Year: 1867




In an article of the New York Citizen
of March 80, under the caption of Our
Western Territories" the writer makes
fierce attack upon the character of the
and foolish in its deductions. While it's
aim is apparently to influence popular
opinion here in regard to a certain case at
law, it's method of doing so, shows either
that they have misstated the character
of this people or are ignorant of human
nature, and have permitted a narrow
minded prejudice, which the common
settlers of Montana would disdain, 20
warp and bias their better nature and
injure their own interests. While avoid
ing quotations from this tissue of mis-
representations, slanderous aspersions
and libellous attack upon the character
of this people, we do so, not from intimi-
dation by the threatened withdrawal
of capital or admitting that the find
ings of our Grand Juries are forced by
Vigilance Committees" branding as
falsehood the assertion that disputed
boundaries are invariably settled by the
use of fire arms" and asserting we have
yet TO see an instance where the bold
and rough miners of California and Ore
gon despise the milder hammered man Of
the East" We decline to quote at
length in accordance with the establish
is.xl IL, =.
purer basis of justice than the Cttisen
seems to comprehend, that tribunal
conveniDg to administer justice and pass
upon a question of life or death should
not be subject to the influences of public
opinion, biased, excited and prejudiced
by subsidized press. The Citizen in
Weighs against us as a people whose
" bosom companions of persons of all
characters and callings. are the bowie
knife and revolver" Men come armed
10 this country across the great plains.
1t is a necessity to protect life from hos
tile Indians, and TO procure game.
/ Scattered over mountainous region,
singly or in squads of two or three, pros
/ pecting in untrodden wilds, or living in
cabins remote from each other, the trusty
rifle or the faithful revolver is necessary
oftentimes as n means of subsistence
gives him confidence In himself and
becomes an object of affection. The ex.
quisite of Broadway does not feel sc
warm an affection for his hair dye, his
diamond ring, or fancy headed rattan
as does the miner for his revolver and
rife. He loves ii as does the soldier who
has carried it through dangers and
! owes it his life, and if revolver IS his
bosom companion it is less an object OF
condemnation than a heart filed with
secret scbemings, and low prejudices
against his fellow man. The intimation
that unless we do thus and so in the
case to which the Citizen refers, the
capital of the East will be Withdrawn
from our mines, is despicable. From the
tenor of the article, the writer needs tC
visit. these mountain regions, to attain
that larger heart and nobler hand
which Tennyson invokes. Capital with
drawn because you cannot from Gotham
issue the DEGREES by which the press, the
people and the courts of Montana are to
abide You who are so pitifully ignor
ant OF SO wilfully false in that which you
write of Us, that were it not for a sense
of honest indignation we wonld laugh
you to scorni You who are seeking tc
fill your Golfers by the appliance of capi
tai after the hardy men you stigmatize
have made it safe and promising field
for investment Shame upon you fol
you pitiful threats Shame upon you
! for your boasted faith in law, and ar
endeavor.in the same breath to bribe it
Shame upon you for an ignorance of the
history of moneyed enterprise, that has
sailed argosies over seas strewn with
bleaching bones, and built up empires
of wealth upon hecatombs Of hired
victims Shame upon you for assailing
the character of the bold frontiersmen
of the West, without cause, and with
deliberate maliciousness. We will teach
you we cannot be bribed, forced or init


Undated that law is our criterion anG
abiding trust; that we have honesty O


purpose and charity of heart, and thai
there is higher law than you seem u
comprehend, a nobler purpose than yor
have shown, and people that do com
prehend and obey them.


SET THEM TO WORK.