The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-11-14
BLAINE AND EUrrERWORrH.

Hon. Ben amn But terworth can quiet
ly stand back and smile with his demo-
cratic friends. He knew enough to
crawl into cave before the tidal wave
came, and now he steps out and relieves
his mind as follows:
"In my opinion no man could have made
successful race for the presidency of the
United States standing upon the issue of
the Mckinley bill, and l think the high tar
Ill path the rocklest one to travel for public
Office Mt the present time. The people of
this country arc in such q state that not
even the most prosperous will stand the ad-
ditlon of another feathers weight of tax.
1t was the most unwlse policy any party
could pursue to take the stand of favoring
an increase of the tariff when it is and has
been apparent that reduction is what has
been needed and wanted. l think l saw
what was coming; at least my actions show
that pursued wise course, and other re-
rublicane knew only too we'll the inevitable
consequence of the Mckinley bills adop-
ton. l received a letter from Minnesota
congressman this morning which read:
How terrible was the slaughter. You saw
the trouble and slid out, but l stayed like
n lamb and was butchered beautifully. The
Mckinley bill and the Farmers alliance
we're too much for me- do not think that
the actions of Speaker Reed antagonized
puOlC 1eelluS W Juc eAUeuU Uuc newspapers
made out, and nearly every one knows that
the democratic gains were made because
the mass of republicans are becoming more
and more disguised with high tariff teach
ings. Now that the prophet has spoken,
and a lesson been taught, have no doubt
that proper adjustments will Immediately
follow"
Mr.. Butterworth is the most pro-
nounced representative of those republi-
cans who voted the democratic ticket
this fall. He recognizes the fact that
this vote was the result of the McKin-
ley bill, which has proven the biggest
rock in the high tariff path for office
this year. Republican candidates have
been moved down all over the country
because the angry people have had
enough Of this war taxation. The most
significant feature is that the slaughter
was confined to no particular section of
the country. Tho sweeping expression
of the people was not divided by geog-
raphical lines. William e. Russell made
the fight il. Massachusetts on the Nc
Kinley bill and the democrats OF Kansas,
Nebraska, Illinois, Minnesota, the Da-
kotas and Indiana fought on the same
line with the same glorious results. All
of this means, as Mr.. Butterworth init
mates, that the republican party must
abandon its high tariff policy or come to
total destruction. II this is not done
it will 60 the way Of it's predecessors,
the old federal and whig parties. They
were swept away by great currents Of
popular opinion. The republican party
to-day stands in the same light. Blaine
sees it, SO does Butterworth. But the
Reeds, tho McKinleys, the Shermans,
the Harrisons and the mass of the lead
ers think different. Can they hold their
party to the standard? We think not.
Blaine is the big man with the republi-
can party just now. With untouched
armor and plume erect he is once more
the man from Maine. Reeds meteor
was but fash swept into darkness by
the people. Ifnominated Mr.. Blaine's
running mate will by the nature OF
things come from the west Mr.
Blaine, will doubtless have a voice in
this selection, ard where will he find q
man better suited to his views than
Benjamin Butterworth? He is the only
prominent western republican standing
along with Blaine on the Mckinley bill
issue. The young Napoleon is hopeless
~ gone SO far as presidential ambitions
are concerned. Blaine and Butter
worth! There is a certain euphony in
the sound that may charm as it becomes
familiar. We do not believe that any
republican combination on earth car
defeat the democratic party in the next
presidential campaign. The democrats
raised the standard Of tariff reform; they
bore it aloft through momentary defeat
and now the people are rushing to its
gathering ranks. The battle will be
fought until won, and the democratic
party will be credited with the victory
Blaine and But.erworth know this
They cannot stem the swelling tide, but
they are endeavoring to bring thei,
friends in shelter. Will they succeed!