Helena weekly herald. [volume], June 22, 1876, Page 4, Image 4

About Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900

Image provided by: Montana Historical Society; Helena, MT

                
TK3 WEEKLY HERALD
a. E. FISK........................... Editor.
TH I ICS BAY, JUNE «2, 187«.
4 oMPAfu rn i: yam e of testimony
Several of the recent cases of investigation
present anew the circumstance so prominent
ly illustrated in the Beecher case, a tlat and
irrecomileahle conflict <>f testimony on the
main fact in the case. The history of Eng
lish and American courts, (and we suppose,
also, the courts of every country),furnish fre
quent instances of the same kind. But since
the rules of evidence have been changed to
allow parties to testify in their own behalf,
the instances have been multiplied very
greatly. There is an error in this connection
very general—perhaps judicial utterances,
certainly the claims of attorneys in hard cas
ts give color to it—that one man's testimony
is as good as another, and that w'hen offered
under the sanction of an oath and unim
peached it must be received as true. Careful
study and close observation will convince
every one open to reason and truth, that, there
rarely can occur a case where there is not a
wide difference in the value of statements
made by witnesses under oath. Character is
not taken into account sufficiently in weigh
ing testimony. The word of a man of tried
integrity and truthfulness ought to outweigh
the most positive assertions of a score of wit
nesses of low character and bad habits. Some
are illogical enough to reason that the con
t ui reuce of several bad. witnesses will make
good testimony,though ready to acknowledge
that either alone is insufficient. To give an
apt illustration: While there are few that
would believe the word of either Tilton or
.Moulton as against Beecher, yet theic are
found quite a portion of people that by put
ting two such witnesses together and supple
menting them by Moultou's wife, think
Beecher is outdone. There is nothing cumu
lative about such testimony. When it comes
down to the narrow point of issue in a direct
conflict, a critic must look elsewhere than to
the sanction of the oath for means of ascer
taining the true from the false. Then cornea
in the element of character which is rarely so
equally balanced that it will not turn the
scale in one direction rather than the other.
Men who would believe Harney rather than
Kerr, or Mulligan rather than Blaine, do not
desire or attempt to form an honest judgment.
They express a prejudice, a judgment made
up in advance to suit a taste or passion which
seizes upon anything that will serve as a pre
text. Men who thus give way to prejudice
and flippantly pronounce judgment without
caretul investigation and weighing of testi
mony, commit a double crime, the lesser one
against the accused, the greater one against
themselves. Persons who force or allow
themselves to utter false judgments break
down the power of making moral distinctions
in their own consciences, instead of elevating
their reason to a noble empire, divine in its
nature and little lower than that of angels,
they reduce it to a menial rank and service
where it must dwindle and die of self-contempt
or grow a distorted monster. Whoever de
sires to know the truth, aud is manly and
honest enough to suspend judgment until the
truth is ascertained, can always find it. On
the other hand, there is nothing easier in the
world than to impugn the motives where no
fault can be found in the act itself. Thus it
'.vas that Christ's enemies could accuse him
of aspiring to royal authority because lie
went about doing good to others , and when
it was advertised that witnesses were wanted
to accuse him of some capital crime, there
was a large supply to meet the demand. Men
were not wanting to accuse Washington of
( very crime known to the Decalogue. The
histories of Old and New England show how
easy it was to find plenty of accusers aud wit
nesses against those suspected of being witches
and hundreds were hanged and burned for
crimes that we know to have been impossi
ble. So, too, of all the thousands that have
perished under the charges of heresy and
treason a vast majority are now universally
believed to bave been less guilty than their
persecutors and murderers.
We have only a word to say in ado'ition, in
reference to the so-called independent press.
We have witnessed its growth with much
satisfaction. The position of Independence
is most favorable for thorough and impartial
investigation and the ascertainment of truth.
But in the late Investigations we have failed
to observe that they have been actuated by
any higher motives than their less assuming
compeers. Each has had its favorite whose
fortunes it has advocated as persistently,
while with equal industry it has assailed the
reputation of rivals by foul means as well as
fair; circulating exploded falsehoods ; listen
ing at keyholes for unclean stories ; grasping
at and magnifying suspicions. There seems
to be a tidal wave of mutual distrust and sus
•picion at present sweeping over the country.
