Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1900-04-14
Sage Reflections.

Under the heading Occur q
Alenes," we present i'll this issue
one of the charges which the dem
ocratic party makes against repub-
licanism and upon which it pro
poses to ask support in the coming
campaign. We know there is a
tendency IN this section 10 uphold /
all that the state authorities have
done in their attempt to break up
the Miners Union, and Danish its
members from the state. We be-
lieve that, on principle, this is go.
ing too far, and a great deal farther
than justice requires. Accepting
the democratic statements OF fact
as measureably true in respect OF
those things which stand unCon-
troverted, let us consider that 1900
citizens of the United States have
been thrown into Jail without any
formal complaint or civil warrant;
that after having been restrained OF
their liberties for periods ranging
from three weeks TO six months,
they are practically all turned
loose without ever having had a
formal complaint presented against
them, or ever being tried for any
offense. Shall we give unques-
toned support to such proceedings
on the mere staten, mt of pomp-
Gus scribe, "that it was neces-
sary."
Governor Steunenberg, i'll his
testimony before the investigating
committee, with a flourish of right.
eous indignation, swears that Sho-
shone county has been a hell on
earth for the last ten years; yet,
in his capacity as candidate, only
four years ago, he appeared to be
supremacy ignorant of the fact. 1t
would seem that his sub conscience
was at that time unable TO break
through the hard crust of his DO,
litical morals. And even latter,
when man was dragged out OF
his bed and assassinated, it did not
occur 10 his excellency that there
was any uncomm amount Of dev
ilishness i'll Shoshone county. In.
deed, of so little moment did the
affair seem 10 him that it immed
lately slipped his mind, and was
not recalled until some four months
later, when he let it be known that
if any one would go out and fine
the assassins and convict them ht
would give thousand dollars o
the states money.
Another matter which should be
considered Is this; The idea o
martial law is that it shall never
be established except under condi
tions where regular civil processes
can not be put into operation. Tn,
reasons for this are abundant
There is popular notion that mar
tial law means military law. Thi
is a mistake. The military powe
is simply called to aid in the execu
ton of the martial law, and martha
law is the law of one man S will o
within. When Coy. rnor Steunen
berg declared martial law in Sho
shone county he declared that il
that district his will was the su
preme law, and when he sent fed
eral troops in there it was for tn
purpose of enforcing his will
Thus he became at once powerful
and irresponsible despot. He is
sued such orders and execute,
such processes as he pleased eithe
in person or by pr, KY. He az
rested and imprisoned whomsoeve
he pleased, and for whatsoever pur
pose he pleased; and no matter hoy
innocent suspected, hated o
feared person might be, how sever
or brutal his treatment, he had n
redress, no recourse whatever
This will indicate why Legislature
aud The courts throw restriction
about the establishment of martha
law and insist that it shall not b
maintained unless the condition
are such that civil authorities ar
absolutely prevented from fulfill
ing their functions.
However. in Shoshone count
martial law is maintained with al
its evil possibilities, even while III
civil courts are in the full and fire.
exercise of their functions, even al
ter the last suspect has been set a
large Is it not, then, a seriou