The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1889-12-06

Evansville Courier.
Nothing 10 tho category Of polItica
4 lrescaiItles at sll approaches the villain,
% the Republican attempt TO steal th
Legislature IN A0ntsna. According I,
the legal returns the Demcorats have
majority Of five IN tho House, while th'
Senate IL tie. The history or the pro
ceedings 81 The Republican State Return
ing Hoard dIsclOses the determination o
the Republican party 10 rule OF ruin, q
often manifested IL recent years. notabl
In 1876, when the Repu blicans stole ths
Presidency, and Ia 1850 and l668. whes
they bought Il. Fortunately Tor ths
Democrats OF Montana the lsW aud tn
courts have been with them from thu
lhrst.
| For twenty-five years Montana ha,
been Democratic. A large majority o
the wealth and talent Of the state are Il
Joe found within the Democratic rank.
aud the ne " State Is conceded on ali side.
20 have received its growth and stand.
ing i'y reason Of Democratic talent and
energy. II can not he cIsimed therefore
that there vas any just reason 10 expect
: Republican victory except TOR the fsc'
hat st the election one year ago. owing
" . quarrel between the Democratic
leaders, the Republicans carried the Ter
ritory.
The present conspiracy 10 steal the
Legislature waa organized by Wilbur f..
Sanders, who had been defeated for del
eRate 10 Congress four times by over
whelming msjorities. Finding that i,
would be impossible TO ever win before
The People, he thought 10 get 10 the Sem
ate through the Legislature, and when
be found the Democrats had carried that
body, in his desperation and chagrin he
planned the plot TO defeat the count, hav-
ing received various pointers from,
George 4. Sheridan. Of Louieiana. who
was employed BY Quay to stump the
Territory Not that Sanders needed
much coaching in the crime Of robbiDg
The ballot box. He had made some a.
Iempss Ia that direction before. The
organization OF the Territory found him
In the army ss Lieutenant aud Adjutans
Of ~ Ohio regiment. His uncle, Edger-
ION, was appointed Governor Of Mon
lana st that time, and the nephe v. ram
pant Aboliti0nist that he wss, forgot hi
zeal for the Union. through some hook
Dr crook slid Uut OF the army, aud with
bis uncle came 10 Montana, which he re
garded somew as Saucho Panxs did
bis province 1.-The place where be Was lo|
crafty bic political ambition.
But 6anders did not succoed. McIIain|
defeated hts Congregational aspiration.
oy 3,tOo majority. Them - now. the
Federal olllcisle constituted tho CANVAS \
.!ng oooso ~ encle wao he countog.
5aoooeo resolved - 80 . Congress ony-|
gsy. 4 bogus vote va brought inI
rom some umInhatltsd region, which
Governor Edgerton counted. But in|
hose days the vigilance committee va
ho power In the territory. The IeadersI
waited on the Governor and told him
hey had been hanging men for mnrdes
Ind robbery. They considered. Il more
d crime TO rob the bsll0t box than the
'luice box, and noto6ed the Goyernorl
bat % the certificate WAS not issued toI
AcLain tho vigilantes would hang the
;hief exective OF the territory the same
y any other robber. Governor Edgerton
ssued the certificate, and bic precious
'ephew remained IN private lite 10 at-I
empt the same game later. with the re-
ult that the reputation OF the new state
. clouded with stain similar to that
which rested upon the new Territory. /
10Th being the work Of the subtle SAN
|ers
outstanding their defeat "a the
lection OF Territorial oficers aud dele
ate 10 Congress one year ago last Octo-
'or, the Democrats rallied their forces In
be fight for the control Of the C0nstitu.
lonal Convention five months after.
vards, and carried fifteen out OF the 4,
weuty five dislricis iut0 which the Ter
Itory wss divided for the purpose oil
lecting delegates. II
Among other things With which thisl
Wss empo poweeed We that ofls
pporti0ning the Territory Into SenatO- K
Ial and Legislative disiricts. bot not|s
sving the time Il LEFT that duty to the
ret State Legislature, and provided that {
10 counties should elect the SeuatorsI Z
I'D members to the fret State Legisia- q
ire - they had always done 70 the Ter. II
torial Legislature. II
This should be carefully noted, as Il Il X
lie which makes 1t possible for the Re-
nblican c0nspirst0rs 10 throw out the 10
v0tal precinct 10 the largest county, D
liver Bow, which elects eleven mem. G
,rs Of the Legislative Assembly, and
us change the complexion Of that body. q
he convention also had the power tOl
cate State Csnvassing Board on which,
,th parties should be represented. Ma
{ Msgiunis did make motion to that
lect in the Convention, but q the lsw =
90 specific Ia regard to counting the
,tes denying to the Board any Judi 2
II functions whstever-this was voted !
'wn % unnecessary, and the Board, y
divided BY the Springer bill for count !,
E the votes on the constitution, was &C. q
pied to count the votes for State Of 4
ere. Il never entered into any oue's q
ed that the Governor and the Chief y
Istice appointed hy Harrison would =
lnmit deliberate crime but they did
the same. IT,
lt will Be observed that alI the counting . !.
A. - - a ~e = H.