Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1880-12-16
TERRITORIAL TOPICS.
Politics and Prosperity in Montan,

Politics and Prosperity in Montana.
| Especial Correspondence Of the Globe-Democrat. /
HELENA, MONTANA, November 17.-In-
scrutable wisdom has ordained that when q
citizen of the United States, without going
beyond the boundaries of the Union, shall 90
to the frontier to make home and open up
the way for the homes of future millions. he
shall be punished for his offense by being
| distranchsed. He is not allowed to vote for
President and Vice President, for it is per-
| tectly clear that such q fellow ought not to
be the political equal of 4 gentleman and q
patriot residing at the Five Points in New
York; but he is allowed to vote for a sort of
emasculated member of Congress called a
delegate" This delegate sits in the House
without vote, and is little more than an
agent or errand boy of the people of the Ter
ritory that he is said with grim irony, to
represent.
The choice of such Delegate is the mock
cry OF an election that the people of Montana
have Just been indulged in. They went
through the motions with considerable ami
nation. The contest in the States could not
fa9l to communicate some Of its interest to
the step-children of Dame Columbia Oh the
frontier, and the locking Of horns between
the two parties in this Territory had some
intrinsic elements Of a first class free c-tor-all
knock-dOwn-and-drag-O Outright
The Delegate from Montana is, and has
been for the past eight years Major Martin
Maginnis. He came here in 1866 from Red
Wing, Mimi, where he edited a paper, and
continued this occupation at Helena as asso-
ciate editor of the Gazette journal that is
no more. In 1870, the Democratic party
which had always been in the ascendancy
in the Territory, met with 4 reverse. It's
candidate was f. Warren Toole, Esq, who
was nominated by the MiSsourians over Hon.
James Nj. Cavanagh, the incumbent and pet
in pretty lively kick, and the result was
the election of Hon. VIM. Clagett, the Re-
publican candidate
Two years later, Mr.. Clagett being a can
didate for reelection, the Democratic nomi-
nation was not very eagerly sought, and it
was bestowed upon Major Maginnis some
what Unexpectedly he was elected. In 1874
he was renOminated and reelected. In 1875
there were murmurs of discomfort and hints
of a letter in which the Major had promised
not to be candidate for third term; but |
the letter could not be produced and he was |
again successful. In 1878 he had little op- |
position, the Republicans making no nomi- |
nation, the only chance to vote against him |
being afforded by Hon. Sample Orr, here |
known as Governor Orr because he insists |
that he was fairly elected Governor of Mis-
souri, in 1860, though why any one should |
be strenuous about such matter is q mys-
terry. The Governor" made lively stump
but Maj. Maginnis took his fourth
term by large majority.
This year there was considerable opposi-
ton to his denomination, but it was over
come by one influence and another, and he
was nominated by a unanimous vote of the
Democratic Territorial Convention. But he
was not destined to have walk over" The
Republicans put forward their most stalwart
in the person of Hon. Wilbur F.
Sanders, also of Helena. Col Sanders is
Republican Of the Ohio breed, who came to
Montana in 1863 and resisted with heroic
courage the overwhelming rebel element,
hat was known as "the left wing Of Sterling
Prices army" and had complete sway over
he few camps in what is now Montana. As
nay be imagined, he is a man of strong con-
IC ID stloO al OldlOI VI CACCp- |
ional force and brilliancy.
The campaign was a notably One Cam
,aigning here is quite another thing from
phat it is in the States To ride 900 miles I
n coach to address a single meeting to
pend most of ones time for six weeks in
0nveyance graphically called a '.jerky ;" to
ound saddle forty'six hours out of forty
light, and put in the other two hours speak
ng in the open air on cold nlght-these
re some of the conditions to be encounter
d. Nevertheless there was no town or
amp of considerable size in the Territory
hat was not visited by both candidates.
he canvass as to the candidates, if some
ines little spicy and personal was mainly |
Ourteous, and had good effect as a school S
, set the people thinking on current poll I
cal questions Major Maginnis was doubt G
SIS overmatched so far as the canvass was q a
ompetitive display of Oratory. His educa- /
on in public speaking began with his nomi- h
alton for Congress eight years ago, but with c
le natural aptitude of his race for eloquence, 4
e has made great progress, and exhibits the t
prformance of good orator and the promise b
great one He carried the election easily
lough OF his ostensible majority of 200, n
,out one-half is honestly his. Three hun C
red graders on the Northern Pacific Rail- r.
ad voted for him at q precinct established "
r the purpose in the extreme eastern part "
the Territory 200 MOrmons, at work on p
e extension of the Utah & Northern Rail- b
ad, voted in Beaverhead county, at the be- o
,st of the head of the church, and nearly 81
10 laborers on the new post, called Fort AS o.
were voted at q precinct estab- d
she'd at the residence OF one white man, as il
ey were returning to their homes in Min I
sofa. III
The Republican party, under a reform" p
is good. 1t bestOws most of B
e choice things in the way of military ira Il
o,,J oon4roo4c in, fhic Tor,iforv On | ri