Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1889-12-12
A GENEROUS LAND POLICY

v
proper way the adjustment OF honest
claims OF individual settlers on public
lands has been pursued. The number
OF pending cases heard during the pre-
cee'ling administration have been
greatly increased under the operation
OF orders for "a time suspendIng final
action IN n large part of the cases
originating in the West and North
west, and by the subsequent use OF
unusual methods of examination.
Only those who are familiar with con
ditlons under which our agricultural
lands have been settled can appreci-
ate the serious and often fatal conse-
quences to the settler OF IL policy that
puts his til le under suspicion or delays
the issuance of his patent. While care
Is taken to prevent fraud, it should
not he imputed without reason.
| The manifest purpose OF the home
stead and pre-emption laws was to
promote the settlement of the public
domain by persons having IA bona iide
intention to make "a home on the
selected lands. Where this intent is
well established and the requirements
OF the law have been substantially
complied with, the claimant is entitled
to n prompt and friendly considera-
ton of his case. But where there il
reason to believe that the claimant il
| the mere agent Of another who is seek
ing to evade u law intended to pro
mote small holdings and to secure by
fraudulent methods large tracts oi
timber and other lands, both princi-
pal and agents should not only be
thwarted IN their fraudulent purpose
but should be made to feel the full
penalties OF criminal statutes. The
law should be so administered as not
to confound these two Glasses and to
visit penalties only upon the latter;
the unsettled state OF the title to
bodies OF land in the Territories OF
New Mexico and Arizona has greatly
retarded the development OF those
rerrit ories.
| RIGHTS or THE aOIoRi.D MAN
In many parts OF the country where
the colored population is large the
people Of that race are by various
devices deprived OF any effective exer-
else OF their political rights. The
wrong does not expend itself upon
those whose votes are suppressed.
Every constituency in the Union il
wronged. II has been the hope of
every patriot that "a sense Of Justice
and oi respect for the law would work
n gradual cure OF these flagrant evils.
surely no one supposes that the pres
eht can he accepted as II permanent
condition. Ii it is said that these
communities must work out this
problem for themselves, we have a
right to ask whether they are at work
upon 1t. DO they suggest any qnes
ton when and under what conditions
the black man is to have free ballot?
l. he, IN fact, to have those full civil
rights which have so long been his in
law? W hen l. that equality OF inllu-
ence which our form of government
was intended to secure to the elect ors
to berestored? This generation should
couraeeously face these grave ques
tiOns, and not leave them as IA herit-
age OF woe to the next. The consulta-
ton should proceed with candor
calmness, and great patience upon the
lines of justice and humanity. not OF
prejudice and cruelty. No question in
our country can he at rest except upon
he firm basis of justice and of the
law. ] earnestly invoke the atten-
ton OF Congress to the consideration
constitutional powers as will secure
to all our people the free exercise OF
the right of suffrage and every other
civil right under the constitution and
laws of the United states. No evil.
however deplorable, can Justify the
assumption, either on the part of the
leyecutive or of Congress, of powers
not granted, but both will be highly
/ i.i, a. l..
not wisely but firmly used to correct
these evils. The power to take the
whole direction and control OF the
election ol members of the House
ri Representatives is clearly given to
he general government. \ partial
and qualified supervision OF these
elections Is now provided for by law,
and III my opinion this law may be
strengt hened and extended to secure,
on the whole, better results than can
be attained by IA law taking all the
processes OF such elections into federal
control. The colored man should be
protected in all oi his relations To the
federal government, whet her as a liti-
CANT. Juror, or witness IN courts, as M
elector OF members oi Congress, or a.
"A peaceful Traveller in our interest ate
railways.
THE SILVER QUESTION.
-
ihe III" requiring the purchase ID.
'he treasury Oh Two hiiilioh doilars
Wortii oi siiNsr p,iliioii eacii hloiitn II, ,e
oe co'i'ed iii'o shNer "oilars Oh az
grains mas peeii opserNed d! the de
parthleh'' out hellher the present sec
re'ary' nor any Oh MS predecessors
mas aeehiel IL sale 10 eNercise the uis
cfe'ioh gwen ny law 10 increase liis
monthiy purchases TO 'ouf minor
toi,'is. "nei 'i,e ia" WIS ei'a'teo
req -, 1910, lhe price OF SILVER II