It infets and palsies business, as well as
seeking to drag down the character of every
public man. It was a time for papers claim
ing to be independent to show their superior
metal, and we are sorry to see and have to
say that they have shown little foundation
for their vaunted independence.
Tiik Manitoba Free Press fears that Sitting
Bull and his three thousand »ioux warriors
will take refuge in Manitoba in case they are
defeated by the forces under Gen. Terry, and
calls for Canadian troops to take care of the
red intruders.
The new Sultan of Turkey has but. a single
wife. He paid $00,000 in gold for her and
pronounces her a bargain at that.
a
a
to
to
NEW ELECTION BILL FOR THE TERRI
TAIIIE'C
a
In order to reach the troublesome case of
Utah, the House Committee on Territories
have reported a bill confining the elective
franchise in all the Territories to male citi
zens of 21 years and upward, and not bigam
ists or polygamists at the time they offer to
vote. All ballots are to be enclosed in an
envelope, to be furnished by the Territorial
Secretary, of the same color aud size lor
all.
It would not make much difference in Mon
tana, but will extinguish all female suffrage
now existing in Utah and Wyoming. If car
ried out, too, it will be very apt to throw
Utah into Gentile hands. However, we have
little faith that it will prove more effectual
than laws now in force. Mormons have be
come ingenious swearers, and will find a way
to satisfy their conscience and keep their
votes and wives, too. It would seem that
another class now permitted to vote in our
Territory, those who have declared their in
tention to become citizens, are to be excluded
hereafter. It is possible, however, that the
brevity of the report may account for the
omission.
As to the use of envelopes, we are satisfied
that it w ill prove ineffectual to accomplish
the good intended, and be counted a bore in
practice. Massachusetts once tried the same
experiment, intending to protect tlie inde
pendence of employees against the dictation
of their employers in large manufacturing
towns and cities. It was only in force a
very short time, and disappeared by unani
mous consent._
SILVER CHANGE TO BE PLENTY.
Two bills passed the House on the 10th of
this month which will, without much doubt,
meet the concurrence of the Senate and Pres
ident and become law. One was reported by
Cox for the issue of ten millions of silver in
exchange for legal tender notes ; the other
other by Randall authorizes the coinage
of twenty millions of silver, and the
purchase of bullion for the purpose. The
necessity for this latter act arises from the
fact that nearly that amount of fractional
currency, from wastage and losses of various
kinds will probably never be presented for
redemption. The total amount of the frac
tional currency issue -was forty-two millions.
Perhaps twelve millions will more nearly rep
resent the absolute loss. Thirty millions,
then, of fractional currency will be redeemed
with silver. Randall's bill adds tw'enty mil
lions more to this, w'hile Cox's bill is another
increase, making the total amount in circula
tion w'hen those measures have all gone into
effect, sixty millions. We may expect to
reach this result within the next tw'o years.
It will be more than was ever before in cir
culation, but will not be in excess of the de
mands for growth of population and increas
ed business activity. Let other nations de
monetize silver if they will, we shall be well
content to see paper demonetized and a more
substantial representative of value in its
place. •
THE YELLOWSTONE.
News from Bismarck by way of Chicago
and Salt Lake, that the steamer Yellowstone,
loaded with oats for Montana, has sold its car
go to Black Hillers and returned, wflll some
what relieve our Granger friends. There is
plenty of time yet to sow oats, and before the
steamer could return to Benton, they would
be nearly ready to harvest. Perhaps with
little extra effort a supply could be got to
Benton to load the steamer for a return cargo
at prices that would pay to ship to St. Louis.
It would be a fair game of bluff for the Gran
gers to inquire by telegraph of the owners of
the Yellowstone what they would charge to
deliver oats in St. Louis. It îs possible
that the oats brought up on this steamer
were all the time designed for the cavalry
operating in Eastern Montana under Custer,
and Gen. Terry, and that the story got out
without proper limitations. Shipping oats to
the settled portions of this Territory from St.
