Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-01-09
Montana

The Democrats OF Montana are worthy
10 be classed with the Democrats of West
Virginia. where for the last fourteen months
the two parties have been engaged in try
ing each TO elect its candidate for Gov
ernor. Tho high-handed outrage which
tho Republicans Of Montana have for two
months been endcavoring 10 consummate
has been fully explained TO our readers. rs
that outrage has taken new steps towards
success.
There are now four persons claiming to
have been elected United States senators
from Montana--two Democrats and two
Republicans. The claim Of the Eepubli-
can bogus senators has 50 little foundation
that If the United States Senate had been
Democratic instead Of Republican body
that claim would never have been set up.
The pretended election of two Republican
United States senators would never have
been heard of had not tho Republican
leaders in Washington established Tor
themselves the reputation Of being much
more anxious 20 perpetuate the rule Of the
Republican party than to have Senate
elected honorably and fairly by the bodies
constitntionally authorized 20 elect United
States senators.
At the election Of last October the
Democrats elected majority of the men,
bers Of the Legislature Of Montana as well
as the Governor The majority was small.
but it was enough. 1t ought TO have been
recognized as being as good rs If 1T had
been ten times rs large. But the Republ-
can rascals could not stand the temptation
put before them by tat small majority.
They could not bear the thought that two
United States senators were to be
chosen by that small majority. They
planned and plotted (aDd consulted
the head villains at Washington, we
suppose. They scrutinlzed tho cleo
ton returns. and found that they could
secure control of the Legislature II only
they could count the vote Of a single Dem
ocratic county for their ticket. No sooner
said than done. They set mp claim 10
the Democratic county Of Silver Bow, and
bythe aid Of President HARRISON, who by
proclamation brought the State into the
Union before the proper preliminarles had
been undergone, they succeeded IN making
up Legislature Of their own. This
Legislature is the one that first went
through the forms Of electng United
States senator, and is the one which 1t IS
supposed the whole Administration will
ask the United States Senate 10 recognize
"a n legitimate body by seating the two bo-
Gus United States senators which were sent
10 Washington by that bogus assemblage
Of wild western politicians. Recollcctthat
RUSSELL HABmsoS, the Presidents son, is
one Of the Montana Republican gang.
The Democratic Legislature also elect
cd United States senators. The lower
house of the Democratic Legislature
consists Of all the Democrats whose cleo
ton is undisputed added to the Demo-
Gratis elected from Silver Bow county.
These two classes make upa quorum. The
Republican lower house Of the Legislature
consists Of all tho Republicans whose cleo
ton is undisputed added to the Republic
cans setting up O bogus claim to having
been elected from Silver Bow county. The
Governor Of the State recognizes the DEM
ocratic Legislature as tho lawful Legisla-
ture. and took the necessary steps to Sc
cure for the use of the lower honse the
building in which under the law that house
was required to assemble. The Senate IS
equally divided between the two parties.
In a word. the law and the facts are with
the Democrats; but the United States
Senate. which seated OF aided in seating
HAYES in TmDrN's seat, is with the Repub-
Leans.
The Democrats Of the whole country
should protest persistently against the adj
mission Of the two bogus senators from
Montana into the United States Senate.