The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1890-08-22
THE INDEpENDENT MOVEMENT.

we believe Ill the principles of the ma
tional prohibition party and have repeated
~ declared our fealty 10 it. In the alb
sence, however, OF a state organization, we
have held it to be our duty to work with
that party whose principles most nearly
agree with our own-the republican party.
We nave always supported the nominees
of that party when satisfied that they were
honorable men and fairly nominated.
The attitude of the democratic party on
the prohibition question and other reforms
has made it impossible for us to be idenii-
fed with it. The republican party, loud in
IFS professions Of regard for these p:inci-
pies is rapidly proving itself to DO simply
a party of professions. Between the braz-
en-faced wickcdness of the democratic
party and the contemplate hypocrisy Of
the syndicate. who have assumed contro!
of the republican party, both in our state
and county. no chance is left us but to sup
port the independent movement.
We have been b%esought by prominent
republicans to wait until the Mitchell con-
v~ention, August eth, We can only say
that it will be too late. Alarmed by the
popular uprising of the people, it is quite
likely the syndicate will make all the prom
Uses that one could wish. We admit that
~ ~ ASISAN
ance, But repentance cones too late when
one is about to be lowered into his politi
| cal grave. We don't have much confidence
in death bed repentances. Putting reform
planks into a platform to please the class
| demanding the reforms and then choosing
gamblers, whiskey men and professional
politicians of questionable reputation, to
stand upon said platform d~eceives nobody
now.
We have carefully considered the situa-
ton, have studied the subject in all its
bearings and after several months deliber-
alton we feel it our duty to raise aloft the
independent banner in Aurora county. 1t
is with the greatest reluctance that we have
arrived at this decision. We had hoped
that the party would shake off the corrupt
gang now controlling it in state and
county. The readers of the Beacon will
recollect that we have advised the farmers
and other members of the republican party
who were about to leave the ranks, to have
patience, trusting that the better element
of the party would gain the ~ascendancy.
But tired of ring rule and despairing of re-
lief, the better elements of the party in
| this and other counties are fast leaving.
Weakened by the loss of a large proper
ton of the best class of its members, it
must in our Judgment, be more hopelessly
under the control of the state and county
ring" than ever. We also note with re-
greet the ill-advised course taken by the re-
publican press of our state and county.
AS a rule, they have misrepresented the in
dependents, belittled their strength and
s!andered their leaders. Thus dong, they
have famed to a white heat the flames of
public indignation and satisfied tho people
that as a rule, the republican journals are
in the pay of a corrupt political syndicate.
We are glad to note honorable exceptions
but they are few and far between.
Therefore, abandoning all hope of Sc
curing needed reforms through the agency
of the old parties, trusting in the strength
of a righteous cause and looking to the
God of battles, we draw the sword which
shall not be sheathed until the polls close
on Tuesday, the 4th day of November
Dakota Beacon.