Louis w'ould seem as ridiculous on genera]
principles as sending coals to Newscastle.
It has some appearance of having been a
hoax, whether intended or not is more diffi
cult to determine. It may have been set
afloat through the philanthropic motive of
discouraging bur grasshoppers by showing
them that they had undertaken a job that
they couldn't carry through, of robbing our
cayuses of their proper diet.
Indian Appropriations.
Washington, June 10.— The Indian ap
propriation bill as finally amended and
passed by the House, provides the following
amounts for incidental expenses of service :
In California, $30,000: Oregon, $10,000;
Washington, $50,000; Nevada, $5,000;
Idaho, $3,000 ; Montana, $5,000 ; Utah, $10,
000; New Mexico, $10.000 ; Arizona, $20,000.
No portion of these amounts can be paid to
employees, the bill providing that they shall
hereafter be detailed or appointed and paid
by the War Department. Delegate Elkins
made an earnest effort to secure an increased
appropriation for the care and subsistence of
Apaches in Arizona and New Mexico, but
the House voted only the $400,000 recom
mended by the appropriation committee.
On motion of Mr. Maginuis, of Montana,
a provision was inserted to break the power
which the Indian agents now possess, con
trolling Dade with the Indians. The amend
ment provides that any person who receives
a certificate from the United States District
Judge, or Territorial Supreme Court Judge,
that he is of good moral character and fitness
to be in the Indian country, shall receive a
trading license, when he presents it to the
agent, which license shall be forthwith ap
proved by the department when forwarded
to Washington. •
ARE WE TO HAVE A RAILROAD?
Whatever may be said of agriculture and
stock raising, they are with us mere corollar
ies of mining enteprise. Our past, present
and future are inseparably linked to mines
and mining. Had it not been for the discov
ery of gold what is known as Montana would
be an unbroken wilderness,roamed over by wild
Indians aud regarded by all, save perhaps a
few adventurers, an impenetrable waste.
What we are, not less than what we are to
be, we owe to mining industry. This leads
us to think that we cannot do better than to
encourage the development of quartz inter
ests. At present, owing to many causes, the
reduction of ores cannot be successfully car
ried on here. If reduced at all they must be
shipped east to undergo that process. In a
crude state they would be valueless, but for
the prospect of converting theln into cash.
Hepce the importance of facilities for trans
porting them. It is impossible to procure
transportation for a quarter of the ore now
being mined. Great quantities of it, averag
ing in value from $50 to $80 per ton, are ly
ing on the dumps of the different mines,
for the expense of extracting which the own
ers have received nothing, because ores that
run less than $100 per ton will not pay to
ship by the slow, cumbrous and uncertain
method now in use. Recent shipments are
small, and scarcely deserve notice except as
an index to what remains behind. But once
assure the miner of rapid aud cheap trans
portation, aud a limit could scarcely be as
signed to the increase of production. In the
palmy da} r s we poured a stream of wealth in
to the lap of the world, but the placer yield
is now less than a tenth of what it was in
1800. Even then we retained a comparative
ly small portion of the precious metal for cir
culation at home,and the result shows products
and exports to have been about equal. We had
nothing then, and we have little now, to give
in exchange for the necessaries, comforts and
luxuries of life but gold dust. The drain up
on our resources is consequently very great,
and must be supplied from a more produc
tive source than that of our surface mines re
maining yet un worked, or we shall fail to keep
the balance between supply and demand.
And everybody knows what that means. It
means stagnation, impoverishment, distress.
If we are forced to look in another direction
than that to which we have been accustomed
for gold, or its equivalent, wherewithal to
pay for what—as civilized beings, we cannot
do without, to what, and in what direction,
shall our eyes be turned? To agriculture?
No. The cost of producing a bushel of
wheat or a barrel of flour with us is nearly
double what it would be in the States. It is
hardly necessary to add that if we had a rail
road at our very doors we could not compete
in the markets of the east with products rais
ed nearer the points of general consumption.
