The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-09-16
Now, Democrats, organize.
THE DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.

Adopted by the State Convention, Held at
Helena, Sept. Is.
The democracy of Montana, in conven-
ton assembled, now reassert the honored
principles which the history of the democ-
racy i'll the past fully illustrates, and which
in their development have redounded to the
prosperity of the country and to the protec-
ton of the just and equal rights and privl-
leges 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 unfaltering
devotion and untiring efforts.
Upon the freedom of the ballot and the
honesty with which elections are conducted
and the result declared depends more than
on any other cause the perpetuat!on Of our
free institutions and the existence of re-
publican government itself. Whatever de-
frauds or deprives the people of the result
Of their final decision expressed through
the ballot box strikes down their most cher
ished privilege, weakens their confidence in,
and consequently impairs their attachment
to our form of government, and must end
in the subversion of their rights and in the
use of force and fraud as the source of po-
litical 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 flimsy, and which
found sanction neither in reason, precedent
OF law, rejected the entire vote of Precinct
"a, at which ia votes were cast. BY this
act they deprived all the voters at that pre-
cinct Of their right of suffrage, and in its
consequences and by fraud finally
defeated majority of the voters
throughout the state by changing a clear
democratic majority for ons branch of
tne state legislature into pre-
majority. Language cannot adequately de-
scribe or characterize this act of political
perfdy done to the people Of the
state, whether republicans or democrats.
What followed was in keeping with,
and no doubt was intended at the time the
| vote of precinct 81 was rejected, tho
| action of the state canvassiny board in
granting certificates of election to certain
| republicans of Silver Bow county. The
pretended organization of republican
house of representatives which joined in
electing Wilbur F. Sanders and Thomas c.
Power as senators of the United States, and
their final admission 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 at the
hands of those whose rights have thus been
violated: Relieving 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 con-
domination on political fraud and
dishonesty to join with US in hurting
from power all guilty of this crime, and all
who have protited by it.. Let US purge the
fair name of our state from this foul blot
which has been heaped ON it, and after
wards fight our political battles on 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. rs the money metals of
nearly all civilized countries, the constant
dlminution in the production of gold, the
necessity OF larger volume of money than
gold can supply, owing to our increase of
population and the ever widening and in
creaslng demands of trade and commerce,
ana above all. in order to prevent the OPP
pressions and exactions which the monied
class would hold over all others if gold be
the only money of the country. These and
many like considerations, demand that
silver should be put on basis with gold ~
money standard-a measure favored by
the democrats and opposed by republicans
IN the present congress. All taxes are
burdens, however imposed and collected,
and nothing more should be taken from the
penses of government, prudently and
economically administered, whether the
government be national. state or municipal.
Taxes for other purposes, or in excess
of the public requirements, however COL
lected, is robbery.
The supreme court of the United States
speaking on this subject has we'll said:
"To lay with one hand the power of the
government on the property of the citizen,
and with the other to bestow it on favored
individuals to aid in private enterprises.
ana build up private fortunes il none the.