The Montana post., 1868-12-04
REGIsTRATIoN VS.. FRAUD.

The editor of the Gazette, confirming
his right to the sobriquet "Artful Dods
ger" has Another Dodge" in yester-
days issue. The suggestion TOR Reg
istration Law inspires his feeble soul to
reply. With assumed airs of lofty prin-
ciple he expresses a desire to prevent
illegal voting and protect the purity of
the ballot box" and will recommend to
our legislature any improvements which
may suggest and recommend themselves
to our judgment. Here is exposed the
hypocrisy and dishonesty of the Gazette
We advocate a registration law because
itNjs tue only effectual means of pre-
venting fraud at the polls The Ga
rte opposes il because il believes such
law would disfranchise some who now
vote the democratic ticket. We advo-
cate a general law by Congress. because
such laws where possible should be
general and permanent, and the right is
conferred on Congress by the Constitu-
tion Ito make all needful rules and reg
ulatiOns respecting the Territory" and
ito provide tor the general welfare.
The Gazette, on the contrary. advocates
the dabbling in such affairs by the dem
ocratic Legislature of Montana, with
partisan objects in view, as is clearly
evidenced by its objection to submitting
The question TO the general government.
The law of Congress would apply TO all
Territories, have some intelligent cons
sideration and action, with due respect
70 the welfare of the people without re-
gard TO party, and be iTrevocable except
by the same authority or the erection 70
The Territories into states. The govern
ment of Montana is only established as
temporary affair its statutes are
ephemeral at best and subject to amend
-nent by Congress, as is the entire gov
ernmeEt, and the records of its Legisla-
ture from first to last are but multiplied
pages of stupidity ignorant blunders, or,
partisan preferences and preiudices and
schemes for personal aggrandizenent
The two attempts To amend the election
law last session, leaving it at last in di-
rect violation to the United States stat
utes the resolutions censuring the Judi
ciary, repeating extra compensation to
Republicans and bestowing il upon
Democrats; the enactment of oppres-
sive private charters contrary 10 the
amendment to the organic act, and sim
AtsAA NhaNhBAtAlbc5 Nh tNNttNUts dIt
eient evidence of a lack of both ability
and moral honesty. What "the configu-
ration OF the country" has 10 do with
general registration law perhaps the
Gazette can explain. The Gazette wholly
tnisunderstands or misrepresents our
Epsition, when it assumes that we pro-
POSED to edisfTanchise those who have
taken out their first papers, for that is
everywhere held to constitute the es-
senfial requisite TO obtaining citizen-
ship and to entitle the person to sui
trage. A reference to section > of the
organic act of Montana, the organic act
of Idaho and other States aud Terrific
ries will enlighten the Gazette and pre-
vent the recurrence of a statement so
prejudicial TO it's claims to intelligence.
We ask a general registration law, to
prevent voting by aliens, and repeats
ing" by those entitled to suffrage. Such
law is necessary. The party. paper or
person who opposes il is the advocate
of crime, and no desire TO subserve party
can excuse them. We wish it general
and permanent, and therefore advocate
its enactment by Congress and what is
more, will labor for il persistently, and
trust confidently it will Ii in full force
and effect in this Territory before an
other general election.