Cultivators of the soil in Montana rely solely
upon home demand. No class would be ben
efitted more than they by an influx of popula
tion. Can we trust to cattle or sheep? Cer
tainly not. Stock raising is profitable, and
sure to become more so, in a country unri
valled for pasturage : but it leans directly on
other industries and could not, if it stood as
principal, supply the wants of our people,
though they should content themselves with
cheaper wear and plainer food than the bu
colic inhabitants of Tartary—a thing they are
not likely to do.
As already said, there is one resource of
wealth to which, with us, all others are sub
sidiary. That is, our mines of gold, silver,
copper, lead and iron. On their development
all our other interests depend. Thus far, we
presume, all agree. Who is not willing to
prosper? and who so silly as to suppose that
prosperity will come of itself before we have
deserved it? The only question is one of means
to compass the end in view. How can we
break the fetters of isolation which have kept
capital when seeking investment from know
ing anything of us, and people who emigrate
from coming our way? How open a chan
nel of rapid and regular communication with
the States? We think it has been shown by
the failure of two attempts, one to procure
aid for the construction of a North and South
road, and one to assist the N. P. R. R. Co.,
in building theirs—by the deceitful character
of one scheme and the doubtful propriety of
the other, that our case is hopeless so far as
they are concerned. There is still an outlet
through which the only object we could have
had in granting these subsidies,bad we grant
ed them, may be reached at less cost, per
haps. with equal advantage to us. A railroad
to Benton or Cow Island would fully supply
our wants of transportation. The Missouri
river is, or could easily be made navigable for
light draught boats during eight or nine
months of the year—that is to say, from the
time it cleared of ice in the spring till freez
ing in mid-winter. If the Northern Pacific
Railroad was completed and in running order
from Duluth to Helena, it could not furnish
better, and would not furnish cheaper, trans
portation than such a line. Montana mer
chants are obliged to carry immense quanti
ties of goods to supply the trade. They pur
chase during the winter and spring months al
most their entire stock for the ensuing year,
necessitating great outlay and increasing or
dinary risks. After ordering, they wait from
three to six months for new supplies, always
at great inconvenience,often with serious loss.
With the line we speak of, orders for goods
could be transmitter at any time and a few
weeks would find them in store. A bus'ness
that now requires a capital of $50,000 could
then be conducted as successfully with less
than half that sum. This consideration should !
of itself be sufficient to induce merchants to
in
!
look favorably upon the proposition of a rail
road to one of the points named, and to
make some sacrifices, if any were needed, to
obtain it. There is, however, a considera
tion paramount to this ; one that appeals even
more strongly—that is, self interest. Until
we have a good line of communication with
the States, the population of Montana instead
of increasing will decrease as it has for sev
eral years. Trade, instead of reviving will
languish more and more. Many 'will emi
grate and those who remain, perforce accom
modating themselves to circumetances, will
have fewer wants. Stores will be closed for
the want of customers. Vacant houses and
deserted streets will prove, we fear, more elo
quently than words the folly of Wilkins Mi
cawber's theory, of "waiting for something
to turn up," if we adopt it and decide to sit
with folded hands.
This is no fancy picture. One has but to
think a moment to perceive its truth why it
is so, aud to suggest a way to avoid its be
coming a reality. Our situation is very far
from desperate, and the ground we have lost
may be regained b} r taking the right course
in time. It rests wholly with ourselves to
apply the remedy. Suppose that we have
reached the lowest rung of the ladder, aud
that things will remain pretty much as they
are, is the thought consoling? Is there a set
tler or a man in business here, who will say
be is content to have it so? Not one. We
should be sorry to see Helena take the po
sition she would have occupied as an inland
provincial town, fifty or sixty years ago, when
railroads were unknown, and keep it, and
hope a better fate.
We invite the citizens of Lewis and Clark,
the business men of Helena, and in one w T ord,
all w'ho are in any way interested in our ma
terial growth, to put their heads together,
talk the matter up and see for themselves if
an enterprise which will result in the con
struction of a railroad to Benton or Cow 7 Is
land, such as, iu connection with a line of
steamers, would insure the rapid aud regular
transmission of freights to and from the Ter
ritory, cannot be set on foot. We suggest
county aid on fair conditions.
