The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-11-30
His Words Attracted Much At
tention.
BATTLING FOR LIBERTY
Hts HsmArks Hold the Audisucs In
b CLOSEST Attention = Answers
ths Arguments OF the
County Attorney.

the jury at the close of his somewhat
remarkable case. was one thai attract
ed general attention and held the
large audiences that filled the court
room from beginning to end. Wilson
began by answering some OF the ar
guments made by the county attor-
ney In q clear. decisive manner and
then, having been assured by the court
that he might have all OF the time that
he needed for his argument, proceeded
to read from manuscript the follow
inus1
Jcr0ehtlemen, you who represent the
doghity OF the state Of Montana, a state
whose progression has placed 1t in the
fosemost rank Of her contemporaries:
~ high above them as her own
rubged- mountains lift their snow
capped grandeur above her fertile
plotns; whose sons Of industry and
toll proclaim the altitude Of mechani-
cal skill and human endeavor; n state
who's gates invite the hardy miner as
well as b most skillful artisan. and
still with onward stride extend her
ans to enfold the progressive care
Of b age. Her SOM In who's firm
step and hearty grip W. behold the
descendants Of pioneer days, men res
olute n bold. with freedom of
thought Is the echoes that leap from
peak to peak. within their mountain
homes; whose daughters. endowed
with the Spartan spirit OF old. uphold
| with unstrained effort the ideal of
American womanhood. and whose in
spring thoughts of a continual adj
vancement will some day roll their
fame from shore to shore. while the
gray-haired matrons in their valley
homes depart beyond rejoicing.
Men Of Montana. shall 1t be said
h a you who gave birth to this giant
OF industry. whose left arm extends
int the dark recesses OF the earth,
dragging forth her hidden boards to
enrich yourselves and posterity, while
the right sweeps over the ripening
plains deep into the forest dells be-
yond-shall II be said hat you have
feeling of injustice find a harbor with
in your brawny breasts. that self gen.
Grating. California seed OF wrong
which multiplies even in the act Of
cleansing? Shall you minds foster
one solitary cloud in the clear horizon
OF thought to engender a future storm?
Shall IL be said that the sweetest
spot, the Garden City of your great
state. was stified with thistles and
thorns. which you. as representatives
OF the commonwealth. placed there
through n unjust action?
"No gentlemen. such a thing can
never be. to overcome us like a win
ter cloud. without a special wonder OF
the just and the true. You yourselves
realize this. hat greatness of a COM
munity finds its support i'm the unity
and honesty OF Its members. Cast this
| aside and you expose your nakedness
to a laughing world. Judea Babalonia.
the great Roman empire. fell with a
howl that has resounded through 10
long centuries. fell through her cor
rupted institutions. could we look
back upon the first seed of injustice
sown among her citizens we would
no doubt marvel at the dreadful re-
| suit. From small beginnings we have
great results. be they good or bad. be
u n lighted match In a grain field or
the planting of an acorn by the way
| side-all tend forward In accordance
with the evolutionary laws of cause
and effect. The development and sup
preston OF many lies within the pow
err OF man. in his domestic. social and
judicial relations with each other, in
dividual responsibility does not end
| with his departure, but extends be-
yond. even unto the third generation.
Your thought. your action. your life.
be they good. bad or Indifferent. are
stereotyped for n future generation.
Remember "the evil men do live after
them; h good IL often inferred with
their bones" The youth of the world
In prone to evil. as susceptible as the
sapling a bends to each passing
gust: whether IL will weather the
storms OF time and become as the stur-
dy oak at Its side depends much upon
the soil In which II was planted, it's
sheltered position and the inherited
soundness of its seed.
Gentlemen. why do I use this form
or argument? i Will tell you: II IL to
keep In touch with your own thoughts.
I am no orator. I only tell you that
which you yourselves do know. A
plain. f6sdnt man. who knows his in
nocence and loves that inherited birth
right Of liberty as instituted by our
~progenitovs. That It's inspiring tide
courses Through my blood and calls
my faculties to battle for its defense
II nothing wonderful. Its tidal wave
has swept from shore to shore. through
the intricate arterial circulation of So
000.0 0 human beings. Do you marvel.
then. that I have assumed this position
OF self defense. when the dearest gift
that u Great God a given TO man
In at stake that which you, % and
you prize above all earthly posses
sions. in h attainment of which a
generation OF our forefathers filtered
out their pioneer blood to enrich the
field OF thought. the pastures OF unity
NV ~ '0Aa
terity.
There IL not one among you hut
who has experienced its benefits: there
IL not one. be he from h land of
Prussian autocracy. British ~oligarchy
or oriental serfdom. from the frigid
heights OF Lapland down along the
w~rangiing mass OF subjugated slaves
60 the Antarctic sea. but must have
felt as American citizens at evening
tide. returning to those W. ones at
home. that inspiring thought to do
and to dare all in support OF freedom.
Gentlemen. such feelings are nat
ural. the have been ingrafted into
your hearts, deeper still In the hearts
OF your sons and your daughters. and
in your grandchildren. spreading. ever
spreading until IL infects even the
strangers at your gates. As one among
you who has experienced this. who
like you. understand the full value
of that which Ii at stake. ask you