The Anaconda standard., 1899-01-29
HELD UP TO PUBLIC SCORN
AND HONEST MEMS CONTEMPT
Colonel Wilbur F. Sanders Denounces in Singing Rebuke
the Perhdy Of Bapublican Legislators Who Crucified
Honor in CastinyTh Votes for W. A. Clark-They
Have Branded Themselves With Disgrace,


Special Dispatch to the Standard.
Helana, Jan. 2S.-The following signed
statement was made last night by Col.
Wilbur F. Sanders:
1.-The republicans who betrayed their
party in the legislative assembly
got into business beyond their
capacity. They do not appreciate how
great is their perfidy. Some of them
are of mature years and of heretofore
established characters and think that
character will protect them against i'm
putations of corruption. They further
think their treachery small matter
noticed only by citizens who in concert
and disdain they are pleased to call
politicians But happily the public
judgment will not justify their opinion
of the insignificance of their action. It
is a great betrayal, and though they
may sneer and laugh and hold in light
esteem the public judgment it will pur-
ever intensifying indignation. They
may protest that their hands are clear
of bribes, about which opinions will diff
fer, but they have made clear that they
will not avoid the appearance Of evil as
to bribes. while their treachery to the
republican party Of the United States,
now charged with larger and graver
duties than ever since the civil war, will
make their infamy conspicuous through
all coming time. They may each rest
certain that their names with Graves
and Coder will! not be lost in our history.
The word migrate is harsh word, but
they will be thankful before they die
if they can compromise by having it
only written over their sepulcher.
The Damned Spot.
with chance to do great service
to their party in Montana, to their
country and mankind they threw
'twere a careless trifle.' They will try
to explain and their families and
friends will strive to explain away or
apologize for their baseness, but the
damned spot will not out at anyone's
bidding or desire. For such treachery
shakes the foundations of public faith.
In democracies it is a government of
parties, however much the ignorant
may sneer and when the plain member
of a party cannot rely as on Gibraltar
upon his reputation, when he, loaded
with honor, obligation and duty, falls
it is as if the very earth gave way He
is damned always and the consolatory
flattery of the ignorant or Of those who
tempted him to his ruin is a poor sub
stitute for the universal esteem which
always accompanies fidelity to public
| trusts.
Some of the traitors protest they are
| not scoundrels but l do not see how
that, if it We're conceded. could help
| them They were not elected to be
! chumps. Their duty was plain and they
have ignobly failed to perform it. A
great but unfortunate party, scattered
and felled and scorned in these latter
| days, gave to them its pride, it's trust.
| it's confidence and it's affection. and they
had in their keeping its destiny, it's his
| tory and its hope. They listened to
| the voice of the charmer and she has
lured them to their ruin, and they have
become the delight of their enemies and
the objects of mournful pity to their
friends. Into what party they will uiti-
| mately gravitate is a matter of indiffer-
ence to all except that party ITSELF