In this article we have only hinted at one
or two of the advantages of connection by
rail with the Missouri river, leaving a host
of details aud scientific data for future dis
cussion, w hich w T e promise to examine here
after with minuteness and care.
BUNKER HILL.
To-day is the anniversary of the battle of
Bunker Hill, the centennial of which was cele
brated one year ago. Though accounted a
British victory, in loss of men and the dis
proportionate loss of officers, in loss of pres
tige and confidence, in the barren fruits and
blood-stained laurels, it was in fact a defeat
of the most costly and decisive nature. While
to the Continentals, though they lost posses
sion of their redoubts and their best officer,
General Wan en, hey withdrew w'ith little
loss compared with what they had inflicted,
and attributed their failure to hold their works
to a lack of powder and bayonets, rather than
the superiority of their foes. It confirmed
the courage aud hopes of the friends of lib
erty, aud probably was decisive of the events
that led within less than a year after to the
union of all the colonies an the declaration of
Independence.
On this day every citizen ought to read
again the history of this battle as given by
Bancroft, or some other of our many histori
ans, and fix in his mind the incidents, localities
and characters connected therewith. It
would be an interesting study to follow the
effects of this battle, as the news of it spread
through the colonies, and trace the influence
of it in the altered tone of speech and bearing
visible in every public meeting and address.
On the 17th of June, 1825, LaFayette laid
the foundation of the monument, 221 feet in
height, that now crowns the sacred spot.
Indians Concentrating;
Omaha, June8.— A dispatch received at
Department headquarters this morning, dated
at Fort Laramie, June 7th, says an Indian
courier from Red Cloud brings a report that
just before be left, an Indian arrived from
the mouth of Tongue river. He found there
twelve hundred and seventy-three lodges un
der Sitting Bull ; Crazy Horse and others
were on their w T ay to Powder river to fight
Crook. On his return he met the same band
that Egan saw on May 7th. They told him
they met Custer's troops and had fought them
all day. Many were killed on both sides.
No result is reported. This occurred about
ten days ago.
--— «I -4 •HU>- ►► -----
The Rig; Horn Country.
Washington, June J). —The House com
mittee on Indian affairs to-day authorized
Representative Page to report w ith recom
mendation the passage of a joint resolution
introduced by the delegate from the Territory
of Wyoming, declaring all territory north of
the North Platte river and east of the sum
mits of the Big Horn Mountains, commonly
known as the Black Hills country, open to
exploration aud settlement. It also declares
that the true intent and meaning of the treaty
of April 29th, 1868, is that white men are
not excluded from traveling or settling upon
any portion of Wyoming Territory not in
cluded w'ithiu the boundaries of the perma
nent Sioux reservation.
Duel iu Colorait«».
Denver, June 8. —A duel was fought at
River Bend, Colorado, to-day, by Alfred D.
Jessup, jr., and a man named Davis, who
were respectiv ely armed with Winchester rifles
and Colt's navy pistols. Jessup was killed
in the second exchange of shots.
P.
to
of
a
of
touveulion Talk—Blaine*» Frieml» En
thusiastic.
Cincinnati, June 10. —The trains arriving
this morning were crowded with delegates to
the Convention, friends of the prominent
candidates, and others interested. The Lin
coln Club, of New York, headed by Down
ing's band, paraded some of the principal
streets, immediately upon their arrival,
making a very creditable display. The ru
mor that Mr. Blaine would be present next
week is authoratively denied. As regards
the prospects of the candidates, every mo
ment's developments seem to indicate that
the struggle next week will be a very ob
stinate one, It is not probable that balloting
will comramence before Thursday, and per
haps not till Friday. In an interview with
Hon. J. H. Frye this morning, he denies em
phatically that Blaine could withdraw his
name as a candidate, or that after the first
ballot he would name the candidate who
would succeed. The friends of Blaine claim
that because the Democrats believe him the
least daugerous to their party, they have
subjected him to the ordeal through which
he has passed. There is great anxiety to
know' where Illinois will go in the event of
Blaine's failure to secure a majority. Conk
ling's friends are very enthusiastic, and con
fident of his success. Bristow's adherents
seem to lack strength, although a large num
ber of delegates and friends are expected to
arrive on Monday, especially from the South.
