The weekly miner., 1880-08-10
SITUATION.

During the past few days the mists previ
ously obscuring the political horizon hav
pretty effectually cleared up, enabling lis t.
take an intelligent view of the situation an,
ascertain from proper reckoning of latitude
and departures the precise direction in whicl
we are drifting. The result may be stated il
few words: The democratic nomination TO
Congress is assured Major Maginnis proridet
he wishes to take the desperate chances G
acceptingit. Various causes have contributed
to bring about this state of affairs. The ac
ton of the chairman of our Democrati
Central Committee in plainly surlenderins
| to the Maginnls crowd, and so making The
apportionment that the great county of Dee
Lodge is secure for Maginnis, las had it:
effect, although this has not been Il leading
factor in the present revival OF the Maginni>
chances. A couple of weeks ago, in the frs
ardor of the revolt against "perpetual dele
gateship," the opposition would have zeal
ollsly rallied around any able leader who
might have presented himself; but no leader
came forward. There is a dilfidence to be
noted among men of other than the stripe OF
the brass-mounted poltician,-a dii1idence
pretty generally proportionatc to the merit
accompanying it. 1t is owing to this most
laudable modesty that of the several who
have been mentioned as worthy Of Congress
sional honors there was not to be found even
one who could be persuaded to come out be-
fore the people and serve as a nucleus to the
portion of the Nsrty disallectcd towards Ma
ginnis by announcing himself as ~ candi-
date for Co.,rn> Now such modesty is
to be admired and commended, but
i'll this particular instance, and in
the peculiar situation in which we
are placed it has had Il most disastrous ef-
feet upon the anti-NIaginnis wing Of the par
ty. For want Of a leader there could be no
union, and without union no zeal, SO the op-
position starting with great vim has lately
languishcd to very pelceptible degree, and
is dropping more and more from day to day.
On the other hand the Maginnis men. stimu-
lated to action by the attack upon their idol,
have resolved themselves each into canvas
sing committee Of one, and their actions, in
stead Of tagging like those of the opposition,
are becoming more and more energetic. For
all that the absence of leadership in the anti
Magnnis wing promises to react with most
disastrous effect upon the fortunes of the gal
liant Major, should he possess courage sutii-
cient to face the dangers Of nomination tol
hi J, f Ia Il ha,,1
rallied beneath trusted leader. and if fail
trial of fstrength could have been brought about
between the adhcrents and the opponents OF
our present delegate, then the result would
of the issue. A nomination conferred undel
such circumstances would have been held to
emb0dy Il fair expression Of the wishes of the
majority, and united party's hearty support
would have attested the Montana democra
cy's adherence and devotion to the principle
that the majority. should rule be their deer
sion what it may. But there has been NJ
such mastering; no such massinS of tht
forces Of the opposition, who will feel them
selves at a disadvantage because they have
not had 8 fair show through lack of lead
ership. Not having chance to enter openl,
the lists of battle, they will not consid G.
themselves in honor bound, as they woul(
have been had they entered into trial o
strength and met with overthrow. Their
will be sulkiDg in the democratic ranks t.
such an extent that Major Maginnis will no
come anywhere near calling out his party
vote. This is not an agreeable confession
but the truth is too evident to admit Of ques
ton, and party papers first great duty is T.
give warning Of real dangers and dcscrib
conditions as they actually exist while tller
is yet freedom Of action, liberty OF choice
Major Magnnis, if nominated, will receive
short vote; that much may be accepted. Iii
defeat or election will depend altogether upo
the nomination to be made by the repibl
cans, 50 glance through the ranks of til
enemy may be in order. But of this, here
after.