St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-12-06
STAND FIRaT.

The Democratic members Of the Mon
tana legislature are perfectly justified
IL refusing 10 compromise with their
Republican opponents. \ compromise
under the circumstances would be moth
ing more or less than compromising a
felony. Honest men struggling for the
right never propose compromises, nor
accept them. The very fact that the
Montana Republicans opened negOtia-
tons with the Democrats, looking to
compromise whereby each party should
have one senator, was confession on
their part that they are in the wrong,
and still they are mean enough to en-
pl0y their advantage to steal one-half of
the victory that the Democrats are en-
titled to. The promptness of the Dem
OcratS in rejecting this overture was pc
euliarly gratifying to the friends of an
honest ballot throughout the entire
country. and will give the Democratic
party in Montana prestige that will be
worth great deal IN future political
contests.
The deadlock which the Republicans
have created in the Montana legislature
Is causing great Inconvenience to the
citizens Of the new state. The legis-
lation necessary to put the new cOnsti-
tuition into effect cannot be enacted, and
nc session Of the supreme court can be
held until the deadlock is broken and
the legislature organized. In some of
the counties there is no judicial crgani-
cation and can be none until the legis-
Gliding the contested election cases.
It is unfortunate that this state
OF affairs should exist; yet the Repub-
llcans are responsible for it. and the
Democrats cannot afford TO sacrifice the
dearest principle in American govern
ment just to relieve the situation. It is
the duty Of the Democrats in this crisis
TO look 10 the future Of their state as
well as to consider present exigencies.
The honor and integrity of the state is
in their keeping. and by the force of cir
cumstances they are made the custodians
of free and honest ballot. Under our
American system there is no way of de
teTmining where power belongs except
by the one iufallible rule Of submitting
TO the will of the majority, as expressed
through the ballot box. In this instance
the majority Of the voters of Montana
lodged the legislative power in the
hands of the Democrats. and they,
and they alone, are entitled to ex-
ereise it. The Republican minor
ity have no more right to or
ganize the Montana legislature than
the inhabitants of Kamtschatka would
have. 1t would be just as reasonable to
talk about compromise with the town
council of TimbuctoO as TO agree to a
compromise with the Republican mi
nority in the Montana legislature, so far
as compromise could be made consist
ent with law and equity.
The Montana Democrats have but one
line to follow, and that is to stand as
firm as adamant in defense of their
rights and in vindicatiOn of popular gov
eminent. If the Republican minority
want 20 assume the responsibility of
prolongIng the legislative deadlock. and
thereby checking the operations of the
judicial department Of the state govern
ment, they have the choice of doing so
But the Republican leaders should re-
member that they take fearful risks in
advising such a course. We are mis-
taken in the intelligence and the integ-
rity of the Montana people il persist
ence in such course does not prove
the destruction of the Republican party
in Montana. There are some things in
regard to which the politicians can
hOOdwink the voters, but ballot theft is
not one of them.