Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-06-01

exploitation at the bar. While the courts
are open for the v%indication of the law.
the good taste of placarding alleged
crimes in a Memorial day address may
we'll be doubted.
In the nature of things, Colonel San
ders' remarks IN the crime of bribery
were so adjusted to the topic and the
occasion as to apply with directness to
the legislative scandal of last winter.
His whitening sentences We're intended
to wither those who have been accused
of the illegal use Of money in trying to
preserve the identity and naturalness Of
a democratic legislative body. Inasmuch
as the truth or falsity of the accusations
made will be ventilated in the courts. in
actions now pending, the Colonel could
have omitted ISSUING; a verdict in adj
vance of the trial without causing the
monument to the memory of Custer to |
crulnble in disgust.
1t is not with the sentiments expressed
that the people will take issue, but the
propriety of dragging a democratic fac
tiorlal fight INTO the soil that was sancti-
fed by the blood of our martyred heroes, !
that will provoke criticism. Had that ad-
dress been the mediocre utterances of a
small man nothing that was said would
have ELECTED comment, either of a favor
able or unfavorable type, but it was the
eloquent and forceful speech of one of
the most prominent characters in a COM
monwealth of strong men; and the de-
ducible inference that the fair fame of
Montana had been besmirched by the
nightmare Of a public crime, that punish
ment could be reached only through the
tongue of oratory, necessarily reflects
upon the cog-wheels Of Montana justice.
-
If the distinguished rator intended his
remarks anent bribery to be general in
their character. rather than 1ocalizing
around that grotesque piece OF bric-a-
brac known as the Sixth legislative as
sembly. he ought to have indicated that
his references to crimes of that type
grew out Of long-standing conditions in
this state. and not wholly from the more
rec nt exhibitions of the disease. He
should have expressed his regrets for not
having:taken the stump, even when max
ing a graveyard speech, against the con-
ditions hat prevailed in legislative
quarters some six years ago., when it was
six-of-one and half-a-dozen Of the other
in the fight between the two wings of
the democratic party, resulting in a
draw. Had the Colonel been as ambitious
to keep that little strain upon the purity
of the political atmosphere before the
public, as he seems to be to stir up and
agftate more recent storm centers, the
democratic Sixth legislative assembly
might never have happened at all.
In preaching purity it is we'll to take
first causes for a text. Bribery is the re-
suit of conditions that tempt men to the
commission of the crime, and if the con-
ditions did not exist the Montana public
would not have to fasten a clothes pin
over it's nose, jam it's fingers into it's ears
and bandage it's eyes every time a demo-
cratic legislature is elected in this state.
A little practical work in a political way
that would prevent the democratic party
from securing control Of 1.-THE legislative
assembly would do more, under existing
circu mstances in this state, to clear the
political atmosphere thar any other rem
! edy that could be applied.
So, long as republicans are willing to
serve as political attorneys for either
wing of the democratic party, and seek
strenuous insistence upon the dignity of
some imbibed fad, just so long will they
contribute to the conditions which in
this state makes the unholy use of money
which the two wings of the democratic
party are involved.
However, the irrepressible war horse
| can be forgiven for his tombstone remin-
Memorial day and several ambitious
heroes have been slaughtered by such
bodies in the past, and the future is
pregnant with possibilities in the same
line. 1t is compliment enough to the
orator at Custer to say that he omitted
all references to Henry Plummer, Boon
| Helm and Red Gallagher-distinguished
| pioneers whom he also assisted to make
their exit, when they attempted to run
things in Montana in defiance Of the