The semi-weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1890-1891, 1890-09-24
THE DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.
Adopted by the State Convention, Held N
Helena, Sept. 10.

A"Sl'iVh ny '"V f"a1 SotVGNeohf V "u
heiena, Sept. 10.
The democracy of Montana, in conven-
ton assembled, 10Y reassert the honored
principles which the history of the de-
mocracy in the past fully illustrates, and
which in their developmeutha have rebound
ed to the prosperity of the country and
to the protection of the just and equal
rights and privileges of all its citizens
without regard to locality or occupation,
nativity or religion.
To the maintenance and final triumph
of these principles we pledge our unfal-
tering devotion and untiring efforts.
Upon the freedom of the ballot and the
honesty with which elections are con-
Quoted and the result declared depends
more than on any other cause the perpet-
uation of orr free institutions and the
existence of republican government it
self. Whatever defrauds or deprives the
people of the result of their final decis-
ion, expressed through the ballot box,
strikes down their most cherished privi-
lege. weakens their confidence In, and
consequently impairs their attachment to
form of government, and must end
in the subversinn of their rights and in
the use of force and fraud as the source
OF political power.
At the first and only general election
held in the state of Montana, In the
month of October last, a majority of the
board of commissioners in the county of
Silver Bow, on pretexts the most tlimsy.
and which found sanction neither in
reason, precedent or law, rejected the en-
tire vote of Precinct 81, 1T which 174
votes were cast. BY this act they de-
prIved all the voters at that precinct
of their right of suffrage, and in its con-
sequences and by fraud finally defeated a
majority OF the voters throughout the
state by changing a clear democratic
majority for one branch of the state leg
~islature into a pretended and fraudulent
republican majority. Language cannot
adequately DESCRIBE or characterize this
act of political perfdy done ta the people
Of the state, whether republicans or
democrats. What followed was in keep
ing with, and no doHb, was intended at
the time the vote of precinct "a was re-
jected, the action of the state canvassing
board in granting certificates of election
to certain republicans of Silver Bow
county. The pretended organization of
Il republican house of representatives
which Joined in eiectng Wilbur F. San
ders and Thomas Z. Power az senators of
the United States, and I teir final admis-
sion to seats in that body were successive
acts of political wrong and treachery
done to the people of this state which,
calls loudly for retribution ut the hands
of those whose rights have thus been
violated. Believing that the majority of
the republican party do not endorse this
action We ask all, without distinction of
party, who value our institutions, and
who would set the seal of condemnation,
on political fraud and dishone sty to join
with us in hurting from power all guilty
Of this crime, and all who have profted
by it. Let us purge the fair name of our
state from this foul blot which has been
heapcd on it, and afterwards fight IL
political battles on II plan of common
honesty.
We favor the FREE coinage of silver in
common with gold as part Of the standard
coin of our country. The history OF these
metals IN the past, nv the money metals of
nearly all civilized countries, the constant
diminution in tue production of god, the
necessity of Il larger volume OF money
than gold can supply, owing to our in
crease of population and the ever widen
ing and increasing demads of trade and
commerce, and a6ovT all, in order TO pre-
vent the expressions and exactions which
the monied class would hold over all
others If gold be the only money of the
country, These and many like consider
ations demand that silver should ha put
on a basis with gold as a money standard
"A measure favored by the democrats
emit congress. All taxes are burdens, how.
eve' imposed and COLLECTED, and nothing
more should be taken from the people
than is required TOT the necessary ex-
penses of government, p%rudently aud eco;
nomically administered, whether the
government be national, state or munich
pal, Taxes for other purposes, or il ex-
cess of the public requirements, however
collected, is robbery
The supreme court of the United States
speaking on this subject has we'll said:
"To lay with n hand the power of the
government on the property of the citi-
zen. and with the nther to hestpW it OF
favored I'd rlanals In aid in private en-
terprise9, and tulld up private fortunes IL
none the legs robbery becapse " Is done
under the forns Of Jaw, and is called tax
| ation.'
This language applies exactly to the
late tariff lazy d. the United States and to
that lust enacted w its steal knoWn as
the Mckinley bill.
Under the operation of the existing tar
ifff all other pursuits aRd Industries of
this country have been compelled 70 pay
tribute to the manufacturing interests un-
til the wealth of the country Is largely
concentrated in states where manufactur-
ing Is the chief industry. The agrlcul-
fural stnfeS ON tie other hand are hurdAn-