Daily Yellowstone journal., 1890-02-08
Saturday. February ;, 1850

THE proceedings In court yesterday
brought home to every citizen Of Mites
City, ard particularly TO those who
were present, the piti!ul state 10 which
the legislative proceedings Of our com
Donwealih have been degraded hythe
action of the democratic members ol
that body. Yards and fathonls 81
newspaper description al long Ianl e
has failed TO awaken D 1.-THE OF tie
indignation-not only in republicans
but In law abiding democrats n we'll
that the spectacle presented yesterday
in our court brought aboui-and what
a~spectscle. A gentleman, a resident
of an adjoining county, who in his
private aud social relations has the
respect Of everybody; SO well thought
of In fact, that be was chosen by his
constituents o the high honor of rep.
~resentin : his county in the first senate
of the state of Montana. This gentle
/, nsn under arrest for ignomin .ously
fleeing from The performance of those
duties he YVES so proudly honored in
the election 10 perform. 1t was a try
ing position for a man who les
then three months Ego CALAMITY en-
{ cred on a "a eer In which he must
have entertained high aspirations.
But Mr.. Becker is not wholly or Pc
haps eveh partially to blame for the
pitiful ending of this career. Person.
ally he is the same genial and honor
able gentleman that he was before the
assembling OF the legislature. 1t is the
principle to which he has unfortunate
ly adhered that has brought him polit.
ically to this low estate. That princi-
pie which had its first practical illus
tratlon in the proclamation of Gov.
Toole whereby he set at disregard the
functions of the supreme court, and
which ha, been persistently followed
by the democrats throughout the tor.
tuous history of "a first legislative
assembly until it has brought q
honorable senator before the bsrof the
senate under arrest, and has prscti-
cally made seven other fugitlvts from
- well, il not from justice, what?
That principle is-Rule or Ruin.
With legislation pending that is as
important TO commonwealth as IL
the purple food tina. courses through
the veinsof any person to bis existence.
With q tacit admission on the lips of
every democrat In the state from gov
ernor down, that the supreme C urt
has settled the legality Of the republic
can house of representatives.. With
their W common sense, backed by
the pledges of the republicans, sssur-
ing them that no partisan legislation
would be attempted, these eight
democratic senators (?) after striving
in every petty and harrassing way to
prevent a single step toward the need
full organization Of the respective
branches, have under the rigid exsc
ton If this rule or ruin principle and
as a lat and most effective barrier TO
Deedfil legislation, weakly fled from
their posts, abandoning every princi-
pie but the one.
. While the weight Of public condem-
nation must rest on all who have been
concerned in this outrage. there Is yet
a chance for Mr.. Becker tn redeem
himself Ia a great measure from the
obloqy that must rest on his associates.
Let him on his return to the body Of
which he is a member, frankly and
honestly cast off his allegiance, not to
his party but to the detestable prin-
ciple which Las so far governed it,and
join with the remaining members Of
the senate in p%erfec'iDg the needful
legislation. 10 IL not necessary that
he do this. Under the present conui-
ton the wheels can move, but IL will
be a graceful and loyal act on his part
that will be abundantly appreciated
and create a feeling Of respect for him
that, except under similar circum.
stances, will not be enjoyed by any Of
his democratic %confreres.