. The cattle queen of Montana . work of the Vigilantes, while not in a direct coursewith the dictates of constitutional law, was neverthelesssuch as could be questioned by no one familiar with theexisting state of affairs in the community in which theyoperated. In a well-settled and civilized community theadministration of common law by self-constituted author-ity would be an outrage on mankind, but the sight of afew mangled corpses of beloved friends and valued citizens,the whistle of the desperados bullet, and the plunder ofthe fruits of the patient toil of years spent in weary exilefrom hom
. The cattle queen of Montana . work of the Vigilantes, while not in a direct coursewith the dictates of constitutional law, was neverthelesssuch as could be questioned by no one familiar with theexisting state of affairs in the community in which theyoperated. In a well-settled and civilized community theadministration of common law by self-constituted author-ity would be an outrage on mankind, but the sight of afew mangled corpses of beloved friends and valued citizens,the whistle of the desperados bullet, and the plunder ofthe fruits of the patient toil of years spent in weary exilefrom home in places where civil law is as powerless as apalsied arm, alter the basis of reasoning and reverse theconclusion. Furthermore be it remembered that in thiscase the Sheriff was the leader of the desperadoes and hisdeputies were prominent members of the band. Gladly indeed, I feel sure, would the Vigilantes havewelcomed the advent of civil or military power to force anobeyance of law, but until this was furnished it was their. Tiie Vigilance Commiltee at Work. A STORY OF PERSONAL EXPERIEKCE IK THE WEST. 189 duty to preserve as best they could the society of theircommunity and prevent and punish anarchy, arson,robbery and murder. The honest mountaineers of the far west are thenoblemen of mankind. Untrammeled by the artificialrestraints of more highly organized society, characterdevelops itself more fully and more truly there thanelsewhere on earth. Those who have slept at the samewatch-fire and traversed together many a league, sharinghardships and privations, are drawn together by tieswhich civilization knows nothing of. As soon as townsare started at once commences the organization of society,and truly cheering indeed is the ready hospitality, theunfeigned welcome and the friendly toleration of personalpeculiarities which mark the character of the better classof honest western people. The mountains may be said also to bound the paradiseof amiable and energetic women. There se
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectfrontie, bookyear1894
