The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-12-10
THE MESSAGE.

Like his previous state papers, Iieei-
dent Harrison's message to congress Is a
clear, comprehensive and we'll written
presentation of the workings OF the va
rious departments of the federal gov
eminent, It is not striking or original
in its suggestions and for tho most part
u il but little more than a summary or
the reports already made by the various
members Of the cabinet. As was ex-
pected the president goes on record as
squarely opposed to the free colnage OF
silver. He ID candid enough to admit
that the present law has not met the
expectations of the country SO far as
maintaining the advanced price OF silver
Is concerned, but he would cling to 1t a
little longer and not adopt any
radical measure. Buthe is emphatic and
determined in his hostility to free com
are. AS to tho tariff, Mr.. Harrison OF
course favors the continuance OF the
Mckinley law and uses the figures SO
often quoted by Mr.. Mckinley during
the Ohio campaign to fortify his argu-
ment.
What he has to say regarding the
Chilian troubles and complications with
italy contains no new information.
The thing that seems to concern Mr..
Harrison most is the question OF our
election laws. He cannot conceal his
disappointment over the defeat OF the
force bill and says he cannot understand
it, He now wants a federal election law
framed by a n~on-partisan commission.
He is also troubled over the inevitable
loss to his party in the electoral college
by the change of the law in Michigan
whereby electors are chose by congress
districts. He has o great deal to say
about dangerous ge~rrymarders and I'M
fair apportionments. We wish he had
been d little more explicit on this head.
Is Mr. Harrison rebnking the repub-
lican party in New York and Connect
icut for refusing to make honest leglsla-
tive apportionmentsE in those states? II
SO, he certainly displays a lofty patriot
ism which is worthy of all praise fol
with four democratic senators from
those two states, who would now be sit
ting in congress were the will OF the ma.
iority of the people in the two common
wealths not defied, Mr.. Harrison's party
would be in a minority in both legisla.
tive branches of the government. And
we cannot help wondering if when Mr.
Harrison talks about the Importance Of
preserving the purity OF the ballot he is
firing at short range at the man who car
RED Indiana by 's%bunching the f~oatere
in block Of FIVE" and at the member Of
his own cabinet, who got his position
solely for the reason that he contributed
100000 to Quay's corruption fund.
Tho presidents recommendation
with regard to the Indians and tbs
transfer of arid lands to the states will
meet with general approval, although i
he had told the whole truth about thu
Indians he would have shown that more
or less political rascality was at the
bottom of the trouble st Pine Ridge
An Investigating committee of congress!
will be required to lay the facts in this
affair before the country in their trut
light. .-.
There is nothing in the document be
fore us for a party rallying cry, or
campaign platform; nothing to inspire
the republican party with the belle
and hope that Mr.. Harrison's renomina
ton, in 1892, would take the country b,
Is storm