The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-07-04
REAPPEARA>CE OF THE TRAITOF

REAPrEARA>CE OF THE TRAITOR.
From the esteemed journal we learn
with great satisfaction that the Stewart
bill will probably pass the house and go
to the president for signature. We ex-
pected as much, and will join in our con-
temporary's disappointment if the
prophesy does not come to pass. The
only regret is that the journal does not
favor the bill and does not tell why,
though its reasons may be inferred.
Its attitude is not calculated to win
the friendship of Montana miners or
mine owners. When it made a fight in
the dark against the Bland bill it was
accused of treachery to Monlana's
greatest industry, and not without
reason. The Bland bill provided just
what Montana wants, the free and indie
pendent coinage of silver. 1t proposed
to make silver what 1T was, that is,
place the metal on a standard value of
s1.29; it proposed to ~re-establish the
justice to silver that was given by our
%forefathers and send the grasplng gold
bugs of Wall street to the rear. It is
needless to refer to the magnificent re-
suits that would have accrued to the in
terests of Montana if this measure had
passed both houses Of congress and re-
ceived the signature of the president.
1t is obvious to the simplest tyro that the
rise in silver would be followed by the
opening of new mines and the restora-
ton Of old ones; that a field for thous-
ands Of new laborers would have been
opened within our borders, and that an
era of untold prosperity for Montana
would have begun.
While nearly all papers IN the state
were urging the passage Of this meas
ure, the Journal alone remained a con-
spicuous exception. 1t advanced no ar
guments against the bill; it simply cast
meaningless slurs from time to time as
discussion followed. Why did it desert
Montana in this manner? Simply be.
cause it's close alliance to Harrison blood
demanded that it should keep in line
with the president when his veto should
be affixed. 1t was only a plain case of
family affinity, nothing more.
But the Bland bill dropped out of
sight and the presidents Montana
organ was fast recovering it's equilibrium,
when the Stewart bill is passed
by the senate. 1t will occur to most of
,,c TINT u cilvar hin rocI o,,,l =
Senator Stewart is good enough for
Montana. II provides for free coinage
in the full acceptance of that term, it
provides a standard value, and it pro-
vides for the government purchase of all
silver offered on a just parity with gold.
The journal, however, thinks that these
features fall short Of the requirements
OF the white metal, though it offers no
specifications, for it cannot. That news
paper, however, is placed in the curious
position of condemning the act OF a re-.
publican senate, though the vote on the
bill was heavily democratic, and at the
same time apolosizing for the president
before the bill reaches him. In a word
it is lighting free coinage for Montana
because it is far more interested in Har.
rison's election.
The preteXt that the internationa!
monetary conference will produce free
coinage is palpably absurd. The way tc
bring about free coinage is to pass g
free coinage bill. While little value car
be attached to the Journals arguments
we are inclined to agree that the bill
will pass the house, and, from the apol
ogy offered, that it will receive the pres.
ident's veto.