The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1889-09-18
THE SILVER IN IT.

1t in easy tn group The issues that are
to decide the vote which Montana
will east OIL the first day of October. 1t
In easy, too, with the situation i'm it's
present clear outlines, to see that some
of the newspapers are lingering over
questions not vital now and which.
however earnestly debated. will not in
fiuence men when they go the polls.
The silver question In of these.
Newspapers representing both parties
are writing columns about it, minor
phases of the question are unfairly ex-
allied, men of prominence i'm financial
legislation are made to hold disjOinted
relations to it. In instances. facts are
grossly misstated. the question is per-
verified and it's intelligent discussion be-
Titled. Our political platforms recog-
niZe whatever favOrs have been re-
ceived. but the fact In that Montana
and her neighbOrs owe Washington
nothing OH this score.
No subject more intimately involves
MOntana's prosperity than that relating
to future Legislation on silver. The is
sue has gradually bee mad sectional.
That the West has been grossly wronged
and that the whole country has suffered
by what the government has decreed
In the past. il not denied. The West
has been weak, while the eastern ag-
g~regatiOn of wealth conferred i'm Wall
street has been able to influence presi-
dents. cabinets and congressional
committees We have not been strong
enough to rope with those who easily
catch the ear mt Washington and who
noisily proclaim themselves the con-
SENATORS of the nations wealth. These
men may be republicans or democrats,
but above all they are brokers, bankers
and zone kings. For more thar "a
generation they have shaped the iinan-
cial policy of the land. President Grant
would not have signed the resumption
bill had il not been favored by Wall
street. which had played with the pre-
MUM on gold until h sport became
% dangerous. In the order of events
the eastern magnates controlled all the
legislation concerning the greenback
issue and dictated the policy of the
government in all matters relating to
the public debt. Every president for
the past thirty years has been led
by their influence. Grant was trained
in the New York school OF national
finance. Mr.. Hayes was guided en-
tirely by it's dictates. President Arthur
was one of its favored and favorite
SONS. MIR. Blaine. had he been elected.
would have needed its orders. IN he
y hN Akc ~ WV 81 vi
congress-. President Cleveland could
not have effectively served III had he
been warmly disposed to do it. Minis
tiers and members have attempted to
Halter US with n patrOnizing word de-
signed to mislead the western public.
and eastern representatives of both
political parties have debated the ques
tiOn in a that has tended to
bring the whole issue into d~isrepute.
The relation of the two great
parties tn the question are accu-
rately defined when we add that,
during the limited term of it's power.
the national democratic administration
disappointed us, while republican ad-
ministrations, i'm their long succession.
and with abundant opportunities, have
utterly failed ms in all except empty
professions, leaving the whole subject
to-day rs an open question on which
the East il becoming unsettled, and re-
garding which the West has well-fixed
convictions which are not even remote
~ related to politics.