Great Falls weekly tribune., 1895-07-26
SELF-PROTECTION.

"Self-defense is law of nature" The
quotation may not be exactly as the
axiom was written, but the sentiment s
fully expressed. This rule should apply
to communities as we'll as individuals
and to moral and financial as we'll as
physical assaults. No intelligent man in
| the state of Montana or in the north
west but knows that the people are now
engaged in desperate struggle in which
the money power, backed by the inhu.
ence of the present administration and
the party machinery of both the great
political parties, is arrayed against
their interests. This money power dom
mates and controls the press and the
party leaders in the east and is seeking
to extend its power over the west. Brave
men Of all parties and all sections are
battling for their right against great
odds. Yet they are sanguine that their
efforts will be crowned with success. In
the meantime it should be the duty of
every man in this state to aid the cause
to the best of his ability. Are they doing
it? Advices indicate that they are NOT,
but on the contrary are giving aid and
comfort to the enemy. The Montana
merchants are patronizing st. Paul
and Minneapolis merchants, while
the papers of the "i'win Cities" are
exhaus;ing their ingenuity in advocacy
of gold monometallism and against free
coinage. In addition to the merchants
and coming closer to home, The TRrH-
UNE has it upon good authority that at
very recent date the canvasser for one of
these gold bug papers secured over 300
new subscribers in Great Falls and its
vicinity. This statement car
ries its own lesson. and shows that there
are many persons in the state who pre-
fer to patronize their enemies to sup
porting their friends. This large in
crease in the subscription list of the
paper spoken Of not only adds to its re-
sourcee, but what is of more Importance.
it gives it the right to claim that the
people of Montana are giving the gold
bug cause support by becoming subscrib-
ers to their journal.
While the ultimate wealth of this state
may be in its agricultural and stock re-
there is no question but that its
mines are today its main stay, and that
thus far wages have been maintained in
these mines to such an extent that Mon
tana has become known as The Gibral-
tar of Labor" This being the case there
is certainly q community Of interest be-
tween the employer, the en-
ploye and all other classes of
citizens. All are benefited ike, but
what reason is there in saying that the
mine owner should continue to pay large
wages when the money thus paid is
spent IN supporting outsiders who are
doing their level best to so far break
down the great industry as TO compel
him to reduce wages: This is question
that should come home 10 ol Try resident
of the state, no matter what avocation |
he may pursue. This thing OF putting a |
club into the hands OF your enemy in
order that he may knock out your brains
may be Christian-like but it is not prac-
tical. This is the time to stick together
and present united front. God helps |
those who help themselves. and if the
people of the northwest do not follow !
and practice the principle they will dis
cover their mistake when it il too late.
There is no need to cut our own threats |
until life is not worth living, and there
is 20 need to voluntarily make our con-
dition worse than it is. Stick together,
be true to each other, give all the aid we
can TO our varied home industries should |
be the Montana motto.