The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-05-25
a CONFIDENCE GAME"

Some Republican editors can never be
mean enough to satisfy themselves. About
the most vicious proposition that has ap-
peared lately is one which the Republican
newspapers are advocating, and which is
nothing less than the keeping of Montana
out Of the Union, in spite of the act passed
by the late Congress and approved by
President CLEVELAND. That such thing
is suggested shows the hOllowness of Re
publican professions. For years that party
has been kicking the Democrats for refus
ing to make Dakota a state. Republicans
claimed there was nothing partisan in their
anxiety. the fact that the party had abso
lutte control of the territory having no
weight with them in the demand for justice
Of course, everybody knew this was hum
bug. as Republicans have never been more
eager than Democrats to create new states.
AT the Chicago convention of 1888. the fol
lowing was adopted as part of a statement
and resolution in regard to the admission
of Dakota THE refusal OF the Dem
ocratic House, for partisan purposes,
to favorably consider these bills is
winful violation of the sacred
American principle of self government, and
merits the condemnation of all just men,"
This was true enough, but 1t was not
honest, as the sequel shows.
Montana has long been trying to get into
the union. but Republicans would not listen
IN the proposition while the territory was
Democratic in politics. Last November
there was an election for Congressional
Delegate. and the Republican candidate
was chosen by a majority OF ., 1876 in total
vote of 1904. That was enough for the
Republicans, who saw two Republican
Senators. one Republican Representative
and three Republican electoral votes,
through the admission Of the territory. The
result was acquiescence in the omnibus bill
which included Montana, and there was
great rejoicing in the Republican camp.
Another election has just been held in
Montana, and the people have returned to
their old political faith. They have chosen
a working majority of Democrats in the
coming constitutional convention, and dem
onstrated their ability to control the new
state. But no sooner are the returns in
and the result known, than the Republican
papers dicover that the party made a mis-
take in voting to let Monts1cna into the
uuiou and soiine OF the organs are so indec-
emit and impudent that they openly advo-
cate the undoing of what has already been
done. The St. Louis Globe Democrat, one OF
the most pronounced of the party organs
in denunciation of Democrats over the Da-
kota affair, maliciously says: Looking at
the Montana election returns in careful
and thoughtful way, we should say that
there is no call for Republican President
and Congress to sit up of nights in order
IN hasten the admission of that territory
into the Union as a state"
Other party organs talk in similar vein,
bnt il remains for the Chicago EUening
journal to 90 to the extreme limit of Re
npblican meanness. its issue last re
ceived under the head "a Confidence
| Game = it unblushingly advocates the keep
ING of Montana out in defiance Of the law
and common decency. 1t says that no more
Democratic states are wanted, because 1.-The
solid south. made so by violence and fraud,
should not be reinforced by the ADMISSION
of new Democratic states in the north. "
The Journal thinks that all may not be
lost The hint thrown out by the
Globe Dcmotrat. above quoted, is enough for
the Chicago paper, which says the matter
of admission is not finally closed, and that
there can be a reconsideration OF the act
which provides for letting the territory
into the Union. Says the Journal: 1.-The
President must not be in haste
in issuing his proclamation after the prelim-
mary proceedings shall be completed, and
Congress may then be in session, with
power to correct the error that was com
mitted in relation to the admission of Mon
tana. 1t is never too late to retrieve false
STEP
We do not doubt there are Republican
politicians who are mean enough to justify
the President were he to act upon the
Journals suggestion, and refuse to issue
the proclamation which the law authorizes
him to promulgate. There is not much
danger that there will be an attempt to
carry out the villainous threat, and the mat
ter is referred to only to Illustrate how hol-
low is the Republican profession of respect
for the rights of the people in the terrific
ries Montana cannot now be kept out OF
the union, heart-rending as it is to Repub-
leans to see the territory enter as Demo
cratic state. She will go in with the Da-
kotas and Washington, in spite of the Re
nuhlicans who IUould have excluded her if