
1t is palpable to the people OF the ter
ritory that the Republican papers ignored
their so-called platform in order, If posi-.
the Democratic platform invulnerable,
they, with the single exception OF Prince
Russell's puny exposition, have confined
their efforts in behalf of the party to per.
sonal vituperatiol.
The recent articles in the Helena Journal
in reference to the arrest for embezzlement
OF VIM. B. Webb, and the editorial com.
ment thereon constitute q das ardly act.
It is almost inconceivable that q neWspa.
per making any ~pretensions to respectable.
ity, would 90 demean itself as to take the
attitude it did in the premises. Ordinarily
a person charged with an offense is deemed
innocent and so held in law until the allie
CATION il proved. But the Journal, ignor
ing decency, u the functions o.
Judge and jury in the case, takes snay
Judgment on Mr.. Webb and DEGREES him
guilty. In the doing OF this it proves itseli
SO utterly devoid OF a common sense OF JUS
tice as to have no computations over being
a principal in running the reputation Of a
man who has heretofore deserved well oil
the world, and whose claim to it's good
opinion is still entitled to full considera'
ton. Has the Journal no qualms OF con
science when it publishes as a thief a man
whom alone a jury OF his peers should
brand with that infamous stigma? Has it
no regard for the feelings of the fond wife
who cherishes the honored name OF her hus'
band as a thing more precious than life
Has it none for the innocent children whose
future may be clouded by the dark re.
proach it casts upon the name they bear
Has it none for the many friends whom a
reputable career has attached to him? As
suredly not.
No tribunal in the land dare infringe upor
the guaranteed right of an accused person
by condemning him without the formality
Of a trial or upon ex parte evidence. But
here ia a newspaper that not only does but
commends itself to the public for 80 doing
In it's indecent haste to make political
capital out of the charge lodged against
Mr.. Webb, the Journal transcribed the
bounds OF baseness and assumed a posi-
ton that every man in Montana imbued
with a spirit OF justice must abhor. A
newspaper capable OF STOPPING to such q
despicable course, and a political party
that abets it on the part of it's official
organ, deserve alike hearty condemnation,
ERE.