View» at Cincinnati.
Chicago, June 9.—The Tribune'» Cin
cinnati dispatch says: The Conkliug men
are spending much money, aud w ill keep up
the scandals against Blaine to the last, and
hope to have the contest finally narrowed
down to Conkliug aud Morton. The Morton
men though are less confident. The Cincin
nati people, oddly enough, are for Bristow
and not for Hayes. Iu half of the shop
windows Bristow's picture is displayed. The
Hayes movement has apparently no'
strength at all in this city, and very little in
the State. A well informed gentleman who
does not support Blaine, told to-day that the
ex-Speaker will have from sixteen to twenty
votes from the Ohio delegation.
- ■—?► —
Warrant» Issue«!.
San Francisco, June 9. —Warrants were
issued to-day for the arrest of Lelaud Stan
ford and E. H. Miller, President and Secre
tary of the Central Pacific railroad, on com
plaint of J. R. Robinson, a stockholder, for
refusing to exhibit accounts of the company.
The facts of the case are that in the examina
tion of the books of the company now going
on in the &uits brought by Robinson and other
stockholders, the Secretary was asked to pro
duce a certain report made by Stanford to
the directors of sundry expenditures. The
Secretary produced the paper, but refused to
state the contents, and being asked if it did
not contain a statement of the amounts of
money paid to influence State and Congres
sional legislation, declined to answer. A
warrant is therefore sued to compel the pro
duction, under the State code governing
corporations. The examination discloses
great unwillingness on the part of the Secre
tary of the Company to testify on material
points.
Williams, Blanchard A Co. to-day took
possession of the office of the Pacific Mail
Company, in conformity with the appoint-
ment of a receiver from the Home Office, A.
P. Bacon retiring.
--I irf)- «* ►► ÄM« 1 * -
Ljiu'li Law.
Sax Francisco, June 10.—A dispatch
from Santa Rosa says : Last night about 150
armed men went to the jail in that tow n and
overpowered the keeper. They took T. W .
Henly, confined, waiting the action of the
grand jury for killing Janies Rowland, a
prominent citizen, about a month ago, and
hung him to a tree, a mile from the town.
The body was discovered this morning. Pub
lic sentiment is disposed to consider the ac
tion of the mob in the interest of justice.
Hiulüon River Tunnel.
New York, June 9. —The Hudson River
Tunnel Company, who have been delayed
more than a year by an injunction, has again
resumed operations at the shaft in the Jersey
City roadway, under the river. It will be
5,400 feet long and 25 feet wide, the outlet
to be at Washington Square, New York.
The estimated cost is $15,000,000 and upward
of 10,000,000 in stock has already been sub
scribed, the principal parties to the enter
prise being Californians. It is intended to
complete the work in two years.
The House Committee on Railways has
reported favorably on Mr. Stone's measure
for securing cheap transportation. It pro
vides for the creation of a corporation, with
a capital stock of $50,000,000, to construct a
railroad from New York city to Council
Bluffs, Iowa, said road to be subsidized by
and be under control of the Government. The
amount of subsidy asked is $32,000,000. Of
course, it is not expected that the bill will
pass the present session.
A terrible war is now waging in Ne v
York betw'een the rapid-transit aud the horse
car roads. The elevated road carries from
6,000 to 7,000 passengers daily between the
Battery and Fifty-ninth street.
The President has said that, if the h reign
bill, or other important ones, should tail, he
should recall every foreign minister aud con
sul, and discontinue the other service within
his control, leaving the responsibility with
Congress.
The Senate has confirmed the app«»:ntmei t
of Seligman Brothers as t lie United States
agents in Europe for the Treasury Depart
ment.