Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1889-11-21
the Admission of Montana.

The President is criticized in some
quarters for seeming haste in proclaim
ing the admission of Montana as a
state; but careful examination of the
facts will show that he simply did bis
duty. True, he did it promptly: very
promptly, and it is possible that his
proclamation was hnstened by the pres
sure of political necessities, but the
conditions of the enabling act were
fully complied with and there can be
no just criticism of the President for
promptness in issuing his proclamation
of admission.
The practical effect of the prompt
admission of Montana by the Presi-
dents proclamation is the transfer of
the Silver Bow county appeal from the
Territorial District Judge to the new
State Supreme Court, shat is unani-
mnusIy Republican, instead of trans
ferring it to the Territorial Supreme
Court that is Democratic; but that is
the fate of political war. The State
Returning Board had computed and
certified the returns of the election for
State officers, Legislature. etc, and be-
ing Republican, it rejected the Tunnel
precinct OF Silver Bow and issued GER
tificates of election to the Republican
candidates for the House in Silver
oOws liz law WaS July
with, aud the President proclaimed
Montana State, as was his right and
duty; and if his promptness gave his
party an advantage, he was doubtless
glad to have it so, as would any Presi.
dent under like circumstances.
The rejection of an entire precinct i'm
Silver Bow county was revolutionary
assault upon the plainly written law.
The County Canvassers had authority
only to- compute and certify the vote,
but they usurpeG the highest judicial
powers 10 perpetrate fragrant fraud,
and the chief of the board had large
wagers depending upon his preversion
of the election figures. 1t is barely
possible that the new State Supreme
Court. that is now called upon to give
final judgment in the case may reverse
the lower Territorial Court, bur, if so,
considerate Republicans as well as
Democrats will regard their highest
court as self-tainted with lawless part
isanshIp at the very threshold of it's
grave perogatives. The new Supreme
Judges have just been elected in one of
the most bitter and desperate contests
of modern times, and they may go up
on the bench with their partisan pref
uaices so infiamed as to make ship
wreck of both law and justice at the
start; but when they shall have done
so, will they give to their friends the
expected fruits of this atrocious pOliti-
cal theft?
This theft is intended to give the Re-
publicans the Legislature and two
United States Senators. The Senate is
q tie; there can be no organization of
the Legislature without the aid of the
Democratic Senators; if they shall re-
fuse to sanction the theft by refusing
to organize the Senate. how can United
States Senators be elected? The Gov
ernOr is Democrat, his majority being
too large to be reversed by tine Silver
Bow theft; and with a resolute Demo-
cratic Governor and resolute Demo-
cratic Senators.th the complexion Of Mon
tana Statehood is likely to be postpon-
ed until the Republics Lag consent to
abandon the revolutionary lawlessness |
that summarily rejected the entire vote
of precinct simply because it changed |
the political complexion of the Legis- |
lature. |
Such is the situation i'm Montana, and |
1t would have remained substantially |
tile same whether the President acted |
promptly or delayed in the admission
of the State, as the State board has
passed finally Oh the returns.-Phila-
delphia Times.