Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-12-07
MiSAPPREHENDS 7HE POINT.

In touching upon the action of Gov
error Smith, in signing a protest
against the seating of a senator chosen
by the state legislature, the Anaconda
Standard this morning seems to nave
misapprehended the point made by the
Inter Mountain. With an hysterical
display Of temper, our contemporary
branches off into an essay on the relative
merits Of political virtue and vice, and
compliments the governor on his exhibit
ton of moral courage in seeking to pre-
vent the contamination of a crime-all
of which is irrelevant to the matter in
ard to accuse every newspaper that raises
an objection to an official act of doubtful
propriety on the part Of a state officer,
with being a Clark paper, simply be-
apply directly or indirectly to the con-
Germs of a democratic feud.
Dur contemporary is informed, once
for all, that the Inter Mountain pro-
@ ~ PAoNSo against NiiC ia
proper use of the official functions of the
commonwealth, whether such action is
taken for or against Mr.. Clark. or to
serve any other of the numerous ends
which the respective factions of the
democratic party may have in view.
Governor Smith is a democrat. and no
one will seriously question his ability
to perform the worm act when the brill
liant glare of the Standards editorial
headlight is focused upon him; but he
is likewise the chief executive of this
state, and his official performances are
paid for by the people-his political gyra-
tons and all. 1t is within the purview
of any newspaper to c~riticise an act
winch is without official precedent, re-
gardless of the purposes and aims be-
hind the act.
The Inter Mountain has been second to
none in the advocacy of a thorough in
yestigation into the charges of bribery
2aid against the new senator, as soon
as the matter could be placed in the
bands of a tribunal whose decision would
amount to a finality as to effects, and
! which could exercise it's functions in the
attainment of facts without restrictions
OF any kind. Objections nave been made,
and rightly made, against permitting
the Anaconda Standard to try the case
and return a verdict on its own hook.
And like objections are properly made
against the misuse of official power on
the part of a state officer.
Our ancient friend, st. Paul, was quite
right when he suggested that everything
should be don decently and in order. If
bribery has been committed. the guilty
parties should be punished, and no one
should object to a thorough and palms.
aking investigation when such a crime
has been charged. The people have a
right TO demand that the parties MAX
ing such charges shall do their utmost
10 prove them in a proper way II be-
fore the proper tribunal. But the prin.
c!ple that the end justifies the means
that it is right to commit one crime IN
]tiN ~ iIiitl oul di1OlIltl-H III MOI De
endorsed even by the more intelligent
readers Of the Anaconda Standard.
Grimes are measured by their moral
effects, and p~unishments are graduated
accordingly. 1t is sometimes possible
to commit a crime of more far-reachins
consequences in trying to punish another
crime, than could ~ grown out of the
original offense. Against the zeal of
undue haste; against the unhealthy
exactrnents of a super-heated prejudice,
an intelligent public sentiment must al
ways stand.
The Inter Mountain does not wish to
infer that Governor Smith committed a
crime in using his official position to
negative an official act Of the legislative
branch of the government, but it is
apparent that he has established a
most dangerous precedent. If the
Standard. or any other noted authority
on civil government, can justify the
principle involved in the act of his ey-
cellency in seeking to annul the work
Of the legislative assembly, the Inter
viii be pleased to accord to
its arguments most respectful considera-
oSou. IL La q question which ought To he