Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1899-03-01

But the explanation IL that they hAd
never been tempted before; and they
are no wors than their constituents
would be Ia the same situation. The
people, then, are to blame for their
present shame, and the people alone.
Neither these two powerful and
corrupt men, the legislature, nor
the politicians are a whit worse than
Others would be in the same situa-
alton. The people are to blame,
Yes, the people love to have II 80.
There can be no doubt about 1t.
| Mingle with men In the saloon, on
the street, at the club. In the house;
and note how they talk OF these
matters. They talk OF them as a
matter Of course, az something to be
expected, as entirely natural and
blameless. They have even got
beyond the stage where it IL a
disgrace TO be found out. Mel boast
OF what they got; and as long as
they do not allow the law a grip on
them the moral certainty that they
are thieves and traitors doesn't affect
their standing "A particle. II they
prove false 10 party that indeed Is
something OF a crime; but il ii il
merely the people that they betray,
this is of small account.
The body polite is unsound from
the sole of the foot even unto the
head. The head Is the "caput," or
capital. And u capital city il full
OF wounds and bruises and purifying
sores. In it centers the political
leprosy Of the whole state; and the
people OF the capital love to have 1t
so. | voted for Helena for the
capital, and advocated its claims. |
hoped that it would be the center
and example of political honesty and
honor to the rest OF the state. Being
so highly honored above the rest OF
the commonwealth, it might have
been anticipated that IL would have
self respect enough to keep itself
clean and pure, and to be the head
In fact az well as in name. But, as
M~etternich said OF Italy, Helena is
now only a geographical, not a
political, expression. 1t IL only the
titular capital. Montana has in
reality two capitals;-one In the
pocket Of w. A. Clark, and the other
in the pocket Of Marcus DAILY. Helena
has abdicated it's place and its honor,
and is become the poor craven
creature Of the prince of bribers and
corruptionists. There are unfortunate
creatures that are kept to crafty the
pleasure of their masters. Helena,
by her own free choice, IL smoothing hut
a "kppt" city; not a capital, but a
kept" city! But where are the
honest men of Helena? Why are it's
ministers. it's professional mel, it's
working men, it's business men, like
dumb dogs in the presence Of the
shame and scandal that are per-
. petrated under their very nostrils?
Why is no voice raised in rebuke of
the hellish perjuries and atrocious
crimes that are there in broad day
light enacted, to- befoul the fair name
. of the state before the world? Why?
Unless it has happened unto them
according to the true prOverb. The
dog has turned to his yomit again;
and the SOW that was washed, to
her wallowing i'm the mire! Is there
none that doeth good,-not one?
Are they all become the companions
of thieves and rogues? Where are
the three, the ten, the hundred that
!, have not bowed the knee to Baal,
nor worshlped the golden calf? Why
Is the capital city working night and
day to elect to the highest honor in
the gift Of the people a criminal that
not a man in Helena will deny to be
a briber and corruptiOnist?
OF course Great Falls would not be
/: guilty Of such things. Perish the
thought! We have a right to point
the finger Of cor at the Helena
hirelings. But II there IL a casuist
in this congregation man that IL
: skilled to make distinctions where
; there Is no difference. to perplex and
| dash maturest counsel, and to make
: the worst appear the better reason,
: let him set to work on this prob.
= lem:
"Wanted,-The moral distinction
! between the tramp that sells his vote
/. for IS, the legislator that sells his
/; vote for $4,000, and the city that
Il; sells its vote for a copper smelter."
| wish the moral distinction
Other distinctions | can see myself
I as, for instance, this one; the tramp
! gets his IS, the legislator gets his
t $40. 900; but the city does not get it,
4 copper smelter. What a spectacle %
contempt-without ever the wages
!. OF it's sin! No, nc. No part can point
the finger Of scorn ut any other part
e The whole system is sick.
: And what will We do in the enc
!. thereof? Nay, rather, what will be
done unto us? God will damn q
/. people like us. and send them down
quick into hell, If they do not repent
!, He has done SO with nation after
e nation, as great and mighty as we
are; and he will not spare us. The
l nation or kingdom that will not
t serve him will perish. And. II we
don the DEVILS livery, and eat his
{ bread, we may expect to go where
we belong. Why should a people
t that condone perjury. bribery, and
lawlessness, that acquiesce In 1t, that
e even justify the wicked for reward
that are respecters of persons, and
: willing menials of the rich and
r pOwerful,-why should they b
t spared to disgrace Gods earth and
pollute his air! He that stitch in
the heavens will laugh them to scorn.
yea, the Lord will have them In
} derision. No great nation ever yet
T. fell from external foes. No great
= nation ever fell because OF political
7 mistakes within. Protection may be-
the right policy or free trade; the
l single or the double standard may be