Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1889-01-31
A New Declaration Of Independence.

The speech delivered by Delegate
TOOle on the admission oi Montana,
was one oi the ablest and most stirring
Oi the present session of congress. The
following is from the New York sun,
which printed the speech in full
When Mr.. Clifford sat down. n Patrick
Henry burst from the territorial cloud. lie
was Mr.. Toolc of Helena. Twilight WAS
approaching, the galleries were deserted
and No IMPORTERS were present. Hall the
members had lett the house. the Others
were telling stories, answering letters or
lolling upon the sofa, enjoying cigars.
There was no prcmonition of what was
c.ming. Mr.. Toolr H. constructed very
much like Waldo IIutchins. lie j. about
thirty years younger than Waldo Ilnichin-
and even better looking. lie began his
speech 10y reading memorial from citizcus
of Montana. The confusion was 80 great
that nobody within forty Zee, nf him had
amy idea what lac was saying. The speaker
pro tenn wa> Whispering To- visitor, aud
the house literally ran riot. Within iiv.
minutes. however. two or ihrrr men near
Mr.. Toolc awoke To- the lact that some
thing unusual Was occurring. onr member
after anot her opened his mouth ia aston
i-iiiiifht, anu iil'if W az ali
of applause. At last universal attention
was concentrated upon him. Members in
the corridors on their way to- their homes
heard the Applause and returned to the
chamber with their hats and ovrrcoats
The hall brcamc 50 still that you could
have almost heard II thistle down roll
along the main aisle. Mr.. Toolr has n full.
rich voice that echoed like vibrations from
n bell
Mr.. Toole next told what congress had
done Tor the territory of Montana. 1t
sounded like "a new declaration of indie
I,cndcnce. lie said:
ut has given u- u system of courts inhe-
rently wrong. and which can never he made
-uita To large communities.
1T has regulated the number of our
judges, grosslN inadequate inevery instance.
resulting in the delay and in many
eases the denial OF Justice. 1t has arbi-
trarily fixed the time when our local lrgis.
laturc shall meet and adjourn. to our great
damage and Inconvenience.
'lt has denied ms the authority to call
an extra session Of our legislature without
the consent of the president. adding untold
burdens to n dependent people. II has
reserved the right to invalidate any law
which our legislature may pass, thereby
destroying that full faith aud credit which
cur legislature ought to command.
at has bound us hand and foot by u
law winch ft>tfltts tntst grow ana a
bitious communities IN the expenditure of
money for public improvements.
1T has declared what We shall teach ia
.1l.AA4.- fHrk
If confidence in us in other instances oi
legislation too numerous Ia mention.
ut has attempted to stiilc our industries
by prohibiting iIs from selling mining prop.
critics in foreign markets. thus laying upon
MS an embargo not borne by citizens of he
states.
1T has exempted "a railroad and tn. inn
provemcnts on it's right Of way for SEQ
miles from taxation, furnishing another
evidence of the gross inequality of citzen-
ship in and out Of the territory.
at has withheld frpm iis our dowry Of
land which belongs to our school funds.
and refuses to give To MS any kind of super
yison or control over il until we become u
state, and then sets deliberately to work
to prolong the time when that event shall
happen.
1T has proiessed Ia give us "a representa-
tive in the lower house of congress. but
denies to us n vote, the only element oi
representation which gives character ar
iniluenc. to a member.
ut has left Ms wit hout any kind oi repre-
sentation in the senate. aud RENTS us to
the beggarly methods Of the lobbyist.
lit has imposed OH us with an iron hand
the obligations and burdens of citizenship
while il withol,ls its corresponding beaeiits
by steadily denying to us participation in
III" framing of legislation and the right of
| suffrage ia national legislation.
lit has refused to appropriate the sal
aries provided 10y law for the hungry officials
whom il has been pleased to send us, and
compels them to accept n measly sum in
full lcompensat ion, not withstanding an over
flowing treasury.
lit has refused to appropriate sufficient
territories, hut has doled out annually it,.
dribl-ts, which have ofttimcs been covered
back into the treasury, leaving our boun-
diaries underlined aud our titles insecure.
1T has failed to raus. To- Ice surveyed.
selected aud conveyed To- the grantees the
Einds falling within railroad grants within
| the territories. ~ required by law whereby
millions oi acres ri land owned 10y rich cor
! "ratis'ns rs"ap"d taxation. II has per
sistcntly refused to pas, laws by which tim
her or timber lans!s in the territories except
| Washington may be leased or purchased. J..
protesting however. tS give the right to
actual sci tiers to cut aud remove the same
for domestic purposes, while IL has hc,iged
/ IN this privilege with AN odious aud imprac-
| iicablc system of rules aud regulations
which has resulted ia harra-sins our citi-
l-ns with expensive civil aud criminal pro-
! ccr'iiEgs, based wholly on the cx parte
| statements of u crouching and ob>e,Iuious
special agent or spy, who has been taught
To believe that his term al Office will u.
measured by the extent Of his activity ia
stirring up strife.
1t has 10y the orsanizltiou al these ter
rit ories invited settlement aud ocruliaucy
of the frontier, upon the promise and obi
CATION that our personal property should
be- protected against dcpredation- by hos
tile Indians. These promises have been
honore,i NOR in the breach than ia iheob-
seryance. The history of our early settle
nent is red with the blood of the pioneers
who bla zed the trails of civilization in These
remote lands 10y the lurid light of their
burning homes. which went down in ashes
before the mercies> savage. Millions al
d-llars of unpaid claims. miidewed by az,
and growing ont Of these ATROCITIES. an,
piled up. while the heroes of the,r trout,
lou- times, overcome with the weight %
ycars AMI no longer able to conquer theiI
ferlins. have gone IT, Join the silcat major
ssss. a .sf .