The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-11-18
, MONTANA DEMOCRATIC.

Ao cSlCSLtco IltQl I1SlIiuuiA SANSA
the editor of The INDEPENDENT credit
for political candor because he stated ii
an interview in st. Paul the other day
that MI. Blaine's nomination for presi
dent would make Montana a doubtful
state. In the opinion OF the Inter
Mountain Mr.. Blame would carry Mon
tana by 1000 to 10000 majority, and the
Inter Mountain thinks the editor Of The
INDEPENDENT thinks so too. The editor
of THE INDEPENDENT does not believe
it good politics to blind yourself TO tho
strength Of your enemy, but he does not
believe that Mr.. Blaine could carry
Montana by any such majority, il IN
deed by any majority. Mr.. Blaine un-
doubtedly would poll more votes in
Montana than any man the republicans
could nominate. But the republicans
have been steadily losing ground in this
state since the election OF Mr.. Carter as
a delegate to congress. From 5000 ma
jority in 1888 his plurality fell below
1000 in 1889, and in 1890 he was beaten
by nearly 300. And Mr.. Carter was
stronger by several hundred votes in
1889 and 1890 than any other man the
party could have selected.
The cause for this rapid decline in the
republican vote is known to every can
did republican in the state. Hundreds
Of honest, conscientious members of that
party voted for Dixon and will vote next
year for other democrats because of the
crime perpetrated against the ~sanctlty
of the ballot by a few %scoundrelly re-
publican leaders who yet maintain their
grip on the party organization. The
p%unishment of the perpetrators of that
astounding crime was only begun last
year by the defeat Of Carter. It's con-
sequences will be visited upon every de-
fender of and a%pologist for it until the
men who stole the state are cast out of
the party councils. Ths good work of
dethroning Sanders, the chief conspira-
tor, was begun last year by the election
Of two-thirds of the democratic candi-
dates for state senators. His overthrow
will be completed next year when the
people can get at him by electing repre-
s~entatives pledged to his retirement.
Our friends, the enemy, should make no
mistake. They have got to defend
Blake and Sanders next year and they
will have a sorry time of 1T. 1t will be
a defensive campaign on their part from
the beginning. The presidential contest
will be a secondary matter. If Harrison
is nominated, as particeps criminis in
the steal Of the state, he will be over
whelmed with the others. The people
of Montana have not forgotten the i'm.
portant part he played in the conspiracy.
And ever if the brilliant Blaine is
nominated, he will he handicapped in
the race by the conditions that confront
his party in this state. He would run
better by several hundred votes than
Mr.. Harrison. AS against Mr.. Cleve-
land on the democratic side, who would
lose some votes on account Of his silver
record, the mar from Maine might carry
the state by a small margin. We think
he would. But that would only be- a
tribute to his personal popularity and
not a true test Of party strength in
the state.
Montana is a democratic state to-day.
1t will be a democratic state next year
and for years to come. 1t cannot IN
self respect be anything else. The
crime of 1889 has not been forgotten or
condoned, and it will not cease to be re-
vived at each succeeding election to the
discontinue of the republican party,
until the last participant in it is driven
into outer darkness.