The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-01-13
A FEW REPUBLICANS AGAINST III.

nal to cease further discussion on the
silver question until it cal give, ut least
an opinion on the probable action OF
President Harrison in the event that a
free coinage bill is placed before him
for consideration. OF all newspapers in
the country the journal should be in a
position to give this information. Since
President Harrison's election this paper
has been popularity credited with being
in closer communication with the adj
ministration than any other organ. 1t
is controlled by Mr. Russell Harrison,
the presidents son, who at times has
dictated a policy for the paper to pur-
ago to begin the war on Blaine, which
was commenced with becoming aggres-
siveness and then, for some unexplained
reason, dropped. The only accountable
reason for the Journals failure to tell
just how the administration stands on
the silver question is the pretty gener-
ally known fact that the president has
been opposed to free coinage first, last
and all the time, and will continue this
opposition so long as he is the executive
of the United States, a period, FORUM
ately, drawing to a near close. -
Now, the Journals stock and trade in
it's hypocritical fight for free coinage is
a list of names of democratic senators
and congressman who do not favor free
silver coinage; but before it continues
to print and reprint only names it
should bear certain things in mind.
First Of all let this paper remember that
with a republican president, a republi-
can senate, and republican house, the
only silver legislation enacted was a
~treacherous and valueless measure de-
signed to defeat free coinage and which
has resulted in more harm than good to
the silver interest. 1t was intended
merely as a delusive snare to hold back
the silver question from the people.
That it was Of no permanent value is to
be seen from the price of silver to-day.
While the republicans were scheming to
get this measure through, the demo
Gratis in the house stood in a line for
free silver coinage. If the republicans
were really friendly to silver, as Mr..
Harrison's organ would deceive the peo-
pie into believing, why did they not
show their friendliness for the metal
when, for the first time in years, they
controlled all the branches of the ma
tlonal government? But while the
Journal is picking here and there the
name Ct a prominent democrat opposed
to free silver, let lis look at the republic
can side OF the question. To begin with
there is old John Sherman recently re-
elected to the United States senate; the
republican apostle of finance; the man
who has made his reputation for states
manship and reached his prominence by
his untiring fight against silver. The
Journal will not deny that for more
than twenty years Mr.. Sherman has
been the arch enemy, the plotter, and a
fighter in the ranks against every at
tempt to bring silver who're it belongs.
Then there is the Wall street crowd,
with Jay Gould at the head, and Andrew
Carnegie who has fed himself to opu-
lence at the tariff crib, and all the
other gold bugs who have contributed
30 literally to the campaign fund, be.
cause for every nickel they contributed
they received dollars given up by the
people OF the United States. These are
the men who have fought silver at al
. times 10 say nothing Of the New Eng
land republican senators and those from
the middle states.
= Montana's representatives in congress.
' last winter did not dislocate their neck
fighting for free silver, as the Journa
E we'll knows. As chairman Of commit
tee on mines and mining it was Mr.
Carriers business to keep a free coinag'
a bill from the presidents desk. lie sue
ceeded and received his reward il
the shape of a very pleasant of1icia
plum. If Commodore Power and Co
Sanders exerted themselves in til
slightest degree for silver, the news O
their efforts never reached this part o.
n the country.
These little memories are to be ken
8. in mind by the Helena Journal when
70 renews it's insipid and tiresome discus
'e sion Oh the silver question.