The Great Falls leader. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1888-1900, 1889-08-09

.jQuigg on Montana Politics
Democratic jealousy, Doodle ant
: Party Leaders.
The Afillionaircs Of Montana are al!
Democrats.
Republicans not Troubled With Am.
| bilious and Warrin" Leaders,
The latest letter by Mr.. Quigg to the
New York Tribune presents such keen
insight into Montana politics that we fur
nish 1t entire. 1t is 4 most interesting
letter and we'll worth perusal.
I HELENA, Mont. July 70, 1859.
Nepubil2;'n confidence in Montana is based a.
we'll upon the popular sentiment of gratitude for
"h;lt the republican party has done to encourage
inc territ0ry's material interests as upon the
popular feeling OF disgust and anger for what the
democratic party did to destroy those interests,
Ihe people understand that they owe nothing to
cleveland ana Springer for the b!ll which enables
tnem 10 become citizens of the Republic Such
e"ofts as MI CATERS democratic predecessor put
torth with relation to the Dakota bills were coll
lhed to all attempt to prevent the people Of South
DaSota from realizing their ambitions. The be-
lle1 OF Montana that the clcctiolrof General Har-
rfson would be the elevation OF friend, OF !, man
VINO mad Travelled west Of the Missouri, who was
personally and thoroughly famiarw with the needs
| u the western States and with TIE vastncSs of
Montana's agricultural and mineral resources
tills tatli, since they could not vO:e for Harrison
h'mSelt, was expressed IN Mr.. Carter'S election.
Ihey nave already seen the material wisdom of
tiie course they then pursued and the difference
oet"eet the mo parties III their RESPECT for
t1'snte1 WORKS. The democratic platform Of 1884
promised home rule to the territories, a promise
which MIR. Cleveland repeated and emphasized IN
his letter OF ;tcceptai,ce. But lie sent Montana
governor frcm Kentucky, chief Justice from Ten
hesSee, associate justices from Texas and Iosi-
ana, an asS;yer from Indiana, Indian agents from
| all over the South, but not one from Montana.
employees of the railway mail service and in
S'ectors from everywhere except the territory it.
sell. President Harrison has kept relisiously TO
hls paFtyS Promise. Every Montana commission
th''s taf issued has been made out to Il Montana
man. Ihe attitude or the party and Of the pres-
dent, as Indicated iii the Chicago platform and in
the Letter OF acceptance, with regard to the silver
question, is source OF great satisfaction to the
entire west. Undoubtedly this Is the most
troublesome question standing between the two
sections Of our country The west Is not nm
reasonable. 1t simply demands that the value
OF Its product shall not be deprecated by the
action OF Its own government. 1t would be en-.
tlrely satisfactory were the secretary of the
treasury to purchase the maximum silver supply
authorized by the Allison law. The democrats
consented to take only what they we're compelled
10 take-$2,0oO,WD month. 1t would content |
fha Gi!un" states t.nnn +:.r -.
confidence to the republican party for measures
that will put silver where It should be, that will
render them Independent of the London mar
ket, and that will prevent England from swelling
her revenues by operations In q commodity which
sho affects to despise while "baaring' for pur-
chase, and warmly comments while 'bulling" for
Il sale.
While the opposition to the admission of South
Dakota was at its height1 Delegate Carter visited
Washington, (he was not then entitled to IL seat
to impress the republicans with the necessity of
accepting an omnibus measure, His work not
only had good and decided effect In Washington.
but 1t rendered his position at home impregnable.
At his suggestion many OF the most Objectionable
features OF the original omnibus bill We're eX-
plunged, and other improving features were sub
StC,ated so that III its final shape 1t was not UNI
favorable to MOntana's interests.
As soon as 1t received the Presidents signature
the local democracy at once set on foot neat lit
| tie scheme to capture the constitutional conven-
tion. The governor. the chief justice and the sec
retary of the Territory, all appointees Of Mr,
Cleveland, in advance OF the time appointed by
law, issued proclamation dividing the Territory
into districts for the election OF delegates to the
constitutional convention. In law and justice they
had no more right to do this than any other three
citizens III the Territory The authority they ex-
erctsed belonged to their successors, the rcpubli-
can appolntees OF President Harrison. 1t is hard
ly necessary to say that iii their apporionment
they took care to render the democratic ascel,de,l
cy as certain lis possible Ill their "ndeavors to
bring their sure maiorities where they would be
the most effective and useful, an exceedingly
crooked lot OF district boundary lines were
made. The peril in which their scheme stood
was Il reversal at the hands Of Governor White
and his republican cO-1tiicinls TO prevent this,
Controller Durham of the treasury departments at
Washington, q hOdng-oyer democrat who was ev-
identity permitted to hold over too long, issued an
order to the democratic Secretary In Helena d-
recting that he should retain his Office until his
SUCCESSORS bond had been qualified by Durham
On the whole. they managed the!r game we'll. 1t re-
Qnred peremptory oftier from the president HIM
self to get out tile democratic secretary, and when
that was accomplished the time had gone by with
IN which, It was possible under the Law; to reform
| The territorial districts:
| I'.ie republicans. considerably annoyed ut find
ing themselves, the victims OF !; contemplate.
nio,,e Ut si,urp iriclier ~efe naturally the less
disposed TO fight about it because in the last clec-
ton they had carried twenty three Of the twenty
five districts IN which the democrats had shaped
the state and they had no doubt Of their ability
the democrats so to fix the state us to prevent Il
republican majority i'll the convention. This feel
Ing OF )ver-cOnfideHce was the thing that really
defeated the republicans Desnits. the fact that
Springer's dishonesty partisan bill gave the demo
crats outright twenty-tlv seats In the convention
and despite the trckery by which the Terrtor,
was divided, the republicans would still have Vol
had the? got out their votes They did not work
while their ;i,i7eiariei eAered all pOss!b. ccrts
Only fifty per celtt Of the November vote was cas-
Ii. May, and the result gave the democrats ma
iGrity CT i've. No serious consequences are a,pre
hcnded by the republicans by reason If this sit,,
alton. 1t Is unfortunate just ut this particMn
time. but by no means should It alarm, the rcpub
i:cns Of the county IL, worst effect will be tin
muin.enaliCe Of th, obnoxious, principle Of minor
ity representation, The democracy will hang o,
to that like grim death, for IT afford. them the!
} only hope CT securing q laaiorty lii the first les,