Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1899-05-27

elements Ill this season OF his
triumph.
Because extraordinary conditions
Of government present themselves
in the Occur d Alenes, in this little
state, the papers have failed to
support the fundamental principles
of law. The heinous crimes COM
mitted by the organized thugs Of
that district have induced extraor-
binary conditions, but they do not
justify a precedent that violates
the foundation principles OF per-
sonal liberty. 1t may have been
necessary to call upon the military
force Of the government to quell
riot, it may have been necessary to
garrison the various camps to pre-
serve peace, but the trials for MUIR
der and arson should have been
prosecuted In regular form. As it
is, five hundred men are impris.
oned indefinitely without trial. No
body even suspects all these men
of malicious completely in these
crimes. Only individuals, and not
communities or organizations, can
be tried, CONVICTED and hanged for
murder. 1t is logical conclusion
therefore, that only individuals who
have had an opportunity to defend
themselves can be imprisoned in
definitely, by a strict application of
the principles Of law, in this or any
other civilized country in the
world. A peculiar condition exists
by which Steunenberg can in effect
violate every principle Of constitu-
tional liberty at this time, and he
Is going to the extreme no other
tyrant ever ventured to impose
upon his subjects. The law is not
at fault, perhaps, in this instance,
but power equal to that of the
GEAR OF Russia fell into this mans
hands at this time and he CHANGED
to be tyrant with selfish motive
that drove him to the extreme oil
power for evil. This incident OF
ldaho's history is not only blow
at organized labor, but Is is also a
blow at individual liberty. 1t has
often been necessary to call upon
military authority to restore peace,
aud at such times 1t has often been
necessary to suspend the writ OF
habes corpus, but to make these
emergency measures perpetual gov.
eminent when no probable d,nger
OF interference with civil processes
exists has no precedent under any
constitutional government in the
world. Steunenberg does not In.
tend to institute FIVE hundred MUIR
der trials, or arson trials, or trials
for any other felony. There is no
occasion Tor such a desire. He
knows these men will 60 free at
their first hearing. He holds them,
in fact, under false pretense. He
holds them for moral and political
effect. Citizens Of Idaho, shade
this fact down to principle and con.
template the danger behind the
precedent. He knows the prison
ers did not detain the mails with
malice. There is no moral wrong
behind this overt act against the
mail service. There is no crime
without deliberation or malice, un-
der our law. The United States
charge is f,lse preteuse, and moth.
ing more. Therefore there is no
real law. no equity, back Of Steun-
enberg in this GROWING act of pol.
itical treachery. The government
is not back Of this outrage upon
liberty. The military power is at
the call of Steunenberg by virtue
OF law. The outrage lies in the
misuse of power that by chance
rests for a time with the ;yrant
Steunenberg. Some classes OF pub
lie journals are too ready to tram.
pie down universal liberty, aud
Others are blinded by political pre-
iudice, but the people of Idaho
should stand as a man for the right
to trial before and not after impris.
ri